Music Archives

The Archive of World Music at Loeb Music Library collects archival field recordings of musics worldwide, as well as commercial audiovisual recordings and streaming resources of ethnomusicological interest.

The collection was established in 1976 by Professor John Ward. In 1992, with the appointment of Harvard's first senior professor of ethnomusicology, the collection moved to the Loeb Music Library.

The Archive has developed important collections from Asia and the Middle East. It holds diverse archival material, such as wide-ranging Chinese songs acquired by Harvard Professor Emeritus Rulan Pian; extensive field recordings made by Martha Forsyth in 1980s of traditional Bulgarian songs; field recordings of Tvisöngur (male polyphony in Iceland); and !Kung field recordings. Numerous recordings of Indonesian music have also been acquired, primarily on commercial sound cassettes.

Some of the Archive's major collections include:

While collection development focuses on the Middle East, Asia and Africa, the Archive is expanding its holdings of recordings from Mexico, Central and South America, as well as from all around the globe.

Substantial grant funding from the Laura Boulton Foundation, the Sema Vakf Foundation, and the Harvard University Library Digital Initiative has supported efforts to preserve and digitize collections.

The Global Music Archive is a multi-media reference archive and resource center for traditional and popular song, music, and dance of Africa and the Americas. It is a public facility that promotes education in African and American traditional and popular music through its own activities and by supporting the activities of others. The archive is housed within the Anne Potter Wilson Music Library in Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music. It includes public rooms for the study of materials, and an audio and video listening and viewing facilities. 

The GMA’s primary mission is to provide access to sound recordings and images of indigenous music from communities in Africa and the Americas. Founded in 2003 by Gregory Barz, Associate Professor of Musicology (Ethnomusicology) at Vanderbilt University and the Anne Potter Wilson Music Library, the GMA launched its first database in 2004 with the Digital Collection of East African Recordings, which consisted of over 1,600 discrete musical performances recorded by an East African ethnomusicologist, Centurio Balikoowa.

Since that time, a number of smaller collections have been added from different cultural communities including American Appalachia and Trinidad and Tobago.

The Global Music Archive (GMA) at Vanderbilt University is a collaboration between the Blair School of Music and the University Libraries.

Hamilton has long been known for its rich musical legacy, as well as a vibrant and thriving local music scene. 

Join us on Friday May 3 for the official launch of the Hamilton Music Archives at Central Library, in the 1st Floor, Hamilton Room. This includes a diverse and inclusive collection that illustrates the history of Hamilton's music scene and its contributors, spanning all time periods and genres of music.

Timeline for the day is as follows: 

Noon-1:00pm: 

Noon Hour Concert with Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra Horn Duo 

1:00-2:00pm: 

Launch of treasured city collections by Opera Hamilton, Hamilton Savoyard Operatic Society, Royal Hamilton College of Music, September Seventh Entertainment Ltd., Hamilton Opera Company, Hamilton Musical Arts Society and the Royal Court Entertainers.

The Spectator’s music editor Graham Rockingham will also be a special guest speaker. He’ll talk about music industry’s ever-changing landscape in the city and what’s to come.

2:00pm: 

Music Movie: Rush Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland

Plan to attend this special day with us and Hamilton City of Music.