Oral History of American Music
Major musical figures of our time, in their own words.
The Oral History of American Music (OHAM) program has been collecting and preserving the voices of major musical figures since 1969. The program captures musicians’ narratives and reflections in their own words through in-depth interviews. OHAM is a living archive, currently comprising more than 3,000 audio and video recordings. We regularly conduct, catalogue, and transcribe interviews with emerging talents and established artists, producing primary and secondary source material for musicians, students, scholars, arts organizations, and the media.
How to Listen and Read
OHAM collections can be located through Archives at Yale. Once located, recordings for most interviews can then be streamed online via OHAM’s AV Access System, Aviary.
Streaming Audio and Video:
Access to Aviary from Archives at Yale is provided by clicking on the OHAM logo or video image provided for an interview. See this example.
Yale users can simply log in with their Yale University netID, and play the interview recording in Aviary.
Non-Yale users should follow the steps outlined in this video to gain 30 days free access to interviews.
Transcripts:
If you would like transcripts of any of these interviews, fill out a request form and a staff member will provide you with any available PDFs for download.
Tables of Contents:
Tables of Contents for many interviews are available in Archives at Yale, under the “External Documents” header for each interview (when available).
Using Special Collections:
All researchers visiting the Music Library’s Special Collections require an appointment. Learn more about using special collections.
Using OHAM Materials for Research
OHAM provides access to interview recordings and text transcripts for personal research use, teaching, and educational purposes. Free online streaming access to most OHAM original interview recordings is available. Digital copies of most transcripts are also available at no charge. A limited number of acquired materials are also digitized and/or transcribed, and are available for access.
In accordance with Yale’s Web Accessibility Policy, accessible versions of OHAM’s materials can be provided upon request. The time required to prepare these accessible versions will vary.
Researchers wishing to publish or broadcast OHAM materials are responsible for obtaining direct authorization from copyright holders. Generally, the interviewees or their estates hold the copyright.
For any use of the materials or content on the OHAM website, you must obtain permission from the copyright holder and cite OHAM as the source of the original material with the credit line below that corresponds to the appropriate collection, if applicable:
e.g., With thanks to the Oral History of American Music, Gilmore Music Library, Yale University for [Name of Interviewee], [Date of Interview]. Interviewed by [Name of Interviewer]. [Interview Call No.], [Collection Title].
e.g., With thanks to the Oral History of American Music, Gilmore Music Library, Yale University for Joan Tower, January 9, 1976. Interviewed by Frances Harmeyer. OHV 55 a-b, Major Figures in American Music
