Indigenous Musics of North America

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Finding Composers

Library catalogue records do not identify individual composers or compositions by race or ethnicity and rarely assign gender. You may wish to identify composers or compositions of interest using the following resources, and then search Omni

BIPOC Canadian Composers
"This dataset comprises a list of composers who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Colour (BIPOC) with a connection to Canada (e.g. are Canadian, working in Canada, or from an Indigenous nation situated in what is now known as Canada). (2021-10-29)"
The Composer Equity Project
(linked PDF) - by Chamber Music America - "A Database of ALAANA*, Women, and Gender Non-Conforming Composers" - "*Chamber Music America uses the acronym ALAANA to indicate composers who identify as African/Black, Latinx, Asian/South Asian, Arab/Middle Eastern, and Native American"
The Institute for Composer Diversity
Includes Composer Diversity Database and Works Diversity Database
New Muses Project
"...hosts a new, exciting, and straightforward way to learn about underrepresented composers from throughout classical music history. Our unique search tool generates curated recommendations of composers to explore based on the user’s current composer interests."
A Seat at the Piano
"Promoting Inclusion in Piano Repertoire" - Scores, Recordings, Leveling - "A resource for pianists, pedagogues, and curious music appreciators to explore."

A Selection of Composers with Works in Western Libraries' Collections

The following is a selection of Indigenous composers represented in the Music Library's score collection.

Scores and Sheet Music

Visit our Finding Music (by instrument) and Sheet Music - Online Resources pages.