Music Query Analysis Or:

Don’t get the Blues when you’re asked about the Blues…

“I’m looking for resources for my music assignment…”

DA DA DA DAAAH

But I’m not a music librarian

Good News!!

Why are we here?

Demystification

I’m looking for information on the use of dominant extensions in Lydian based Jazz harmony

At least he knows what he wants!

• Is he familiar with databases and journals?• Opportunity to teach advanced search

techniques: proximity searches, phrase searches etc

• What has he done so far?• Most importantly:• You do not need to understand!

More likely though…

I have to find out everything about a blues song

‘Smokestack Lightning’: Howlin’ Wolf

What is it?

• A specific performance• At a specific time• By a specific person• In a specific setting• Using specific resources

Where do we go from here?

• Historical• Ideological• Technical• Cultural• Aesthetic• Sexual

Not all information can be musicAll music can be information