Smithsonian Global Sound for Libraries is a fascinating database of music from around the world, from Argentina to Austria to Arabia. Hear hurdy gurdies, digeridoos, saxophones, Broadway choruses, string quartets and more on this comprehensive and informative resource.
African American Song. From the bayous of the Mississippi Delta to the streets of Motown, listen to a century of music by African-Americans. From washboard bands to Ragtime and jazz and even early hip-hop, this database is both instructional and enjoyable.
American Song is a history database that allows people to hear and feel the music from America's past. The database includes songs by and about Indians, miners, immigrants, slaves, children, pioneers, and cowboys. Included in the database are the songs of Civil Rights, political campaigns, Prohibition, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, anti-war protests, and more.
The Classical Music Library. Monteverdi. Handel. Mozart. Beethoven. Tchaikovsky. Hear music from the the legends of Western instrumental music, plus works from thousands of lesser-known composers, at this strikingly comprehensive database from the Alexander Street Press. Genres represented include opera, sacred music, TV themes, and even folk.
Contemporary World Music takes listeners around the globe to experience the
vibrancy, history, customs, politics, personalities, struggles, and joys of
diverse peoples and cultures. The wide ranging collection incorporates contemporary reggae, worldbeat, neo-traditional, world fusion,
Balkanic jazz, African film, Bollywood, Arab swing and jazz, and other genres.
Traditional music such as Indian classical, fado, flamenco, klezmer, zydeco,
gospel, gagaku is also featured to round out the offerings and allow you to see
the progression that music has made through the ages.
Alexander Street Press requires you to verify that you are a Westfield library card holder. Enter your full personal library card number as shown below and you are all set.
You can listen to streaming ("streaming" means that the music is not permanently saved on your computer) sound pieces for free without registering. If you wish to create playlists for yourself you must go through a very simple registration process.
The only feature of these websites which costs money is downloading music to your hard-drive or portable listening device. However, the publisher of the music offers one selected FREE DOWNLOAD per week here.
Saint-Saens' Cello Sonata No. 1 in C minor, Op. 32
