A library reference question: Berio

On Monday a mother called, seeking information on Luciano Berio. Specifically, she was seeking the 2nd and 3rd movement of Berio's Sinfonia. HWPL owns two works by Berio, but not the Sinfonia. I suggested called NYPL's Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center.

On Tuesday a father called, seeking information on Luciano Berio. Specifically, he was seeking the 2nd and 3rd movement of Berio's Sinfonia. I told him HWPL does not own that music, and remarked that someone had called the prior day about the same piece. Probably my wife, he remarked. He added that their daughter is going into opera and had been assigned this particular piece. He also asked if we had books about Berio.

In fact, we do. I told him about Two interviews - Luciano Berio, and said I would put it aside for them. After we got off the phone, I did more research, and found additional information. I found another book, Remaking the song : operatic visions and revisions from Handel to Berio.

I found and printed Berio's entry in The new Grove dictionary of music and musicians, as well as Berio's entry in Baker's biographical dictionary of musicians.

So I learned something about music, and something about reference. Millie Vollono had given me the Grove to look at as we researched a question I had been asked the prior day.