To find most scores in the UVM Libraries (Howe, Library Research Annex, Williston Annex) follow this 2-step procedure:
- Use CATQuest (Advanced Search, then use facets)
- Limit your results to just music scores by selecting Music Score from the Type: menu
Just entering a composer's last name and limiting results to Music Score (step 2) will, in most cases, result in a manageable list of titles. Or, if your list of results is already short, you can just look for "score" icons in the far left column. If it's too long, you can add an extra keyword, as described in the next section.
Classical music scores, when cataloged, usually contain several of the following terms or concepts, all of which can be used as search terms. These terms may be used in searching for other types of music as well:
- Composer's last name
- Instrument(s) or voice type (e.g., soprano)
- Composition type (symphonies, sonatas, songs, etc.)
- Title keywords (nicknames, e.g. "Moonlight" sonata, are not always helpful)
TIP: Speaking of nicknames, or popular titles for well-known compositions, consult Adrian Room, A Dictionary of Music Titles if you're near the Reference collection. This will tell you more about the work so you can search for it with the above concepts in mind. Wikipedia and other online sources can be helpful as well.
Popular music almost always has unique titles, and sometimes you will know the composer, so keyword searching is helpful here. The Advanced Search irving berlin always retrieves 2 titles, one of which is The songs of Irving Berlin : ballads.
