Music in the Library Catalog: Basic Search and Advanced Search
Search for scores and audio and video recordings in the library catalog. Read the Search Tips to learn more. Depending on what you are looking for and how precise or exhaustive you want your search results to be, you may want to try the basic keyword search, the Advanced Search, or the Browse mode (within basic keyword search).
An example of a basic keyword search that works well with a specific field selected is West Side Story in Title.
Use the Format facet to limit your search results to scores, musical recordings, or videos.
An example of a basic keyword search that works well with no specific field selected is Messiaen Fin Temps in All Fields.
Use the Format and Access facets to limit your search results to scores or musical recordings, online or at the library.
An example of a good use for the Advanced Search, with specific fields selected for multiple generic search terms, is Who in Author and Tommy in Title.
Use the Format facet to limit your search results to scores, musical recordings, or videos.
Music in the Library Catalog: Uniform Titles, Author-Title Browse, and Author Browse
Sometimes, you will need to determine a musical work's uniform title (sometimes called a preferred title) and use it in your search. This is the official title of the work in the library catalog and should be present in every catalog record for the work regardless of the form or language of title used by the publisher or record company. Learn more in this guide to uniform (preferred) titles for music, made by music librarians at Indiana University.
Search in the library catalog for any record for a score of the work. For example, do a basic keyword search for Stravinsky Firebird in All Fields.
Within a catalog record for a score of the work, select the uniform title to carry out a new search for the work. For example, within a catalog record for a score of The Firebird by Stravinsky, select the Russian uniform title.
Your new search may include results that did not appear during your original search before you determined the uniform title. For example, you may find scores and recordings of The Firebird by Stravinsky that do not bear the English title at all.
See this search in action (scores of Stravinsky's Firebird) on YouTube. This uses the basic keyword search box in the library catalog.
Sometimes, you will want to use a more precise and sophisticated search, such as Author Browse (A-Z) Sorted By Title.
See this search in action (scores and recordings of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata) on YouTube. (This video was made prior to a redesign. The Browse mode is now integrated into the basic keyword search box of the library catalog.)
Sometimes, the Author Browse (A-Z) Sorted By Name search is useful for browsing alphabetical lists of names to find works by or about a person, especially with common names like Michael Jackson or short, generic names like Prince.
Scan the name headings resulting from your Browse search. When available, select the Info button for contextual information about a person, such as Prince.
Within the description of a person, select results for Works by or Works about the person, such as Prince.
See this search in action (works by and works about Michael Jackson) on YouTube. (This video was made prior to a redesign. The Browse mode is now integrated into the basic keyword search box of the library catalog.)