Henry Watson Music Library
About the Henry Watson Music Library
Central Library temporary closure
During the renovation and refurbishment of Central Library the Henry Watson Music Library is operating from a temporary base at City Library.
The Henry Watson Music Library is named after Dr. Henry Watson, a renowned composer and teacher born in nearby Accrington. He gifted the contents of his private library to the care of Manchester City Council in 1902. Watson's original collection (some 16,700 volumes) has been supplemented by many important donations and acquisitions since and has grown into one of the largest collections of music in any public library.
The library today
The library today contains some 380,000 books and individual items of music. It includes:
Literature
- monographs (some 9,500 books on western and non-western art music, folk, jazz and popular music)
- periodicals (50 popular and scholarly titles with extensive back-runs)
Printed music
- printed music (vocal, choral, orchestral and popular music)
- early printed music and manuscript collections
- choral and orchestral music available for hire to performing groups and societies.
Most of the material in the library is available for loan but a a selection of reference works is available for research and study purposes or for leisure reading.
Membership
Membership of the Henry Watson Music Library and Manchester Public Libraries is free. Full membership details are available from the library.
Sets of choral and orchestral music are available to registered societies. There is a charge for this service. Please ask the library for details.
Contact
The Music Room
City Library
Elliot House
151 Deansgate
Manchester
M3 3WD
Telephone 0161-234-1976
Contents of Henry Watson Music Library
- About the Henry Watson Music Library (this page)
- Henry Watson and the history of the library
- Music Room at City Library
- Manuscripts and Rarities
- Music Hire
- Music Hire: Temporary Arrangements
- Directory of Music Library Resources
- Appendix 1: from Sir John Barbirolli's speech at the opening of the Henry Watson Music Library
- Appendix 2: from Vikram Seth's "An Equal Music"
- Bibliography 1: Henry Watson
- Bibliography 2: Manuscripts and Rarities
Further information
-
Naxos Music Library
The Naxos Music Library is a music streaming service providing comprehensive coverage of the classical repertoire. It is available to library members. Please follow this link and enter your borrower number when requested.
-
Oxford Music Online
Oxford Music Online, incorporating Grove Music Online, is the most authorative music reference source. It is available to library members. Please follow this link and enter your borrower number when requested.
-
Music Online
Music Online delivers a vast array of audio content from key record companies and music publishers covering all musical genres. It is available to library members. Please follow this link and enter your borrower number when requested.
-
Rock's Backpages
Rock's Backpages is a massive online archive of music journalism, featuring over 17,000 articles on artists from Elvis to Eminem, the Rolling Stones to the Stone Roses, and Amy Winehouse to the White Stripes.
