About us
Opening Hours | Location | Staff | History | Louise Hanson-Dyer, 1884-1962
One of the leading music libraries in Australia, the Louise Hanson-Dyer Music Library is one of a number of University of Melbourne libraries and is open to students and staff of all faculties. The collections are diverse and comprehensive and include books, musical scores, journals, sound and video recordings, and a library of solo, chamber, orchestral and choral performing materials. There is a comprehensive holding of Collected Editions, monumenta and facsimiles of the works of composers from the 12th to the 20th centuries, as well as an extensive range of microfilms of unique manuscripts and other material held in major music collections in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.
The library also provides access to an extensive array of electronic resources which include databases, indexes, catalogues, audio streaming databases, journals and other electronic resources. These online materials can be accessed from within the library or from anywhere off-campus via the web. Please contact us for more information or if you need assistance.
Location
- We are located on the 3rd floor of the Baillieu Library. [floor plan]
- Campus location:
Professors' Walk, Parkville Campus. Map of Libraries on Parkville Campus - Pedestrian access: Royal Parade, Gate 13
- Vehicle access: Grattan St, Gate 10
- Melways Reference: Map 2B C6
- Postal address:
Music Library, Baillieu, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3010.
Staff
The library has a staff of four, including specialist music librarians who are available to advise on music research and bibliographic matters.
- Music Librarian: Evelyn Portek (telephone 8344 4219)
- Policy and administration matters,
- Reference,
- Collection management,
- Recommendations for new material.
- Liaison Librarian (Music): M.A. (Lena) Vigilante (telephone 8344 4652)
- Reference,
- Information Literacy Programs,
- Electronic Information,
- Collection management.
- Service Liaison Librarian (Music): Christine Webster (telephone 8344 5262)
- Reference and Circulation Services,
- Electronic services,
- Orchestral and Choral Music Hire,
- Collection management.
- Library Service Officer: Gordon Dunlop (telephone 8344 5262)
- Reference and Circulation Services,
- Reserve Desk Collection,
- Receipt of journals and other new materials.
- Library Service Officer: Kelli White (telephone 8344 5262) (Fridays only)
- Reference and Circulation Services,
- Reserve Desk Collection,
- Receipt of journals and other new materials.
History of the Music Library
Professor Marshall-Hall was appointed to the first Chair in Music in 1891, but it was not until 1908 that an Englishman, Mr. A.E.J. Lee presented 1,000 pounds to the Professor "to use as he saw fit for orchestral work". This money was used to form the nucleus of the Lady Northcote Permanent Orchestra Trust. Orchestral music was purchased and the library was formed.
Whilst music has moved forward in Victoria, and the Music Library here has played a very important part in its progress, it is interesting to note that in 1933 Sir James Barrett, then Deputy Chancellor, stated in an address that the music library "now contains 670 orchestral works, and 780 chamber works... and no less than 58 orchestral instruments". In 1940 Sir James again states when speaking of the library "all that is now wanted in that direction is a fireproof library as some of the contents are irreplaceable... the library is crowded out and difficult to handle because of the mass of musical works".
The library has changed its location many times. One of its more noteworthy homes in the Faculty of Music was a small downstairs lending library, commonly called "the dungeon", for it was in there, during one of its periodical floodings that, after much searching for the cause, the official explanation was given "that flooding occurs when the Maribyrnong rises".
Formerly known as the Conservatorium Library and recently named the Louise Hanson-Dyer Music Library, we are a branch of the University of Melbourne Library. In addition to monographs, serials, periodicals and collected editions, this library also holds scores, recordings and a choral and orchestral collection which for many years has supplied the performance material for symphony concerts throughout Australia.
Louise Hanson-Dyer, 1884-1962
The daughter of Melbourne politician and medical doctor Louis Smith MLA and his second wife Marion, Louise Hanson-Dyer was born Louise Smith in Melbourne in 1884. She attended the Presbyterian Ladies College before studying at the Albert Street Conservatorium in Melbourne, where she became an accomplished pianist.
After marrying the wealthy businessman James Dyer in 1911, she became a prominent and outgoing Melbourne socialite, well-known for organising flamboyant cultural events and as a Francophile and President of the Alliance Française.
The Dyers eventually settled in Paris and Louise Dyer began collecting music in 1929. By 1931 she had accumulated many valuable items, including first edition prints and manuscripts, early imprints of French opera and a collection of music treatises. It is this personal collection that has been donated to the University of Melbourne and which currently forms the basis of an exhibition at the University.
Éditions de l'Oiseau-Lyre arose when Louise Dyer tried to arrange publication of the complete works of the French opera composer Lully. When the project foundered, she established her own publishing house, which she ran from 1931 until her death in 1962. She married Jeff Hanson in 1939 following the death of James Dyer and became Louise Hanson-Dyer.
During her lifetime, Éditions de l'Oiseau-Lyre became one of the most esteemed scholarly musicological publishers in Europe. It is particularly renowned for its monumental series such as the complete works of François Couperin, the complete Attaingnant motets, the chansons of Clément Janequin, Polyphonic Music of the Fourteenth Century, and most recently the medieval repertory of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, the Magnus Liber Organi.
Louise Hanson-Dyers' collection passed to Jeff Hanson's second wife Margarita after his death, and in 1986 the University of Melbourne and Margarita Hanson entered a formal arrangement through which she agreed to transfer her ownership of the library.
"Bowerbird to Lyrebird: the Louise Hanson-Dyer Music Collection" was an exhibition displaying key historic and rare musical manuscripts collected by Louise Hanson-Dyer between 1929-1931 and recently bequeathed to the University of Melbourne. The exhibition was launched by Louise Hanson-Dyer's biographer Professor Jim Davidson and was on show until 24 September, 2007 (First Floor Exhibition Space, Baillieu Library, University of Melbourne). The exhibition was co-curated by Dr Jennifer Hill and Richard Excell, with support from the Universitys Cultural Collections staff. An Exhibition Catalogue is available.