MUS 343 / 344 History and Literature of Music: Getting Started

Select Elmhurst Library Search to see what we have locally:

• Choose as Author/Creator to find scores and sound recordings by a particular composer
• Choose in Subject to find materials about these works, composers, and cultural topics
• Use Advanced Search to pre-select format limiters for music score or sound recording

Subject Examples:

• Music performance
• Performance practice music - you can also add the time period here to be more specific
• Music 15th century (use the century instead of Renaissance, Baroque, etc.)
• Music 500-1400 (this is how to search for Medieval music)
• Bowed stringed instruments
• Musical instruments - woodwinds
• Cantatas - history and criticism
• Some notes about our collections:
  • Scores and books are located on the second floor of the library - scores have call numbers of M780-M789, books have call numbers of 780-789;
  • Music reference books are located on the main floor of the library, call numbers R780-R789. 

What if I can't find what I want at Elmhurst?

• Search All I-Share Libraries to see materials from 90+ other academic and research institutions in Illinois. Items that are not available at Elmhurst but appear in the catalog may be requested directly in I-Share. Items not available through I-Share may be ordered online via Interlibrary Loan. Please ask at the library's research help desk if you need assistance.

The library collection contains over 3300 printed music scores. Use I-Share to find scores by searching the composer as an Author or keyword searching for the title of the work.

How do I know the name of a work?

Music can be difficult to locate in library catalogs because the titles of musical works may be in different languages. Libraries make finding musical works easier by using Uniform Titles. See this guide about Preferred Titles in Music for further assistance.

In addition to our printed score collection, make sure to check the following online sources: