Conducting Research in Music at Yale University Library 

Finding Scores Online

Classical Scores Library - Western art music from the Renaissance through 21st century. In the early stages of development.

Index to Printed Music - Works published in scholarly editions of music, including the multi-volume Ref M2-M3 classifications.

International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP). A FREE collaborative music score library. Over 15,000 works.

see also Scores Online and Sheet Music Collections

Finding Scores

Yale Library's online catalog, Orbis, is the place to start. Try a simple keyword search such as: brahms and piano music (more examples of keyword searches)

From the resulting list of titles, click on the number to the left of an entry to see more information.

To find the score in the library take note of the Location, Call Number and Status.

This example above shows that the book is on reserve. Other possible score locations include the SML stacks, the LSF, Drama Library (now Arts), Beinecke, & MSSA.

Refine Your Search

TIP The problem with keyword search is that it returns all kinds of items like books, sound recordings, DVDs, etc.

How do you find only scores then?
First, from the search screen, click on "more limits"
Then in "Item Type," select "Printed Musical Scores" and click "set limits"

*Use CTRL key to select more than one option.

After setting limits enter a keyword search and click search.

TIP When the record displays, notice particularly the Uniform Title and Subject fields, which may suggest terms that will allow you to refine your search.

TIP   There are "power terms" that you should try using in your searches. They will provide the best results. Examples of such terms include name of composers, names of editors, names of publishers (e.g. henle), numbers (e.g. opus numbers, BWV numbers, Köchel numbers, etc.), genre or form terms, distinctive titles, and names of instruments.

HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF SUCH SEARCHES

More Examples of other Keyword Searches

Additional examples of keyword searchers for finding scores

• brahms and 118 (will find records containing Brahms’s op. 118)
• pavan or pavane (will find records with either spelling)
• purcell not dido (will find works by Purcell, except for those with the word “Dido” in them.)
• “nozze di figaro” (using "" will find records containing the phrase)
• brahms and intermezz? (example of truncation using the question mark sign)
• trios and clarinet and bassoon