JAVS Fall 2022

With Viola In Hand

Violists in the Library by Lanson Wells

When we play a gig or sit and watch an orchestra or chamber ensemble, it is easy to forget that the musicians on stage are only part of the performance. The sheet music on the stand was specifically prepared for that event, and without music and orchestral librarians, the show might not go on! Music careers are multi layered and many of us work as performers, teachers, instrument technicians, and administrators. I have been lucky to work in several aspects of music librarianship, and it is a dynamic career path in which many of us string musicians may have the opportunity to serve our symphonies, opera orchestras, and ensembles. This article will present information on different careers in librarianship, ideas on going further in the profession, and ways we violists could apply our skills to act as librarians. Additionally, this short article will profile and link to the most important professional organizations for music librarians. Though there are as many different careers for music librarians as there are for performers and teachers, we will consider the two most common paths: orchestral librarians and music librarians. Orchestral (chamber, symphony, opera, or musical theater) librarians spend their time marking and editing orchestra parts, procuring and returning rental scores, copying and mailing parts to musicians, maintaining a library of scores, and making sure all performance parts are ready for the concert. Both regional and community orchestras, as well as major symphony orchestras employ librarians. In a regional level orchestra, the librarian is likely to be a member of the ensemble, whereas a major symphony is likely to have a full-time orchestral librarian. Many orchestral librarians learned their trade on the job or in an internship, though full-time librarians working for major orchestras are likely to have earned advanced degrees in music and library science.

Music librarians are more likely to work in an academic setting, such as a college, conservatory, university, or research library. This type of music librarian is likely to spend their time cataloging and maintaining collections of sheet music, books, and audio recordings. Their job will also include acquiring new materials, providing reference assistance, repairing and preserving books and scores, and offering instruction on the use of the library. Some university music librarians may maintain archives and work with manuscripts or other rare materials. Music librarians working in an academic setting are likely to have master’s degrees in both music and library science, along with some knowledge of foreign languages. Like many, my career in orchestral and music librarianship started when one of the regional orchestras I play with needed a librarian. Humorously, years later the orchestra’s music director told me I was chosen because I was always reading a book at break! String players are frequently asked to fill this spot because knowledge of bowing technique and orchestra markings is a necessary skill for this type of music librarian. I found this fast paced environment to be both thrilling and satisfying, and it deepened my understanding of the orchestral world. Working as a librarian for an orchestra directly led me to into a career in both music and public libraries. I eventually earned a Master of Library Science degree, and I was lucky enough to get a position in a conservatory music library. Behind the reference desk, I spent time connecting students and faculty to the items they needed, kept track of the library’s journal subscriptions, assisted students with the use of audio equipment, and had the unique opportunity to handle and preserve rare books and scores. Seeking a chance to serve a larger population, I transferred the skills I learned working for an orchestra and in a music library and I now work assisting patrons in both reference and circulation

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Journal of the American Viola Society / Vol. 38, No. 2, Fall 2022