Sometimes little or no written documentation survives on performance practices, instruments, or other aspects of music-making in a specific time or place (especially for earlier time periods, like the Middle Ages). When this is the case, visual images from the period can give us valuable clues. The study of images for the purpose of historical research is called iconography.
Images can include:
Many historical images have been published in collections, to aid in iconographical research. To locate these collections (and books discussing iconography), search ZSR Library's catalog or WorldCat using the following subject headings:
General collections can also be found in the stacks (shelves) under the call number ML89.
One particularly useful series is Musikgeschichte in Bildern ("music history in pictures"). Call number: ML89 M9.