In the Webcat search window, type what you know of the composer's name and title of the work and/or instrumentation. In general, it is better to use only the operative words. Pachelbel, for example, is as effective as Johann Pachelbel. You can use opus numbers and thematic catalog numbers (e.g. "K" numbers for Mozart, "RV" for Vivaldi):
bach and goldberg variations | |
ravel and tombeau de couperin and piano |
Scores only or recordings only
To limit your search to scores or recordings only, add the words "not sound" or "sound" to the end of your search:
bach and musikalisches opfer not sound | |
donizetti and lucia di lammermoor and sound |
Works with Generic Titles
Many works have a generic title: symphony, fugue, prelude, etude, overture, concerto, etc. In general, either use the plural form of the title or truncate using the $ sign:
vivaldi and bassoon concertos and RV 501 |
chopin and preludes and op 28 |
haydn and symphon$ and 104 |
Uniform Titles
Music is published throughout the world in a wide variety of languages. To gather all the different versions of a work in one place, the library assigns a uniform title. NB: Your results will be much more relevant if you limit by format, according to the directions in the “Scores Only or Recordings Only” section above:
Goldberg variations = Goldberg-Variationen |
rite of spring = Vesna sviashchennaia |
Moonlight sonata = Sonatas, piano, no. 14, op. 27, no. 2, C# minor |
To find a uniform title, type what you know in a keyword search and look at one of the resulting records. The uniform title should appear near the top of the record, or it may be combined with the composer's name near the bottom. Once you find the uniform title, redo the search using one or more elements from the uniform title.
beethoven and eroica symphony becomes beethoven and symphonies and op 55