Opera Preview Lectures - Rigoletto

"Over the summer sea," music by Giuseppe Verdi (J. Davison, 1855)

On Wednesday evening, August 28, 2012, we'll inaugurate our annual San Francisco Opera Preview lectures with Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto.  UC Santa Barbara musicologist Derek Katz will discuss the historic and musical background as well as present excerpts of the work.

This event, presented in conjunction with the San Francisco Opera Guild, will be presented at 12:00 noon at the Koret Auditorium in the Lower Level of the Main Library.  All Library programs are free.


The Cambridge Companion to Verdi, edited by Scott L. Balthazar (Cambridge University Press, 2004).

Losing the Plot in Opera: Myths and Secrets of the World's Great Operas by Brian Castles-Onion (Metro, 2009).

The New Grove Guide to Verdi and His Operas by Roger Parker (Oxford University Press, 2007).

Nine Famous Operas: What's Really Going On! by Iris J. Arnesen (McFarland & Co., 2010).

Opera Psychotherapy by Bartalini (Exposition Press, 1981).

Operas of Verdi, vol. 1 by Julian Budden (Praeger, 1973)

Rigoletto: A Guide to the Opera by Charles Osborne (Barrie & Jenkins, 1979).

Rigoletto [libretto] by Giuseppe Verdi (Riverrun Press, 1982).

Verdi by Julian Budden (Oxford University Press, 2008).

Know Your SFPL Call Numbers - 785.725

Juan Gris, Violin and Guitar (source: Wikipaintings)

Musicians perform together in every imaginable combination.  A library like ours tries to purchase, catalog and organize scores and parts to allow chamber musicians to gather, play and perform together.

Chamber music presents an interesting challenge for the music cataloger because of the variety of possible combinations of instrumentalists.

The San Francisco Public Library uses the 785.7 as a suffix for most chamber music with parts.  The following decimal places indicates the number of players.  Thus 785.72 is the basic call number for instrumental duets, 785.73 for trios, up to 785.79 for nonets and beyond.

Taking the call number out an additional decimal places fine tunes the instrumentation even furthers, according to the instrumental families that the performing instruments belong to - strings, winds, plucked strings, keyboard and percussion.  We have created a webpage that provides an outline of these numbers.

The call number 785.725 corresponds to duets for a bowed string instrument and a plucked string instrument.  Bowed instruments include the instruments of the string section of the orchestra - violin, viola, cello and double bass.  Plucked string instruments include the guitar, harp, lute, mandolin and zither.

Examples of compositions in this call number are works for viola and harp (Fantasy Sonata by Arnold Bax), violin and harp (Fantaisie, op 125 by Camille Saint-Saëns and Sonata Concertante, opus 113 by Ludwig Spohr), cello and guitar (Rainforest Canticles by Dusan Bogdanovic). 

The most typical combination in this call number is violin and guitar. The Library of Congress catalog headings for this music are: Violin and guitar music or Sonatas (Violin and guitar).

Many of these compositions also work for flute and guitar. Our collection includes the following works.

Acht leichte Duos für Flöte oder Violine und Gitarre [Eight Easy Duos for Flute or Violin and Guitar] (Zimmermann, 1980) - includes arrangements of Adagio by Leonhard von Call, Menuett by Francois Hünten, Allegretto and Serenade by Fernando Carulli, Siciliano and Walzer by Gottlieb Heinrich Köhler, Menuett by Charles Doisy, and Allegro by Kaspar Fürstenau.
785.726 XAc

Dances in the Madhouse: For Violin (or Flute/Piccolo) and Guitar by David Leisner.
Publication Info.    Bryn Mawr, Pa. : Merion Music : T. Presser, sole representative, c1987.
785.725 Le

Nocturne op. 38 für Flöte (Violine) und Gitarre [Nocture op. 38 for Flute (Violin) and Guitar] by Francesco Molino (Breitkopf & Härtel, 1976).
785.726 XMo

Leichte und vergnügliche Stücke für Flöte (Violine) und Gitarre, op. 74 [Easy and Enjoyable Pieces: for Flute (Violin) and Guitar, op. 74 by Mauro Giuliani (Universal Edition, 1984).
785.726 XGi

Musique d'ambiance [Cocktail music], arranged by David Jacques for violin (or other melody instrument) and guitar (Productions d'Oz, c2007). Volume 1 contains Artist's life waltz and Tales from the Vienna Woods by Johann Strauss II, Barcarolle by Jacques Offenbach, Habanera by Georges Bizet, Merry Widow Waltz by Franz Lehar, Liebestraum by Franz Liszt, Plaisir d'amour by Martini, Menuet by Luigi Boccherini, La paloma by Yradier, Skater's Waltz by Emil Waldteufel, O sole mio! by di Capua, Santa Lucia, Tango by Isaac Albéniz, Valse, opus 69, no. 2 by Frederik Chopin, Valse lente by Leo Delibes, Valse des fleurs by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky, and Wedding day by Edvard Grieg.  Volume 2 contains Aura Lee, Hungarian Dances nos. 4 and 5 and Valse by Johannes Brahms, Slavic Dance no. 10 by Anton Dvořák, Two Guitars, Black Eyes, La donna è mobile and Libiamo by Giuseppe Verdi, Schön Rosmarin by Fritz Kreisler, Solveig's song by Edvard Grieg, Tesoro mio by Becucci, Emperor Waltz and You and You by Johann Strauss II, and Vienna, My City of Dreams by Rudolph Sieczynski.
785.725 M97431

Musique de cérémonie [Ceremonial music] arranged David Jacques for violin (or other melody instrument) and guitar (Productions d'Oz, c2007).  Volume 1 contains Adagio by Albinoni, Air on a G string and Arioso by J.S. Bach, "Air" (from Water music), Canticorum jubilo, Largo, Lascia ch'io pianga by Handel, Ave Maria by Bach / Gounod, Ave Maria by Schubert, Ave verum corpus and Laudate Dominum by Mozart, Canon by Pachelbel, "Winter" and "Spring" from The Seasons by Vivaldi, Wedding March by Mendelssohn, Bridal Chorus by Wagner, Meditation from Thais by Massenet, O mio babbino caro by Puccini, and Panis angelicus by Franck.
785.725 M97432

Six Sonatas, opus 3, for violin and guitar by Niccolò Paganini (Warner Bros. Publications, 2004).
785.725 P14s3 2004

Sonata Concertata: for violin and guitar by Niccolo Paganini (Masters Music Publications, 1989).
785.725 P14s61

Umbrian Colors: for violin and guitar by Barbara Kolb (Boosey & Hawkes, 1989).
785.725 K83u

12 ungarische national Tänze: op. 16 [12 Hungarian National Dances] by Anton Diabelli (Ut Orpheus, 2010).
785.725 D5401u

The Plastic in Question - A Bibliography

A bibliography on salvage and found objects in arts and crafts

1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse: Remake, Restyle, Recycle, Renew by Garth Johnson (Quarry Books, 2009).
745.5 j6321o 

Alabama Studio Style: More Projects, Recipes & Stories Celebrating Sustainable Fashion & Living by Natalie Chanin (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 2010).
745.5 C36294a 

Art at the Dump: the Artist in Residence Program and Environmental Learning Center at Recology (Recology 2010).
700.4556 Ar751 

Art from Found Materials, Discarded and Natural by Maryl Lou Stribling (Crown, 1970).
745 St84a 

Book Art: Iconic Sculptures and Installations Made from Books, edited by Paul Sloman (Gestalten, 2011).
735.24 B64419

Collage and Found Art by Dona Meilach (Reinhold Pub. Corp., 1964).
751.4 M476c 

Collage, Assemblage, and the Found Object by Diane Waldman (Abrams, 1992).
REF 709.04 W146c 

Creative Recycling in Embroidery by Val Holmes (Sterling Publishing Co., 2006).
746.44 H739c

Eco-Craft: Recycle, Recraft, Restyle by Susan Wasinger (Lark Books, 2009).
745.5 W28e 

Fabulous Jewelry from Found Objects: Creative Projects, Simple Techniques by Marthe Le Van (Lark Books, 2005).
745.5942 L575f 

Found Art Mosaics by Susan Germond (Sterling Pub. Co., 2007).
738.5 G318f 

The Found Object in Textile Art by Cas Holmes (Interweave Press, 2010).
746 H734f 

Gardens of Revelation: Environments by Visionary Artists by John Beardsley (Abbeville Press, 1995).
709.04 B38g 

The Invented Camera: Low Tech Photography & Sculpture by Jo Babcock (Freedom Voices, 2005).
779 B114i

Jewelry Upcycled! Techniques and Projects for Reusing Metal, Glass, Plastic, Fiber, and Found Objects by Sherri Haab (Potter Craft, 2011).
745.5942 H11j 

Junk Jewelry: 25 Extraordinary Designs to Create from Ordinary Objects by Jane Eldershaw (Potter Craft, 2011).
745.5942 H11j

Junk to Jewelry: A Step-by-step Guide to Using Found Objects in Jewelry You Can Actually Wear by Brenda Schweder (Kalmbach Pub., 2007).
745.5942 Sch971j

The Lampshade Lady's Guide to Lighting Up Your Life: 50 Custom Lampshades & Lamps by Judy Lake (Potter Craft, 2009).
745.5932 L1486L 

Moving Rooms: The Trade in Architectural Salvages by John Harris (Yale University Press, 2007).
REF 745.0288 H2423m

The New Jewelry: Contemporary Materials & Techniques by Carles Codina (Lark Books, 2005).
745.5942 C6489n 

Re-Creative: 50 Projects for Turning Found Items into Contemporary Design by Steve Dodds (Home, 2006).
TEEN 745.5 DODD 

Rivers and Tides: Andy Goldsworthy Working With Time, directed by Thomas Riedelsheimer (Docurama, 2004).
DVD 702.8 RIVE 

Rubbish! Reuse Your Refuse by Kate Shoup (Wiley Pub., 2008).
745.5 Sh825r

The Salvage Sisters' Guide to Finding Style in the Street and Inspiration in the Attic by Kathleen Hackett (Artisan, 2005).
745.5 H1158s 

Self-Made Worlds: Visionary Folk Art Environments by Roger Manley (Aperture, 1997).
709.0407 M314s 

Trash, From Junk To Art, edited by Lea Vergine (Gingko Press, c1997).
REF 709.04 T69

Trash Origami: 25 Paper Folding Projects Reusing Everyday Materials by Michael G. LaFosse (Tuttle Pub., 2010).
736.982 L1344t 

Waste Land, directed by Lucy Walker (Arthouse Films, 2011).
DVD 702.814 WAST

Jazz In Print (1856-1929)

Jazz in Print is not, as its title might suggest, a bibliography of writings about jazz.  It is instead a collection of full text articles from newspapers and magazines (both popular and scholarly) that demonstrate the reception and understanding of African-American vernacular music in American society through the year 1929.

Jazz is a genre that came of age during the early years of sound recording.  The history we best know is the history we can hear.  Jazz in Print helps to document the prehistory of jazz by reprinting writings about the work and recreation music of American slaves, and about musical forms like minstrelsy, blues, and spirituals.

Beginning with ragtime at the turn of the 20th century ragtime and later jazz becomes a subject of dispute among musicians and critics. While the writings here demonstrate a "culture war" between classical music and jazz, the majority of the articles show a strong appreciation for jazz in American musical life.

Some entries are sensational ("Musician is driven to suicide by jazz" (177)  or "Shady dance steps barred by police" (214)).  Several were written by noted composers or critics like Leopold Godowsky (194), Darius Milhaud (234; 358), Virgil Thomson (342), Serge Koussevitzky (365).  In a 1924 symposium among a number of America's musical leaders asks "Where is Jazz leading America?," the The Étude reminds us that their magazine "does not endorse jazz, by discussing it."  There is also a  exchange of viewpoints in Forum magazine between George Antheil ("Jazz is Music" July 1928) and Sigmund Spaeth ("Jazz is Not Music" August 1928).

Jazz in Print provides an illuminating timeline that shows both the evolving influence of African-American music upon American popular culture and reaction of the cultural mainstream to this influence.

 The book concludes with an index of the names mentioned in the text.


Jazz in Print (1856-1929): An Anthology of Selected Early Readings in Jazz History, edited by Karl Koenig (Pendragon Press, 2002).