Catalog Searching Procedures

• To search the catalog, input the last name of the composer and some meaningful words from the title into the All Fields Word Search.

• First limit your search to scores. If you do not find a match, search again this time limiting to books.

General Guidelines

• If the scores you're searching aren't in English, you need to know the language or have a reference for the language to assist you--see the Acquisitions Librarian if you don't have this.

  1. If an opus number is included in the title, that number should be included in the search, but the word "opus" or the abbreviation "OP" should be omitted.

  2. If other numbers are included in the title, such as "3 piano pieces" or "three piano pieces" or "drei piano pieces," you must omit the number from the title.

  3. If instrumentation (eg. "for piano and violoncello") is included in the title, it should be omitted from the title when searching.

  4. If the key (eg. F major) is included in the title, it also must be omitted from the title when searching.

Make bib and duplicate decisions based on the criteria given below. If the order lacks enough information to do this, find a vendor database record for the item, then go back to this.

• If provided, search the publisher to get any further information about the requested item.
  If there is no publisher information available, try searching for the item with the vendor provided on the BRF.

Criteria for determining a duplicate:

• Opus number, composer, arranger, key, and instrumentation must match. Editors do not matter.

  1. If we own a piece of music edited by Joe Smith and the requested item is edited by Ann Taylor but is otherwise the same, then the item is a duplicate.

  2. Be careful of terminology and language variations that might mean the same thing,

     • eg. a violoncello is the same as a cello, a klavier is a piano in German, 2 cellos, 2 violas, and 2 violins is the same as a string sextet. Konzert and concerto are the same.

  3. Language of the lyrics, if any, must match.

  4. Full and miniature scores (aka. study score) contain the same intellectual content, so they are considered the same.

  5. Scores are sold as full scores, sets of parts, or individual parts.

     • Full scores contain all parts. If a requester wants a particular part and we own the full score then it is a duplicate.

     • If we own all of the parts and the requester asks for the full score, it is a duplicate.

  6. The publisher is not important.

     • Deals cut by publishers allow other companies to distribute the same score with their imprint on it. Also, many scores are printed with the same material by different publishers.

  7. A single songbook can contain multiple pieces of music, so search each piece individually. They are considered duplicates even if the pieces are in separate songbooks. If we have all but one or two of the pieces we should consider purchasing these alone if it is more cost effective.

  8. There are records in the catalog for standing orders that do not list individual songbook titles or their contents.

     • There is one known composer for which this is the case, Haydn. The system number for this record is 1544907

     • To find the content of these items you must use the the bib record to determine which volumes we own and the publishers website, Henle, to determine what they contain.

Bib record selection instructions:

• The basic title must be the same.

  1. It is acceptable if the key, instrumentation, and a composer included in the title on the order or vendor record are not included in the title on the bib record.

     • It's also ok if numbers appear written out (in English or another language) as opposed to as numerals, and visa-versa. It's irrelevant if the word opus is abbreviated or not.

  2. The opus number must match, but it's irrelevant if the word opus is abbreviated or not.

  3. Key, instrumentation, and composer must be the same as on the order or vendor record.

  4. Any arrangers, and editors in this case, must be the same.

  5. The publisher must match.

  6. The music number must match.

Vendor Searching Procedures

Amazon and Barnes and Noble Searching

• Search Barnes and Noble first using the book search option.

  1. Try searching by title first, but if you get too many results limit it by Publisher, or Author(Composer).

     • Barnes and Noble will sometimes put "Sheet Music" in paranthesis after the title, but not always. The best thing to do is to try and match the Title, composer, and publisher. Again, there may be some variation in the title.

  2. If you don't find it, search Amazon in the same way.

     • Amazon does not usually indicate that the item is a score, so you have to go by the publisher, title, and composer.

Items found from either Barnes and Noble or Amazon can be ordered as an "available per" from BNA

Sheet Music Plus/Publisher Searching

• Start by using the Power Search.

  1. Try several combinations of Composer, Songbook title, and publisher.

     • Again, if the title is in a foreign language, try searching the English translation as well.

     • If one is provided, search using the music number.

     • Reading their searching tips can also help.

  2. If you do not find a record, try searching the publishers website using the same methods.

     • If available, determine if we can order it directly. (We cannot order directly from Universal Editions)

     • If not, contact them for publication status and vendor recommendations.

Other Searching

• Search the title at the following websites:

  1. Sheet Music Catalog

     • The Sheet Music Store

     • Stantons

     • Musicians Library

     • Boosey and Hawkes

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  • If none of these searched are successfull, try searching Google, or other various search engines.

  • If you have still been unable to locate the item, place the order in the Special Ordering Technicians Inbox.