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1. Composer and correct title of song
You must have this information for a quick and efficient library search. Please pay particular attention to the spelling of titles in foreign languages.
2. Title of the larger work (e.g. song cycle, opera, oratorio, cantata) which contains the song or aria
Use the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians [Index table or online] or Thomas R. Nardone, Classical Vocal Music in Print [ML113M87 MUR] to help determine this information.
3. Opus number or other identifying number
Often indicated in the New Grove or in the thematic catalog of the composer. Thematic catalogs are located in the Reference Books section in ML134.
Use a song index to find the name of the collection that contains your song
Indexes especially useful in finding art songs and operatic excerpts are:
For additional indexes consult Vincent H. Duckles and Ida Reed, Music Reference and Research Materials: an Annotated Bibliography, 5th ed. (New York: Schirmer, 1997). Located in the Ready Reference section at the Information Desk ML113 D83 M8 1997.
Once you have identified the print or recorded collection that contains the song or aria you need, consult the both the card catalog and the online catalog using the title of the collection to see if the Music and Performing Arts Library owns the collection. If we don't appear to own the collection, search other libraries in the state of Illinois using the IShare online catalog or come and see a Reference Staff member to help you locate the collection via Interlibrary Loan.
1. Select Quick Search from the Online Library Catalog. Using a Boolean Search, enter the composer's name and a word or two from the song title or the title of the larger work:
Composer--Song title
example: Schubert and Erlkonig (hint: don't worry about the diacritics)
Composer--Title of larger work
example: Mahler and "Knaben Wunderhorn" (put phrases in quotation marks)
In the card catalog, you must look under the title of the larger work first within a composer's name.
2. If you do not find your song or aria, enter the composer's name and one of the collective titles listed below.
Composer--Songs
example: Schumann (author) AND songs (subject)
Composer--Vocal music
example: Brahms (author) AND vocal music
Composer--Works, vocal [used in card catalog only]
example: Bach, Johann Sebastian
[Works, vocal]
Composer--Operas
example: Cavalli (author) AND Operas (subject)
Composer--Arias
example: Mozart (author) AND Arias (subject)
Composer--Lieder
example: Strauss (author) AND Lieder (subject)
For individual songs and vocal works which occur separately in large collections, look in Heyer, A. H. Historical Sets, Collected Editions, and Monuments of Music, vol. 2 (Index) M113 H49 1980 Reference Desk], under the composer's name. Then refer to volume 1 (Text) under the appropriate collection title or editor's name. Volume 1 shows the contents of each collection and the call numbers of collections owned the Music Library. Also useful: George R. Hill and Norris L. Stephens, Collected Editions, Historical Series & Sets & Monuments of Music: A Bibliography (Berkeley, CA: Fallen Leaf Press, 1997). (Also located at the Information Desk ML113 H54.)
University LibraryFor comments on this page contact: Music and Performing Arts Library
Last modified by: Kirstin Dougan on 6/3/08