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Searching for scores in BGSU Libraries Catalog is relatively easy once you are familiar with strategies that allow you to
streamline your searches. Using the web-based catalog, you have two options for searching. The first begins with an AUTHOR
or TITLE search and uses the catalog's limit feature; the second uses a WORD search and allows you to enter all of your terms
and conditions in a single step.
Locating scores with distinctive titles is slightly different than searching for those with a musical form as the title (symphonies,
sonatas, etc.). An example of both types of searches, with both the AUTHOR or TITLE and WORD options are provided.
Underlined words are those that are to be typed into the computer.
How to search for a score with a musical form as the title
Sample search: Brahms Piano Concerto, no. 2 in Bb major, op. 83
Option 1: AUTHOR search
- Go to the BGSU Libraries catalog.
- Click on Author search (a composer search is the same as searching for an author). Type brahms johannes (no punctuation or capitalization is necessary). Click on the Submit button or simply press the enter key. Click on the entry with the largest number of retrievals.
The retrieval set is very large for this composer. To avoid browsing numerous screens of recordings and scores, the Limit feature allows you to narrow your search.
- Limit your search.
- Click on Limit/Sort Search from the buttons at the top of the screen.
- Under Material Type, select Music Score
- At this point, you may either click on the Limit/Sort button to find all scores by Brahms, or you may choose to limit further, which is generally a good choice in the case of
prolific composers. To find piano concertos by Brahms, pull down the Words In menu choose subject. Click in the box to the right and type concertos piano
Note: when searching for a musical form such as a sonata, symphony, etc., use the plural form of the word; the specific instrument
is useful, but not essential.
- Another option is to limit by words in the title. Click on the Limit/Sort Search button, then pull down the Words In menu and choose Title. In the box on the right, type concerto* or concertos or concertos piano to narrow your search specifically to piano concertos.
- Click on the Submit button and you will retrieve scores of concertos (or piano concertos) by Brahms. You now have a much more manageable list
to browse for a score of Concerto No. 2, op.83, in Bb major.
Option 2: WORD Search
Go to the BGSU Libraries Catalog.
- In the first box on the screen, choose author from the drop-down menu and type brahms; then, in the next two boxes, choose subject from the drop-down menu and type concertos in one and piano in the next.
- From the Material Type list, choose Music Score
- Click the Submit button
How to search for a score with a distinctive title
Sample search: Don Giovanni, by Wolfgang A. Mozart
- From the BGSU Libraries Catalog, click on Title. Type don giovanni (no capitalization is necessary). Click on Submit or press the enter key.
- Click on the Limit/Sort Search button.
- In the Material Type menu and choose Music Score.
- Click on the Submit button and to retrieve a list scores of Don Giovanni.
Option 2: WORD Search
Go to the BGSU Libraries Catalog.
- In the first box on the screen, choose Author from the drop-down menu and type mozart; in the next box, choose title from the drop-down menu and type don giovanni (no capitalization is necessary)
- From the Material Type list, choose Music Score.
- Click the Submit button
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