The Polish Music Center provides information about various aspects of Polish music to researchers, students, and music lovers. The PMC houses the largest public collection of its kind outside of Poland and includes published scores, books, periodicals, and recordings of Polish music, as well as original manuscripts, photos, personal items, letters and programs related to some of the greatest figures in Polish history.
At the moment about 600 items are in the USC Libraries online catalog system. The PMC Library houses over 15,000 items, including approximately:
5,000+ Books on Polish music subjects published since 1800 in many languages
8,000+ Scores: primarily published works by Polish composers, as well as copies of unpublished manuscripts and early prints dating back to 1820s
Journals and Periodicals: Polish music publications since 1946, including: Ruch Muzyczny, Muzyka, Jazz Forum, Polish Music
Specialized Collections: New Voices Collection of scores by young composers; Walter Martin Collection of 3,000 art songs; Michał Słominski Collection of sacred and secular, organ and choral music; and more
Composer and Performers files: articles, documents, photos, press clippings, concert programs, reviews
Audio and Video recordings: over 1,000 LPs, 1300 CDs, 78s, tapes, DVDs, CD-ROMs and other format recordings; rare Polish releases (Polskie Nagrania, DUX, Selene); complete live recordings and programs of the Warsaw Autumn Contemporary Music Festivals
Archives: museum-quality collections of original manuscripts, photos, letters, personal items and more (see PMC Archives link for details)
Copies of PMC-owned materials may be obtained for a fee (basic handling fee of $20 plus additional copying costs, in the case of large items). For copyrighted, in-print material the Center will refer you to the publishers. Copies of manuscripts and early prints will be provided for research purposes only. E-mail inquiries are answered without charge, unless large scans of pictures or text files are requested.
All requests for the use of PMC materials (books, scores, journals, etc.) must be submitted via email to: polmusic@usc.edu, listing the author, title and any other identifying information for the requested item or items. We are not a lending library, however most PMC Materials can be viewed and/or listened to at the Polish Music Center by appointment—see address below. Any items from the Manuscript Collection must be viewed in the Special Collections Reading Room, located on the second floor of the Doheny Memorial Library, room 206. All users of the Archives Reading Room are subject to being monitored during their visit and must adhere to the following:
1. Have an confirmed appointment, scheduled via e-mail
2. Supply a valid photo ID
3. Bring no personal items (except for a laptop computer) to the Reading Room (pencils and note cards will be provided)
4. Only one researcher may use a set of materials at a time
5. Handle all items with care
All researchers are advised that copyright holder’s written permission is required prior to the reproduction of certain types of materials, and such permission must be obtained prior to making any photographic reproduction. The copying of original materials is at the discretion of the curators. Some originals may not be copied due to fragility and/or size. Also, files cannot be copied in their entirety. A list of reproduction services and fees is available upon request. All researchers are required to credit the “Polish Music Center at the USC Thornton School of Music, Los Angeles” as the source of documents or photographs used.
The PMC library is open on weekdays: Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., however please call (213) 821-1356 or email polmusic@usc.edu to make an appointment.
Furnishings donated by Dr. Zbigniew Petrovich and Ms. Wanda Wilk. Tapestry (artist: Anna Rohozinska) donated by Dr. Clark Halstead. Stereo equipment donated by pianist Krystian Zimerman. Other equipment donated by Dr. Stefan & Mrs. Wanda Wilk.