The N.M.Wadia Library of Music
The N.M.Wadia Library of Music is perhaps the only Performing Arts library of its kind in Mumbai. It has a large collection of books (over 20,000) and periodicals that encompass not just music but also theoretical as well as practical aspects of other art forms including Dance, Theatre, Film, Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Photography and Magic as well. The main emphasis is on World Arts which enables researchers, scholars and students to gain a comparative perspective.
Besides books on classical music, there is a unique collection of books devoted to ethno-musicology, religion, mythology and folklore. Apart from books, the library also has an audio section which contains a rich and rare collection of recordings of yesteryears. This includes over 5622 discs, 1396 cassettes, 78 RPM records and a listening facility on turn tables and cassette players.
A special feature of this library is its collection of treatises on Indian music published before 1900 and the unpublished play manuscripts donated by authors. A large collection of photographs of live programmes at the NCPA forms a rich source of reference material. Besides this, The Theatre Development Centre has documented information on almost every aspect of Indian theatre and related subjects including productions, institutions, personalities and themes.
The library is open daily from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm for the Performing Arts Circle members and the public.
