Music: A Guide to Library Resources and Research: Browse by Call Number (Scores and Books)

Scores and books in a music library are assigned unique call numbers and are shelved according to call number range. The first element of the call number indicates the nature of the content of the score or book. In general, at the Cornell music library:

• M is used for music scores (circulating scores shelved on the top floor of the Music Library; reference scores shelved on the bottom floor of the Music Library). Within each section, music is organized alphabetically by composer's last name. (See our Composer List for the alpha-numeric composer codes (Cutter numbers) used at Cornell.) Full-size/oversize scores and study scores have the same call numbers, but are shelved in different sections.
• ML is used for music literature, including music dictionaries, bibliographies, biographies, etc. (shelved on the bottom floor of the Music Library)
• MT is used for music education materials, analyses, methods (shelved on the top floor of the Music Library)

If you know the call number range for the topic, genre, or instrument you are looking for, you can browse by call number in the library catalog and in the music library stacks (shelving). Browsing by call number in the library catalog allows you to see materials that are checked out as well as materials that are housed at other libraries at Cornell and some electronic resources. Browsing by call number in the music library stacks allows you to see titles of chapters and other information that may not be detailed in the catalog record. Ask a music librarian for more detailed information about browsing specific call number ranges. Also consult: 

• Library of Congress Call Numbers for Music overview and tutorial (Bowling Green State University)
• Instrument and Voice Guides with call number ranges (Indiana University)
• Music Classification Numbers By Subject (Indiana University)
• Library of Congress Classification M (Music): M Preface, M Outline, and M Text in full detail (Library of Congress)  

An example of using the Call Number Browse in the library catalog to find scores is M1500 for complete operas, .M93 for Mozart, and Z for opera titles beginning with Z:

 

 

 

An example of using the Call Number Browse in the library catalog to find books is ML3531 for books about rap music and hip hop:

 

 

 

Within any catalog record, you can also browse related items by call number, such as additional books about rap music and hip hop classified in ML3531:

 

 

M: music scores

Piano Music

Piano Sonatas: M23

Piano Pieces (Nocturnes, etc.): M25

Piano Concertos (scores and orchestral reductions for 2^nd piano): M1010

Cadenzas for Piano Concertos: M 1010.5.A-Z (by composer of the concerto)

Additional circulating copies of piano works by Chopin, Liszt, and Mozart are shelved on the top floor of the Music Library in the complete works section, M3.

String Music

Sonatas for Violin and Piano: M219

Pieces for Violin and Piano (showpieces, etc.): M221

Solo Violin Works (without accompaniment): M42-43

Violin Concertos (full scores and orchestral reductions with piano accompaniment): M1012

Cadenzas for Violin Concertos: M1012.5.A-Z (by composer of concerto)

Sonatas for Cello and Piano: M231

Solo Cello Works (without accompaniment): M52-53

String Quartets: M452

Wind Music

Sonatas for Wind Instruments and Piano: M240-271 (first by instrument, then by composer)

Wind Concertos and Cadenzas: M1020-1035 (first by instrument, then by composer)

Vocal Music

Opera (full scores): M1500 

Operas (vocal scores with piano reduction): M1503

Songs, including arias, solo cantatas, etc., with piano reduction: M1612

Works for Voice and Piano (Lieder, etc.)- Collections, by composer: M1620

Works for Voice and Piano- Individual works (cycles, self contained songs): M1621

American Popular Songs (jazz standards, etc.) for Voice, Piano and Guitar (collections): M1630.18

Orchestral Scores

Symphonies- Full-size/oversize and study scores: M1001

Overtures (including stand-alone and opera overtures)- Full-size/oversize and study scores: M1004

 

ML: music literature, including music dictionaries, bibliographies, biographies, etc.

Music Reference

ML102: dictionaries and encyclopedias about topics, genres, instruments, etc.

ML128: bibliographies about topics, genres, instruments, etc.

ML134: bibliographies about composers and other individuals and groups

Music Biography

ML410: books about composers; shelved alphabetically by composer’s last name

(See our Composer List for the alpha-numeric composer codes (Cutter numbers) used at Cornell.)

ML416: books about organists; shelved alphabetically by organist's last name

ML417: books about keyboardists; shelved alphabetically by keyboardist's last name

ML418: books about string players; shelved alphabetically by string player's last name  

ML419: books about other instrumentalists (esp. jazz); shelved alphabetically by instrumentalist's last name

ML420: books about singers; shelved alphabetically by singer’s last name

ML421: books about performing groups; shelved alphabetically by name of group

Music History and Criticism

ML1702-1706: books about secular vocal music (esp. opera) by time period

ML3470: books about popular music

ML3477: books about North American popular music

ML3506: books about jazz 

ML3508-3509: books about jazz in specific countries 

ML3521: books about blues music

ML3524: books about country music

ML3527.8: books about funk music

ML3531: books about rap music and hip hop

ML3534: books about rock music 

ML3537: books about soul music 

ML3800: books about philosophical and societal aspects of music (general)

ML3916: books about social and political aspects of music (general)

ML3917: books about social and political aspects of music; shelved alphabetically by region or country (e.g. ML3917.U6 for United States)

ML3918: books about social and political aspects of music; shelved alphabetically by form or type (e.g. ML3918.F86 for funk, ML3918.J39 for jazz, ML3918.O64 for opera, ML3918.P67 for popular music, ML3918.R37 for rap music, ML3918.R63 for rock music, etc.)