Music: Getting Started

Maag Library houses various formats of musical materials, including:

• Reference books, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, indices, and bio-bibliographies - located in the Reference Collection on the main floor.
• Music Course Reserves - located at the Library Services Desk on the main floor. Must be requested by course name and/or number, professor's name, title of material.
• Books - located on the 3rd floor at the beginning of the books section.
• Scores - located on the 3rd floor outside.  Oversized and miniature scores are shelved separately.
• Sound Recordings - CDs are located in display cabinets in the 3rd floor Multimedia Area. Only the CD cases are displayed. Take the case to the Library Services Desk on the main floor to checkout the CD.
• Projected Media - DVDs are located in display cabinets in the 3rd floor Multimedia Area. Only the DVD cases are displayed. Take the case to the Library Services Desk on the main floor to checkout the DVD.

Maag Library uses the Library of Congress Classification Scheme (LC) to determine the location of its materials.  The LC system is an alpha-numeric system.  This means that the call numbers contain letters and numbers.  The letters tell the user the general subject matter of the material; the numbers provide more specific information about the material.

M = Music or Scores

ML = Music Literature and/or Music History

MT = Music Theory and Pedagogy

Below are some important range designations for MUSIC in the LIBRARY of CONGRESS system:

M 1.A1-5000: MUSIC COLLECTIONS

M 2-2.3: Collections of Musical Sources, including Monuments

M 3-3.1: Collected works of individual composers

M 6-1490: INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

M 6-175: Solo instruments

M 177-990: Music for two or more solo instruments

M 180-298.5: Duets

M 300-386: Trios

M 400-486: Quartets

M 500-586: Quintets

M 600-686: Sextets

M 700-786: Septets

M 800-886: Octets

M 900-986: Nonets and larger combinations of purely chamber music

M 990: Chamber music for instruments of the 18th century and earlier

M 1000-1075: Orchestra

M 1001: Symphonies

M 1004: Overtures

M 1010-1011: Piano concertos

M 1100-1160: String orchestra

M 1200-1269: Band

M 1366: Jazz ensembles

M 1376-1420: Instrumental music for children

M 1473: Electronic music

M 1497-5000: VOCAL MUSIC

M 1497-1998: Secular vocal music

M 1500-1527.8: Dramatic music (including operas and musicals)

M 1500: Full scores

M 1503: Vocal scores with piano accompaniment

M 1611-1624.8: Songs for one (1) voice

M 1627-1853: National music

M 1990-1998: Secular music for children (useful for music education)

M 1999-2199: Sacred vocal music

M 2000-2007: Oratorios

M 2010-2017.6: Masses

M 2020-2036: Cantatas, choruses, etc.

M 2101-2114.8: Songs for one (1) voice

M 2115-2146: Hymnals

ML 35-3930: LITERATURE ON MUSIC

ML 48-54.8: Librettos

ML 100-109: Dictionaries & encyclopedias

ML 111-158: Bibliography

ML 113: Guides to historical sets, series, complete works, etc.

ML 134: Composers catalogs, thematic catalogs, A-Z (guides to research)

ML 159-3797: History & criticism

ML 162-197: By time period

  ML 193: General Baroque

  ML 194: 1600-1700

  ML 195: 1700-1800

  ML 196: 1800-1900

  ML 197: 1900-

ML 385-429: Biography

  ML 410: Composers, A-Z

ML 430-455: Composition

ML 460-1354: Instruments & instrumental music

ML 1100-1165: Chamber music

ML 1200-1270: Orchestral music

ML 1300-1354: Band music

ML 1400-3275: Vocal music

ML 1500-1554: Choral music

ML 1600-2881: Secular vocal music

ML 2900-3275: Sacred vocal music

MT 2-949: MUSICAL INSTRUCTION & STUDY

MT 3: History of Music Education

MT 6-7: Music Theory

MT 40-67: Composition

MT 70-71: Orchestra & orchestration

MT 73: Band & instrumentation for band

MT 90-145: Analytical guides

MT 170-810: Instrumental techniques

MT 728: Chamber music instruction & study

MT 730: Orchestral music instruction & study

MT 733-733.6: Band instruction & study

MT 740-810: Instruction & study for children

MT 820-949: Singing & voice culture