Guidelines for writing program notes
This page provides guidelines and resources for writing program notes. The Solo Recital Program Note Style Guide and the two books, A Short Guide to Writing about Music and Writing about Music, will help you with content and format. Further down the page are suggested sources for information on composers, music selections, and cultural and historical context, followed by sample program notes.
- Solo Recital Program Note Style Guide (page 19)From the Elon University Music Student Handbook
A short guide to writing about music by Call Number: 808.06678 B417sh (3rd floor)Pages 57-65 discusses biographical background, cultural context, and style
Writing about music : an introductory guide by Call Number: 780.722 W726wr2 (3rd floor)Pages 91-97 discuss the purpose of program notes, as well as audience consideration and the research required
Composers
Get background information about composers from the sources listed below. Also check to see if there are any reputable websites about the composer.
The Lives of the Great Composers by Call Number: 780.922 Sch65sc (3rd floor)Profiles of the world's composers from Bach to Schoenberg and examines the lives, times, and music of each
Great Composers and Their WorksCall Number: 780.9 SL54gr v.1-2 (3rd floor)Provides biographical information on nineteen composers, describes the musical components of their major works, and provides anecdotal background on those works.
- Contemporary musicians* Biographical information on important figures in today's musical arena, covering artists working in all genres of modern music, including rock, jazz, pop, rap, rhythm and blues, folk, New Age, country, gospel and reggae
- Composer biographies from the Medieval era to the present* Select a composer's name from the "Composer Quick Pick" drop down menu or browse all composers by time period
- Materials in Belk Library and in other libraries* Books about composers are on the third floor and have call numbers that start with 780 through 788
Music selections
Get background information about music selections.
- Oxford Music Online This link opens in a new window* Look at the composer's works list found in Oxford Music Online for details of composition names and numbering
* Check music publishers' websites for contemporary composers who may not be included in OMO - Naxos Music Library This link opens in a new window* Program notes are included in some audio recordings
* Look for the "Booklet" link on the left side of the page or the "Work Details" button under the list of tracks - JSTOR This link opens in a new window* Select Advanced Search and use the Journal Filter to search only Music publications
- Materials in Belk Library* CDs usually contain liner notes that describe and/or discuss the music
Cultural and historical context
Get background information about cultural and historical context of the time period during which the music selection was composed.
The Cambridge History of World MusicCall Number: 780.9 C144bo (3rd floor)
The Oxford Handbook of the New Cultural History of MusicCall Number: 780.9 Ox2fu (3rd floor)- The Lives of the Great Composers by Call Number: 780.922 Sch65sc (3rd floor)Profiles of the world's composers from Bach to Schoenberg and examines the lives, times, and music of each
- Great Composers and Their WorksCall Number: 780.9 SL54gr v.1-2 (3rd floor)Provides biographical information on nineteen composers, describes the musical components of their major works, and provides anecdotal background on those works.
Oxford History of Western MusicCall Number: REF 780.9 T179ox v.1-6 (1st floor)
The Heritage of Musical StyleCall Number: 780.9 V289he (3rd floor)