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University of Texas University of Texas Libraries

UGS 302: How to Change the World (Padilla)

Finding Music Scores, CDs, and DVDs

Music Scores

Use the Advanced Search option in the Library Catalog to enter terms such as composer name (as Author/Creator), title of the work, etc. and select Scores from the Resource Type menu. 

screenshot of score search

Music Sound Recordings

Use the Advanced Search option in the Library Catalog to enter terms such as name(s) of performer, composer (as Author/Creator), title of the work or album, other details you know (such as record label, conductor, orchestra, publisher number, etc.), and select Sound Recordings from the Resource Type menu. Alternately, you can enter your terms in the Simple Search box and then use the facets on the left to refine your results to Audio.

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  • berlioz symphonie fantastique bernstein

Tip:  Title words for musical genres should be entered in the plural or with a wildcard symbol (concertos, concerto*; sonatas, sonata*) even when looking for only one work.

** It's not possible to limit to a particular format of container such as audio CD, vinyl record, tape, and so forth. These are all grouped together as Sound Recordings or Audio in the resource type.  When you browse results the formats will be shown in the individual records. The Libraries use special call number prefixes to designate container format:

  • COMPACT DISC MU - audio compact disc
  • PHNDISC MU - audio phono disc (analog)
  • CASSTTE - audiocassette
  • HMRCLP - LP in the Historical Music Recordings Collection

Film and Video

Use the Advanced Search option in the Library Catalog to enter terms such as title of the work, other details you know (such as director, cast members/performers, screenwriter, choreographer, studio, etc.), and select Video/Film from the Resource Type menu. Alternately, you can enter your terms in the Simple Search box and then use the facets to refine your results to Videos. You can limit your results to "physical copy" or "available online."

Notes on DVD languages and dates:

  • Language limits include alternative soundtrack languages (dubbing) or subtitles provided on a DVD. For example, an English-language DVD might offer subtitles in Spanish and French. Limiting results to Spanish language would also include this item, even though the primary language is English.
  • The date of a DVD is the publication date of that specific edition, which is not necessarily the same as the original release date of a film or broadcast date of a TV show. For example, if you limit your results to DVDs released after 2004, you would still get a 2005 DVD edition of a film originally released in 1956. Conversely, if you limit your search for the 1956 film with the dates 1955-1957, you will not retrieve the 2005 DVD version. The film's original date is usually given as a note in the full record, but this is not indexed as a date.

Library of Congress Music Classification

CLASS M - MUSIC

Outline of LC call nos.
M = scores / printed music
ML = books about music
MT = music instruction & study

Instrument and Voice Guides with call number ranges (IU)

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