Good places to gather background information on a topic or get ideas when choosing a topic.
Background information:
Types of reference sources
Search Oxford Music Online for basic facts and background information on the history of music. Includes the Grove Dictionary of Music whose entries include complete works lists for composers, and definitive bibliographies. While the emphasis is on Western classical music, American music and jazz are also very well covered.
These are located on Dimond Main Level and represent just a sampling. For more reference resources, search the library catalog or contact the Research Center.