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 author (see end of this page).

General Performance Medium
Solo Instrumental Works
Specific Instrumental Genres
Vocal Repertories
Ethnic, National, Religious Forms
Subheadings
Literature About Music

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To search by general medium of performance:

Orchestra music
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

For jazz, see notes on subheadings below.

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To search for miscellaneous solo instrumental works:

Percussion music
Lute music
Saxophone and piano music
Keyboard instrument music
Shamisen music
Dance music (Guitar)

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To search by specific instrumental genre:

Overtures
Symphonies
Ballets
Concertos (Orchestra)
Concertos (Trumpet with string orchestra)
Sonatas (Flute and piano)
Suites (Harpsichord)
Piano trios
Wind quintets
Canons, fugues, etc.
Tangos

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To search for specific vocal genres:

Songs with piano
Songs with instrumental ensemble
Song cycles
Solo cantatas, Sacred
Monologues with music
Motets
Choruses, Secular
Oratorios
Operas
Musicals

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To search for ethnic, national, or religious forms:

Music--[Place]
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

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Notes on subheadings:

Subdivisions for general media of performance headings:

General headings may be followed by geographical or other subheadings. The conventions are intended to be helpful but require familiarity to use well. Jazz, for instance, is assumed to originate in the United States unless otherwise indicated. Its heading also often includes a subheading for the relevant decade:

Jazz--1941-1950
Jazz--Brazil--1981-1990
Jazz--Scores [for full ensemble transcriptions]
Trumpet music (Jazz) [for excerpted solo transcriptions]

Subdivisions for arrangements or abridgements:

(Genre headings may be followed by subheadings to indicate specific publication formats.)

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:

Music--Theory
--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

Note:

Opera
Ballet
String quartet
Raga

(about, as opposed to plural Operas, Ballets, etc. for representations of musical compositions)

For questions or to find additional relevant music materials contact Dr. Mark Germer, UArts Music Librarian.