For more information about music books, journals, audio and freely available sheet music, see your Subject Guide.
Music Guide
Music can sometimes be a complex thing to search for in the library. We have created this guide to help you search and browse more easily for sheet music.
How do I browse for sheet music or scores in the library?
You will find full scores and sheet music on the ground floor of Curzon Library: turn left when you enter, and left again after the photocopiers. Music is arranged in number order according to its shelf mark (see "can I search/browse by instrument" below).
You will find study scores on the ground floor of Curzon Library in the AV room: turn right when you enter, and room C001 is on your right. You will also find CDs, DVDs, LPs and listening equipment in here.
Books about music are in the main book collection.
How do I search for sheet music or scores on the catalogue?
Using the 'advanced search' option will help with finding music
Advanced Search
Because music can be published in different languages or with different nicknames, it can be tricky! There are fields for author [composer] and title, as well as keyword fields. We try and catalogue music so that you can find it, but if you get stuck, please ask us for help.
Sometimes individual songs are only published in anthologies and not mentioned separately on Library Search, so you would need to search by the name of the anthology.
If you would like to obtain sheet music that we don’t stock, please contact the Collection Management Librarian Francis Firth – he may be able to purchase or hire it.
Can I search/browse by instrument?
Yes! Use the table below to identify the shelf mark of your instrument.
You can look for the corresponding sheet music box in the library, or use the advanced search to type a shelf mark.
| Instrument | Shelf mark | Instrument | Shelf mark |
|---|
| Baroque sonatas |
785.752 |
Bass clarinet |
788.61 |
| Bass trombone |
788.3 |
Bassoon |
788.8 |
| Brass/wind chamber music |
785.782
785.783
785.784
785.785
785.786
785.787
785.788
785.789
|
Cantatas - vocal scores |
783.4 |
| Clarinet |
788.6 |
Collected editions |
780.81
780.82
|
| Cor anglais |
788.71 |
Cornet |
788.1 |
| Double bass |
787.4 |
Euphonium |
788.44 |
| Facsimile scores |
780.81
780.82
|
Flute |
788.5 |
| Full scores (including jazz) |
Q780.84 |
Guitar |
787.6 |
| Harp music |
787.5 |
Horn |
788.4 |
| Jazz (no instrument specified) |
781.65136 |
Mallet (marimba, vibraphone, xylophone) |
789.6 |
| Mixed chamber ensembles |
785.792
785.793
785.794
785.795
785.796
785.797
785.798
785.799
|
Oboe |
788.7 |
| Opera vocal scores |
782.1 |
Oratorio vocal scores |
783.3 |
| Organ |
786.8 |
Percussion |
789 |
| Piano |
786.4 |
Piano duets |
786.4956 |
| Piano duos (2 pianos) |
786.4957 |
Piano & Strings Chamber Music |
785.763
785.764
785.765
785.766
785.767
785.768
785.769
|
| Piccolo |
788.51 |
Recorder |
788.53 |
| Songs |
784.3 |
Song anthologies |
784.8 |
| Songs for children/schools |
784.6 |
String chamber music |
785.772
785.773
785.774
785.775
785.776
785.777
785.778
785.779
|
| Study scores |
780.84 |
Timpani/drum |
789.1 |
| Trio sonatas |
785.753 |
Trombone |
788.2 |
| Trumpet |
788.1 |
Tuba |
788.48 |
| Viola |
787.2 |
Violin |
787.1 |
| Violincello (cello) |
787.3 |
Vocal (secular unaccompanied) |
784.1 |
| Vocal (secular accompanied) |
784.2 |
|
|
What about orchestral, vocal, jazz, brass band or wind sets?
Sets are primarily for use in official Conservatoire performances, so you will not find these out on the open shelves. You will find information on accessing these on your Subject Guide.
Can I make copies of sheet music?
BCU are trialling a new HE Music Licence. To find out more about what can be copied under this licence please see the Music subject guide. To request a copy of some sheet music visit the Digitisation page.
Can I use sheet music I found online?
You can download music from the internet to practice with. We have listed some useful websites on your Subject Guide.
