The following types of scores at Helmke Library are shelved together in either the Library of Congress collection or the Dewey Decimal collection.
Miniature or Pocket scores are about 7 inches by 5 inches in size with reduced print. They are used for following a recording or performance of a musical work. They are not intended for practice or performance.
Full scores include the music for the instrument or all of the instruments in the case of ensembles. For example, if it is a full score for an opera, it will include the vocal parts (in some instances including the lyrics in more than one language) and all of the instrumental parts.
Piano-Vocal scores include the musical notation for the voice and for piano accompaniment. They may or may not include spoken words for operettas or musicals, but for opera they normally include both the recitatives and arias. These scores are suitable for performance use depending on performance rights.
Scores and Parts include a full score as well as individual parts for all instruments of the ensemble. Helmke Library has this type of score only for duets and trios. It does not purchase or keep scores and parts for band or orchestra.
There are two collections of scores in Helmke Library, the Library of Congress collection of scores and the Dewey Decimal collection of scores. These designations refer to the classification scheme for each. There are different methods to search each of the collections.
The Library of Congress collection is fully cataloged using that classification scheme. It can be searched in IUCAT.
The Dewey Decimal collection is classified using that classification scheme. It cannot be searched in IUCAT.
These scores are fully cataloged and classified using the Library of Congress scheme. They can be found by searching IUCAT. While there are a number of highly sophisticated search strategies that can be used the best one for most persons is to cast a wide net by searching using the keyword mode.
For example: to find a particular string quartet by Brahms,
In IUCAT, on the toolbar, "Choose your search" click on "Advanced Keyword."
On the Advanced Keyword screen select the following pull-down menu options and type: the author (in this case composer)
Author | | brahms |
Title | | string quartet |
Scroll down to "Format" and in the pull-down box select "Musical Score."
Click on "Search."
This search will pull up brief record displays of string quartet scores by Brahms that Helmke Library owns. If you are looking for a specific string quartet that is not listed, then the library does not have that title in the Library of Congress collection. You will want to check the Dewey Decimal collection or the collected works of composers.
Click on the word "Display" button to find the full cataloging record and the call number which is needed to locate the score.
A second method to search for a specific work is to search collected works of composers. To do this first locate the following title in the reference section on the first floor of the library:
Historical Sets, Collected Editions and Monuments of Music: A Guide to their Contents, 2 vols. (Reference ML113.H52 1980)
This book lists collected works of music by the composer with an index for each volume of the work. For example, under Brahms you can find the "String Quartet, op. 51, no. 1 in C Minor" is in volume 7 of the Samtliche Werke. The next step is to use IUCAT to find the call number and location of the collected works of Brahms (as author/composer) and Samtliche Werke (as title).
