FINDING MUSIC BY SUBJECT //
The following is intended as an introductory guide--with representative examples--to finding music scores and sound recordings in the Music Library of the University of the Arts, by means of Library of Congress subject headings.
All music materials are assigned English subject headings according to terminology developed and used over the last century by the Music Division of The Library of Congress. In order to search by subject successfully, it is essential to become familiar with the language and structure of these headings.
The examples here provide a cross-section, but do not include the full range of detail likely to be encountered. For more information, consult the extracted Music Subject Headings (2nd ed.) on the catalogue table in the UArts Music Library Reading Room; and for the larger context, see the complete Library of Congress Subject Headings volumes shelved opposite the Music Librarian's office.
If you have questions about these examples or about searching for musical works by subject contact the UArts Music Librarian.
General
Performance Medium
Solo
Instrumental Works
Specific
Instrumental Genres
Vocal
Repertories
Ethnic,
National, Religious Forms
Subheadings
Literature
About Music
To search by general medium of performance:
Vocal music
Choruses
Dance music
Computer music
Aleatoric music
Motion picture music
Big band music
Children's music
Blues (Music)
Reggae music
Gamelan music
Ragas
To search for miscellaneous solo instrumental works:
Lute music
Saxophone and piano music
Keyboard instrument music
Shamisen music
Dance music (Guitar)
To search by specific instrumental genre:
Symphonies
Ballets
Concertos (Orchestra)
Concertos (Trumpet with string orchestra)
Sonatas (Flute and piano)
Suites (Harpsichord)
Piano trios
Wind quintets
Canons, fugues, etc.
Tangos
To search for specific vocal genres:
Songs with instrumental ensemble
Song cycles
Solo cantatas, Sacred
Monologues with music
Motets
Choruses, Secular
Oratorios
Operas
Musicals
To search for ethnic, national, or religious forms:
as: Music--Japan ; Music--Africa, West
Songs, [Language]--[Place]
as: Songs, Spanish--Latin America
Similarly,
Folk songs, [Language]
Folk dance music--[Place]
Church music--Catholic Church
Chants (Plain, Gregorian, etc.)
Sufi music
Swedish-Americans--Music
Jews--Music
Maoris--Music
Jazz--1941-1950
Jazz--Brazil--1981-1990
Jazz--Scores [for full ensemble transcriptions]
Trumpet music (Jazz) [for excerpted solo transcriptions]
Concertos (Piano)--2 piano scores
Oratorios--Excerpts
String quartets--Parts
Musicals--Vocal scores with piano
For the purposes of comparison, examples of subject headings for literature about music:
--History and criticism
--Philosophy and aesthetics
--Instruction and study
--Bibliography
--Social aspects
--Origins of
Harmony
Conducting (Music)
Performance practice (Music)
Music in art
Style, Musical
Romanticism in music
Singing
Musical perception
Musical instruments--Construction
Composers--[Place]--Biography
Jazz musicians--[Place]--Biography
Ballet
String quartet
Raga