A music information retrieval system and method that involve a query-by-humming (QbH) database system for processing queries in the form of analog audio sequences which encompass recorded parts of sung, hummed or whistled tunes, recorded parts of a melody played on a musical instrument or a speaker's recorded voice articulating at least one part of a song's lyrics to retrieve textual background information about a musical piece whose score is stored in an integrated database of said system after having analyzed and recognized said melody.