How to locate sheet music for opera, popular songs and classical music. Information on finding music criticism
Finding individual pieces in these multi volume editions can involve a straightforward search of the Library catalogue. A search under the title required is all that is needed to identify the edition, the volume number and the call number.
For example: if you search the title Music at the court of Henry VIII on the Library catalogue you will find the published score.
Not all music held in the Library will be individually catalogued. The Library holds the complete works of many composers. These publications can include over 100 volumes for a composer. Each item within these publications will not appear in the catalogue.
These complete works are not always easy to locate as the titles are often in the language of the composer. So for instance, the title of the complete works of Bach will be in his native language - German. This can make identifying complete works on the catalogue quite a difficult task.
The Bach complete works is titled Neue Ausgabe sämtlicher Werke [music]. Even if you locate this item it has over 100 volumes. Finding a single piece of music in such a large multi volume publication is difficult.
The best way to locate printed music that is not listed individually in the catalogue is through printed or online indexes.
For an online index to complete works see the Oxford Music Online tab.
The best way to locate printed music that is not listed individually in the catalogue is through printed or online indexes.
Historical sets, collected editions, and monuments of music: a guide to their contents (1980) (2 vols.)
New Grove dictionary of music and musicians
Pieces of classical music have a unique identifier known as an opus number.
This identifier uses letters to identify the composer and a number to identify the individual piece of work.
It is most reliably used when scholars have created a definitive catalogue of works.
For example:
J.S. Bach. - Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Opus 565
BWV-Bach Werkverzeichnis=Bach works list no. 565
Mozart's works have a K +number
Haydn's works have an H +number
Collected editions and monuments of music editions are publications of sheet music by notable composers.
These are often multi volume publications representing the complete works of a composer.
Individual pieces of music within these multi volume editions may have an entry in the Library catalogue.
However indexes will often need to be used to identify where particular pieces of music are located.
Once you have confirmed which volume you require you will need to identify the composer's complete works on the catalogue. This can be difficult. Try a search using the composers name and the term collected works. To broaden the search just try works with the composer's name.
Complete works will be include many volumes.
For an online index to complete works see the Oxford Music Online tab.
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