Searching for Music in Libraries Australia
CONTENTS
Introduction
This guide is aimed at helping librarians and advanced researchers search for music using Libraries Australia Search. It focuses on the type of searching strategies required to find different types of music materials in libraries within Australia, in particular printed music, music manuscripts and sound recordings. It should be used in conjunction with the general guides on Libraries Australia available on the web.
What music materials can you find on Libraries Australia?
You can find holdings of music and music related materials in Australian libraries that contribute to the Australian National Bibliographic Database (ANBD). This includes:
Printed music
Collections of unpublished music, if catalogued.
Sound and video recordings
Electronic publications
Manuscript collections http://www.nla.gov.au/ms/ see also Register of Australian Archives and Manuscripts
Materials about music and musicians
Pictorial materials: Images may also be accessed through Images1 and Picture Australia
Note: There are a large number of items of music listed in the ANBD. Historically, however, some specialist music libraries were not able to add records to the ANBD, and libraries are only gradually catching up on such retrospective cataloguing and loading of data. If you cannot find an item that you are sure exists, you should check whether that institution contributes data to the ANBD by looking at the "more details" entry within Australian Libraries Gateway (see below).
Level of records
There are many different levels of detail included in music records on the Australian National Bibliographic Database. Where a catalogue entry is relatively complete, Libraries Australia searches will be highly effective. However, lower level cataloguing and lack of standard titles and descriptions can result in poor retrieval of information, so remember to try different searches or refine your search if your first search is negative or produces far too many hits.
Special collections containing many items are not always catalogued by item but as a detailed collection level entry (eg Helm collection of 19th Century music at the NLA). In this case you would need to contact the relevant library directly.
Using the guide
The guide aims to provide a range of strategies for searching according to standard library searches (eg name, title, subject) and also according to more music specific criteria (eg manifestation of a score, medium of performance/instrumentation). Each suggestion is followed by a range of examples, including suggestions for refining or combining searchers.
The most generally effective way to search for information on Libraries Australia is to use keyword searches. Libraries Australia is not case sensitive. Always omit punctuation marks such as commas, semi-colons, colons and quotation marks. You do not have to include initial articles such as "a", "an", "the", "le", "der" etc.
How do you locate an item once you have found a holding in an Australian library?
Information on libraries is listed in the
Australian Libraries Gateway.
Your local library should be able to supply you with more information on how to
organise an inter-library loan, however you may wish to contact the library
that holds the material as not all materials can be loaned or copied.
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1. Title
Title Searches
Title searches assume that the search terms input will match the Title of the piece exactly or at least match the beginning of the Title. (See examples 1 & 2).
Titles for music items may be in a language other than English, for example, Le Nozze di Figaro.
Title Keyword Searches
This option will search for an individual Keyword or a phrase that may occur anywhere in the Title field. (See examples 3 & 4).
Use Keyword Title searches when looking for:
- the Title of the work
- the Name of the composer, lyricist, arranger etc (statement of responsibility).
- both the Name and the Title
- the Series Title
Title Keyword Phrase Searches
Please note that when you input two words in a Title Keyword search box, it will look for items with those two words directly next to each other. If you wish to search for two or more Keywords anywhere in a Title, input each word in a separate search window. (See examples 5 & 6).
Title Keyword Phrase Search

Examples
Exact Title Search


Title Keyword Search



Title Keyword Phrase Search


Series Title Search

2. Name
A Name search will search for authors, composers, librettists, performing ensembles, organisations, performers, editors, arrangers and transcribers. If unsure of the exact form of the Name, use the Browse function and search under Name.
Exact Name Searches
Exact Name searches assume that the search terms input will match the name exactly or at least match the beginning of the name. For an exact name search enter the surname first followed by the first name. Because cataloguers use different forms of names, you will retrieve varying results. Always try different name spellings and combinations. (See example 1).
Name Keyword Searches
Name Keyword searches will search for a Name or parts of a Name anywhere in the Name field. (See examples 2, 3 & 4).
Examples
Exact Name Search

Name Keyword Search



3. Browse
The Browse Feature allows you to browse the Title, Name and Subject indexes in Libraries Australia. (See EXAMPLE 1, & 2).
The Browse feature will help you find the correct spelling of a Name or Title or Subject Keyword.
Click on the entry you are after and Libraries Australia will enter this term in its correct format back in the search screen.
Examples
Using the Browse Feature to Search for a Name


Using the Browse Feature to Search for a Subject


4. Subject
There are three ways of searching for Subjects on Libraries Australia:
- Exact Subject Search - Search using the exact Library of Congress Subject Heading.
- Subject Keyword Search - Search for a word within a subject heading.
- Browse - Browse the Subject list for correct subject headings.
N.B. Some libraries have additional institution specific subject headings relating to music that are not on Libraries Australia. Please consult the librarian and local catalogue where you are researching to determine the particular institution specific subject headings relating to music.
You can search subject headings according to genre and/or style.
Examples:
Genre Style
String Quartet Baroque Concerto Jazz Symphony Gospel Opera Patriotic Sonata Folk
Exact Subject Searches
Library of Congress Subject Headings are generally used when cataloguing music. For an exact subject search you must enter subject headings in the correct Library of Congress format.
Subject Keyword Searches
Use Subject Keyword searches when unsure of the exact Library of Congress subject heading to use. Remember when searching for two or more keywords anywhere in a subject, they must be input in separate search windows. Libraries Australia defaults to phrase searching if the words are input into a single search window.
Examples
Some of the most commonly expressed concepts in subject headings for music are listed below.
Musical form, genre, style and type
(eg. Symphonies, Choruses, Sacred, Chorale preludes)



Music for occasions, such as religious seasons, holidays and festivals (eg. Christmas music; Passover music; April Fools Day songs and music)


Music about a topic
(eg. Songs and music about Wattle; Songs and music about Sir Donald Bradman)


Certain liturgical texts
(eg. Psalms, 23rd Psalm)


Music of specific ethnic, national and religious groups
(eg. Hindu music; Quechua Indian music)

Geographic subdivisions
(eg. Musical instruments from Uganda)
Use the Subject keyword search to find music about or from a place.

5. Physical Description / Manifestation of Score
Search Note Keyword for different manifestations of a particular score, (eg. vocal score or miniature score).
Example

6. Language
Titles are catalogued according to the language used in the title of the individual item. When looking for music that may be in another language, try different language searches, for example: to find music from The Marriage of Figaro, consider also trying Le nozze di Figaro as a Title keyword search.
Examples
Titles in different languages

Language of lyrics
(eg. English ballads; Norwegian folk songs)

Check the Note or Title field to clarify the language of a score.

7. Note Keyword
Keywords in the Note field can only be searched if they have been included in the bibliographic record. Much information can be elicited from the note field if the information is included
Note Keyword can be used when looking for:
- Names of musical works or items within larger publications (eg. musical item on a CD)
- Performer or ensemble Names
- Commissions
- Dedications
- Form, genre
- Plate/Publisher number
Examples


8. Material Type
Libraries Australia allows users to search for a particular music Material Type (eg.printed music, sound recordings, manuscript papers).
A Material Type search requires the user to know the Material Type they are looking for and to match it with the appropriate code. The Material Type code search is to be used in combination with another search.
Material Type Codes
Printed Music (c)
This code will search for printed music (including microform). It may also include computer-generated scores and facsimiles.
Music Manuscript (d)
This code will search for music manuscripts (including unpublished music in microform). It may include autographs, sketches, hand written and unpublished music.
Music Manuscript Papers (t)
This code will search for personal papers, including letters, diaries, notebooks, speeches, lectures, drafts of books and articles, research or reference files, cutting books, photographs, drawings, minute books, agenda papers, logbooks, financial records, maps and plans. To find the personal papers of a composer, combine this search with the Name of the composer.
N.B. When searching for personal papers and manuscripts also check the
Register of Australian Archives and
Manuscripts (RAAM)
RAAM is a database of records of non-governmental
archives and manuscripts held by Australian libraries and other archival
repositories.
Sound Recording (non-musical) (i)
This code will search for sound recordings that are non-musical. This includes spoken word recordings.
Sound Recording (musical) (j)
This code will search for musical sound recordings.
Examples





9. Medium of Performance
Medium of Performance refers to the instrumentation used in a piece of music. This may be [Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass] or [harp and flute], or [piano and violin].
The medium of performance may appear in any of these fields:
Title Keyword
Note Keyword
Subject Keyword
Examples


10. Publisher
When looking for music by a particular publisher use the Publisher Name Keyword feature. Use this feature in a combination search.
Examples

11. Books, Periodicals and Electronic Items Relating to Music
Literature and other items relating to music
To search for literature and other items relating to music use combination searches with Material Type Codes and/or Subject Keywords.
Books and Printed Items Code (a)
To find books or other printed items on music, enter the Material Type code (a) in conjunction with a Title Keyword or a Name Keyword.
Electronic Material Code (m)
To find electronic items, CD-ROMs, computer files etc., on music, enter the Material Type code (m) in conjunction with a Title Keyword or a Name Keyword.
Periodicals
To find music related periodicals, enter periodicals as a Subject Keyword in conjunction with a Title Keyword or a Subject Keyword.
Examples


12. Some Tips and Typical Questions Using Advanced and Combined Searches
















