Research Guides: Sound and the City: 1)Background Information

Encyclopedias/Dictionaries

Encyclopedias are great ways to get background information and understand the terms used to describe some topics. For a comprehensive listing of encyclopedias, see the Dictionaries/Encyclopedias page.

Encyclopedia Britanica
Oxford English Dictionary
Considered the most authoritative and comprehensive English language dictionary in the world. Includes information on the English language, its history, and the social, cultural, and political influences that have shaped the language through the centuries
Oxford Reference Online
Full-text of more than 100 dictionaries and reference books published by Oxford University Press
Wikipedia
While it is not advisable to use this as a source in an academic paper, it can sometimes LEAD you to other great sources, especially on contemporary topics.
Online Encyclopedias available at Princeton
We have many specialized encyclopedias covering just about every field. This links to one list, and others might be found in the Subject pages for Articles and Databases.

Multidisciplinary Biographical Resources

American National Biography Online
Authoritative biographies of more than 18,000 deceased prominent people who lived in what is now the U.S.A. from the Colonial Period to the present, including many important musicians. A "must-see" if your subject was a reasonably prominent American.
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
50,000+ biographies of men and women from British history, including every important British music figure now deceased. A "must-see" if your subject is of British nationality.
Biography Reference Bank
Combines the content of five H. W. Wilson biographical databases, including the in-depth, original profiles of Wilson Biographies Plus Illustrated and Current Bibliography, plus the periodicals coverage of Biography Index, full-text articles, page images, and abstracts from the complete range of Wilson databases (including biographical profiles, feature articles, interviews, essays, book reviews, performance reviews, speeches, or obituaries).
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This unmatched resource offers the in-depth, original profiles of Wilson Biographies Plus Illustrated, and Current Biography, the thorough periodicals coverage of Biography Index, and the specialist biographical content of Junior Authors & Illustrators as well as biographical full-text articles, page images, and abstracts from the complete range of Wilson databases, licensed profiles from other respected sources, and articles from today’s leading magazines and journals.
World Who's Who
Basic biographical data on almost 60,000 prominent living or recently deceased individuals in all fields (including music) from around the world.
Biography and Genealogy Master Index
Combined index of international scope that identifies 13+ million entries in hundreds of biographical sources, including many on music. Updated twice yearly.