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Music Research Starter

Search the catalog

Find Composer Information in the Library

Use the library's online catalog -- the search box on the library's homepage -- to search for books about composers owned by Doane Library and other libraries around the world. See "Helpful search tips!" to find out how to have more effective searches in the catalog. 

Print books in the library will have the item's availability and Library of Congress call number at the bottom of the brief record. For example:

AvailableDoane University General CollectionML410.S54 H4 1993

In this example the book is available, it's owned by Doane University, located in the General Collection, and its call number is ML410.S54 H4 1993. "General Collection" is the section of books in the central area of the library's lower level. If the book is in digital format, there won't be a call number and you'll see a button at the bottom of the brief record that says, "View eBook." This will take you to the ebook in our electronic book collection, where you can scan the book or download it to read.

See "Browsing call numbers for books on music" to get an idea of how books on composers, literature on music and music education are categorized in the library.

  Books NOT owned by Doane:  To find books in other libraries, select the limiter "Libraries Worldwide" in the left column. To get these books you will need to make an interlibrary loan request. Click on the "Request item through interlibrary loan" button on the item's full record screen and fill out the boxes in pink (required information). See the library's Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery page for more information about this service.   

Browsing call numbers for books on music

The Library of Congress classification system categorizes music books in to Literature on Music (ML) and Musical Instruction (MT). Here are the main classifications for these two subjects:

ML (Literature on Music)
 
ML48 - ML54 Librettos
ML100 - ML109 Dictionaries and encyclopedias of music
ML128 Bibliographies by topic
ML134 Composer bibliography
ML156 - ML158 Discographies
ML159 - ML3785 Music history and criticism
  ML385 - ML 429   Biography (ML410: Composer biographies, arranged alphabetically)
  ML430 - ML455   Composition
  ML549 - ML1093   Musical instruments
  ML1400 - ML3275   Literature about vocal music
ML3845 - ML3877 Philosophy & aesthetics of music
MT (Musical Instruction & Study)
 
MT1 General works on musical instruction & study
MT5.5 - MT7 Music theory
MT70 - MT71 Orchestra and orchestration
MT90 - MT145 Analytical guides (including program notes)
  MT95 - MT100   Opera & ballet
  MT125 - MT130   Orchestral music
  MT140 - MT145   Chamber music
MT170 - MT810 Instrumental techniques (including method books)
  MT180 - MT198   Organ
  MT220 - MT255   Piano
  MT259 - MT339   String instruments
  MT339 - MT538   Wind instruments
  MT539 - MT654   Plucked instruments
  MT655 - MT722   Percussion instruments
MT820 - MT949 Singing

 

If you'd like a more detailed list of classifications, consult the Library of Congress Classification Outline (PDF).

Interlibrary loan requests

Use our interlibrary loan (ILL) form to request resources from other libraries around the nation:

Perkins Library ILL Request