Notes for Notes

The Music Library Association has announced its 2011 election results. Elected to the MLA board of directors as members-at-large for the 2011-13 term were Daniel Boomhower (Library of Congress), Kirsten Dougan (University of Illinois), and Laurie Sampsel (University of Colorado).

The Music Library Association announced its publication and research awards at the 2011 annual meeting in Philadelphia.

The Richard S. Hill Award for the best article on music librarianship or article of a music-bibliographic nature published in 2009 was awarded to Tim Brooks for his article "Copyright and Historical Sound Recordings: Recent Efforts to Change U.S. Law" published in Notes 65, no. 3 (March 2009): 464-74. The awards committee noted that Brooks "offers a concise history of recorded sound copyright and legislation as well as a detailed look at the copyright status of historic recordings and their rights availability. Recent developments are outlined and suggestions are made as to what scholars and librarians can do to improve the situation of sound recording copyright in the United States. Brooks' well-written and well-researched overview of copyright for sound recordings provides a clear explanation of a complicated topic and should be on every music librarianship class reading list." The Eva Judd O'Meara Award for the best review published in Notes was awarded to Kofi Agawu for his review of A Theory of Musical Narrative by Byron Almén, published in Notes 66, no. 2 (December 2009): 275-77. The committee noted that "Agawu's deep knowledge of the subject matter allows him to engage substantively with the material and offer astute observations regarding Almén's approach. He provides a concise summary of the areas of musical narratology and semiotics and contextualizes Almén's study within the field, effectively demonstrating what is new in Almén's approach. Agawu clearly and concisely explicates the author's methodology, from his establishment of a theoretical framework and laying out of narrative archetypes to his analytical readings of selected repertoire. Though dealing with challenging material, Agawu's prose remains accessible throughout, and his insightful commentary regarding the strengths and weaknesses of Almén's approach exemplify fine review writing." The Vincent H. Duckles Award was not given in 2011.

Research Awards.

The Carol June Bradley Award supports studies that deal with the history of music libraries or special collections. The 2011 award was given to Beverly M. Wilcox, a doctoral student in musicology and criticism at the University of California, Davis, for her research project, "The Music Libraries of the Concert Spirituel: Canons, Repertoires, and Bricolage in Eighteenth-Century Paris." Ms. Wilcox examined the music collections of the Concert Spirituel, founded in Paris in 1725 as the first large-scale public concert series in Europe. Her study of the Concert Spirituel repertoire and its contribution to the formation of a musical canon is unique in its approach through the inventories of the Concert's music libraries, as opposed to its concert programs. Ms. Wilcox's research arises from her recent discovery of a previously unknown Concert Spirituel collection inventory from 1761. Ms. Wilcox used her award in support of an October 2010 research trip to the Bibliothèque nationale de France. The Dena Epstein Award supports research in archives or libraries internationally on any aspect of American music. This year's recipient is Dr. Nancy Yunhwa Rao, associate professor of music at Rutgers University. Dr. Rao's research, "Spectacular Sound across Borders: Chinese Opera Theaters in Chinatowns and Beyond," will culminate in a book on Chinese opera in America during the first decades of the twentieth century, shedding light on an aspect of American musical culture that, though broad in its effect, is largely forgotten today. Along with a thorough exploration of a particular performing tradition, Dr. Rao's work draws on racial identity, immigration policy, and a range of social and political issues to characterize the origins, development, and influence of Chinese opera in America. Dr. Rao's combined expertise in language, theory, and culture ensures her book will be a significant contribution toward a more complete understanding of American music. Dr. Rao will use funding from her award...