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Black, Indigenous, people of colour (BIPOC) musicians

Use this guide to explore the musical traditions, compositions, and scholarship of Black, Indigenous, people of colour (BIPOC) individuals.

Online audio

  • DRAM: Database of Recorded American Music
    • Stream sound recordings from independent labels and sound archives (e.g. New World Records, Composers Recordings (CRI), Albany Records)
    • Primarily American music
    • Encompasses avant-garde, contemporary, electronic, folk, opera, indigenous, jazz, musical theatre, and more
    • Access original liner notes and essays
  • Naxos Music Library Jazz (NML3 - Jazz)
    • Streaming audio library (jazz music)
    • Access more than 200,000 tracks of jazz music
    • Includes notes on the works and biographical information on composers and artists
    • Note: This database has a limited number of simultaneous users. If you have trouble accessing or receive an error message, please try again later.
    • Naxos Music Library Jazz App: Available for Apple or Android mobile devices. You must create a personal account prior to using the app.

Online video and film

  • Qwest.tv
    • Dedicated to jazz, soul, funk, and world music
    • Catalogue features over 500 concerts, documentaries, and rare archival footage
    • Most videos are subtitled in English or French 
  • Academic Video Online (Alexander Street)
    • Multidisciplinary video platform that includes a substantial component of Music & Performing Arts content (e.g. documentaries, performances, interviews, instructional material)
    • Filter by subject, such as Black Studies, Indigenous Peoples, or Diversity
  • Black Film Archive
    • A living register of Black films, showcasing films made from 1915 to 1979
    • Films are organized chronologically and by genre, including music

Audiovisual collections

Location and contacts

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Music Library Staff
Contact:
Marvin Duchow Music Library
Elizabeth Wirth Music Building
3rd floor - 527 Sherbrooke Street West
Montreal, Quebec H3A 1E3
514-398-4695
Website
Subjects: Music

Resource key

  • McGill users only
  • Open access resource
  • Free resource
  • In-library use
  • Catalogue record

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