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Percussion: Scores & Parts

Find a specific piece of music

Find Scores and Recordings

sample catalog search for 'tropic winter nathaniel dett' limited to Printed Music (All); results show catalog record with library location and call number

In the Allen Library

  1. Open the library catalog.
  2. Search the title and composer's name.
  3. Limit to the format you desire.
  4. Find a result for the piece you need.
  5. Use the location and call number to find the item.

Image: Catalog search with the format limited to Printed Music, and search result showing location and call number.


Online

Can't visit the library? Use our guides to Music Scores Online or Streaming Audio & Video to find online score & recording sites, then search for the piece you need.


Get help

Searching for music can be tricky! If you can't find what you need, ask a librarian for help.

Find any piece with specific instruments

Browse the Shelves

young man looks at library shelvesBrowsing is a great way to discover new music if you don't have a specific piece in mind!
Use these call numbers to find percussion music:

Solo percussion music:

Call Number Genre
M146 Solo drums, timpani, etc.
M147 Solo bells, glockenspiel, etc.
M175 X6 Solo keyboard percussion instruments
M1039 Percussion instrument concertos (percussion part + piano reduction)

Chamber music with percussion:

Note: "Other" instruments are most commonly but not always in the percussion family.

Call Number Genre
M284 – M285 Duets: Piano + other
M298 Duets: Two other
M340 – M344 Trios: Piano + other
M385 Trios: Three other
M445 – M449 Quartets: Piano + other
M485 Quartets: Four other

* Quintets (500s), through nonets (900s) follow a pattern similar to quartets, for example:
M485="Other" instrument quartets
M585="Other" instrument quintets

Use a Repertoire Guide

Repertoire Guide: A list of music for a specific instrument or group. Often describes style, difficulty, or musical features.
Here are a few selected guides online and in the Allen Library:

Online Guides
Guides in the Library

Find more repertoire guides

Browse the Reference shelves by call number:

Call Number Topic
ML128 C4 Chamber music guides
ML128 P4 Percussion guides

Browse the catalog by subject:
Percussion ensembles > Bibliography
Percussion music > Bibliography
Timpani music > Bibliography

Browse the Catalog for Music

If you're not looking for a particular piece, browse the catalog using subjects, for example:

Concertos (Percussion)
Percussion music

You can find even more subjects in individual catalog records. Find a piece of your desired ensemble/genre, then click on a subject to find more materials with that subject:

catalog record with Subjects section circled, text to the side reads 'click on to find more materials with the same subject'

How do I choose the right format?

person with question mark Here are some of the most common formats for printed music:

Score
Shows all instruments

Miniscore/study score
Small version of the full score

Vocal score
Piano and vocal line(s) only

Parts
Individual pieces for each instrument

You can determine the format by looking at the catalog record, in the Subjects or Description section:

catalog record showing 'vocal scores with piano' under Subjects and '1 vocal score' under Description

 

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