The library collections support the teaching, learning, and research needs of the Newcomb Department of Music, the Musical Cultures of the Gulf South coordinate degree program, and related interdisciplinary fields. As such, collecting focus extends to music history and literature, music theory and analysis, performance, popular music, the music industry, as well as music libraries and librarianship. Existing collection strengths include American popular music with particular emphasis on jazz, blues, ragtime, and hip hop, musical theater, opera, and music from the baroque to early modern period. Current areas of growth include sound studies, computer music, and late 20th-21st century music. There is extensive coverage of standard repertoire and individual works of significant composers. For the most important composers and works, multiple editions are appropriate, with special attention given to new critical editions.
