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University of Texas University of Texas Libraries

MUS 381: Reference and Research Materials in Music

Finding Music and Media

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 to refine your results to Sound Recordings.**

  • beatles rubber soul
  • 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"  resource type.  When you browse results the formats will be shown in the individual records. [Known bug: all records currently indicate "Audio CD" even when they are other formats.]  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

Video & Film

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, screenwriter, 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. 

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.

Call Numbers for Scores and Books

Selected Examples of Call Number Bases

M1001 scores of symphonies
M1500 full scores of operas
M1503 vocal scores of operas
ML128 bibliographies about topics, genres, instruments, etc.
ML134 bibliographies about composers and other individuals or groups
ML410 books about composers
ML417 books about keyboardists
ML418 books about string players
ML419 books about other instrumentalists (esp. jazz)
ML420 books about singers
ML421 books about performing groups
ML1702-1706 books about secular vocal music (esp. opera) by time period
ML3506 books about jazz
ML3531 books about rap and hip hop
ML3534 books about rock

Related Guide

Preferred Titles in Music (IU)

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