Western Libraries

Music - Resources by Instrument

Advice when starting

Searching by the Author/Creator alone, for prolific composers, will produce an overwhelming number of search results.

Searching by Title alone, for generic titles (e.g. sonata, concerto or symphony) will produce and overwhelming number of search results.

Searching by Title requires the title in the original language of the composition. E.g. for The Magic Flute one should use Die Zauberflöte; for the Nutcracker ballet one should use Shchelkunchik.

Libraries tend to collect anthologies, complete versions or complete editions (e.g. all of a composer's works, all of a composer's sonatas, an entire opera) rather than individual scores. The individual compositions contained in such works are provided in their contents notes. While a Title search will not find these, a Keyword search will.

Uniform Titles

Note: One musical score or recording can have a number of different titles. E.g. these all refer to the same piano concerto by Mozart:

  • Concerto in A major for piano, K. 488
  • Konzert A Dur, K. 488 fur Klavier
  • Piano Concerto in A Major, K. 488

Searching with the uniform title will find all editions or versions of a specific score, including those in other languages. For the example above, the uniform title is:

  • Concertos, piano, orchestra, K. 488, A major.

In a library catalogue, use the Author/Creator search and add the composer's name (and dates) in front of the uniform title. For the example above, the Author/Creator search is:

  • Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, 1756-1791. Concertos, piano, orchestra, K. 488, A major.

Finding repertoire ...when you know what you're after

Search for music in the library catalogue using any of the following:

  • the composer's name
  • the unique title in original language
  • the opus number (check the Works section of the composer's article in Grove Music Online; leave out the word "opus")
  • the thematic catalogue number (check the Works section of the composer's article in Grove Music Online; number only, no letters)
  • the word "part"

The Repertoire section under each of the Instruments pages is a useful starting point.

For more assistance, watch the following short videos:

Finding repertoire ...when you don't know what's out there

Search for music in the library catalogue by Subject. Notes:

  • Most scores' Subject headings will include the plural of a specific genre. Omitting the genre from a Subject search will retrieve miscellaneous solo works only.
  • Several instruments may be included in a Subject search.
  • Words or terms from Subjects may be used in a keyword (all fields) search.

Example library catalogue Subject searches:

  • sonatas (trumpet and piano)
  • suites (clarinet)
  • woodwind quartets clarinet
  • concertos (violin)
    • finds full scores and sound recordings
  • concertos (violin) solo with piano
  • concertos (trumpet with string orchestra)

Other useful library catalogue Subject searches include:

  • [instrument name] studies and exercises
  • [instrument name] orchestra studies
  • [instrument name] instruction and study