*Finding Classical Music Scores *
A Meriam Library Research Guide

 
Scores in Meriam Library
Scores in the Music Library PAC 130

Search Strategy One - Library Catalog
(Easy to do and often succeeds)

Search Strategy Two - GroveMusic or New Grove
(Takes longer but good results for major composers.)
More about Scores and why finding scores may be difficult
 

*The Music Library in PAC 130 has over 6000 scores. Each is cataloged individually so that it is easy to locate. Music Library hours are Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Phone: 898-6155.
*The Meriam Library also has many scores. A few may be printed from CD ROMS held in Limited Loan. Composers and works available on CD Rom are:
  • Bach...Complete Church Cantatas... M2020 B33
  • Bach...Complete works for organ + Art of fugue...M11 B33
  • Beethoven...Complete works for solo piano...M22 B4 B44
  • Brahms...Complete works for solo piano...M28 B8 B72
  • Chopin...Complete works for solo piano...M22 C545 C567
  • Haydn & Scarlatti...Complete keyboard sonatas...M23 H4151
  • Mozart...Complete works for piano (2 and 4 hands), M22 M93 C3
  • Schubert...Complete works for solo piano...M22 S38 C65
  • Schumann... Complete works for solo piano...M22 S392 C3
The majority of Meriam Library scores, however, are in large multi-volume anthologies found in the Folio section on the third floor. Scores in anthologies are not listed separately in the Library Catalog. If you are looking for examples of works by composer, period, or genre, it may be helpful to browse in the Folio section. All scores have call numbers beginning with the single letter M.
  • M1 incldes general anthologies - covering various periods, instruments and genres - popular & classical
  • M2 includes specific periods and genres, for example anthologies of early Renaissance music.
  • M3 is used for anthologies by composer.

Scores for single pieces and smaller collections (piano duets, string trios, etc.) are cataloged and will appear in the Library catalog. Here are some strategies for finding them.

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* Search Strategy One: Search the Library Catalog using "keyword." Follow these examples:
To find works by a certain composer for a certain instrument, form or named piece
  • (Composer) and scores and (instrument): Bach and scores and harpsichord
  • (Composer) and scores and (form): Handel and scores and concerti grossi
  • (Composer and (named piece) Handel and scores and water music
To find collections of a composer's work - useful if the searches above are unproductive
  • (Composer) and works: Bach and works
  • (Composer) and werke: Bach and werke*
    • *Often German or the original language of the composer is used. For best results try both.
  • Eliminate sound recordings (CD's and audiocassettes) using this format:
    • (Composer) and works not sound* : Handel and works not sound*
To find scores by form or instrument
  • Sonata* and scores
  • Trio* and scores and flute
  • piano and cello and scores

*Use the asterisk to retrieve both singular and plural forms of a word, e.g.trio or trios. An asterisk (*) is not needed with the word score. This word is always plural when used as a catalog heading.

If you don't find the items you want the first time you search, try again with different keywords. The more you know about a piece, the easier it is to think of different keywords to use. If you are unsuccessful after a few tries, move on to strategy two, consult a librarian, or visit the Music Library in PAC 130. Music Library hours are M-Th, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Why is finding a score so hard anyway? Read more and find out.

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*Search Strategy Two: Use GROVEMusic online or the New Grove Dictionary (in print). These sources provide authoritative lists of a composer's works, cross referenced to a collection that contains the score. The Meriam Library has some of the collections cited. Search the Library Catalog or consult a librarian to find call numbers for those available.
Using GROVEMusic online
  • Use the small Search box followed by in the upper left of the screen. Enter the composer's name.
    The main "Full Text Search" box is not recommended because you will retrieve many items that are only marginally relevant.
  • The most relevant article is usually listed first. Select it and scroll through the table of contents.
  • Click on WORKS
  • In the right frame, note the names and abbreviations of the editions that will be cited. Write down the titles and editors of the collected works cited and their abbreviations.
    • For example, the works of Handel are cross referenced to two collections, Werke...Deutschen Handelgesellschaft (German Handel Society) ed. by Chrysander and abbreviated HG, and Hallische Handel-Ausgabe edited by Schneider and abbreviated HHA.
    • This information will be helpful later when searching the library catalog for a call number.
  • Scroll through the table of contents in the left frame to find the work you want and click. In the right frame, at the far right of the entry for the work, you will see a volume & page number for the score. The abbreviation for the collection is at the head of the column.
  • Once you have the name of a collection and the volume and page of the score, use the Library Catalog to see if the Library owns the collection and what it's call number is. Search by keywords: (Composer) and (Editor) and works or keywords from the title of the collection. For example:
    • Handel and works and Chrysander or German Handel Society
  • Try a search now in GroveMusic Online
Using the New Grove in print is similar

Search by composer. The works list is at the end of the article and the same collections and abbreviations are used as in the online version.

New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians in Meriam Library (2001).................Ref ML 100 N48

New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians in the Music Library (2001)............PAC 130

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*More about scores and why finding scores is often difficult

The more you know about a piece, the better your chances of finding it, because:

  • Musical works often have more than one name. For instance
    • Form or genre name (piano quintet in A major or quintet in A major for piano and strings)
    • Descriptive or popular name (Trout Quintet, Die Forelle, The Trout)
    • Uniform titles sometimes consolidate all variations, in English.
    • Read more about names and titles of musical works.
  • There are various ways to describe instrumentation. For example
    • piano or keyboard; cello or violoncello; trumpets or brass; choral or vocal
    • Thinking of all possible keyword combinations is difficult.
  • Library Catalogs are not always consistent in how they handle musical works
  • Individual pieces within a large collection are not listed separately in most library catalogs

*Locating scores...recordings, videos

Music, a Library Research Guide. This guide uses Melvyl in its examples.
http://library.ucsc.edu/ref/instruction/refguides/music/

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