LibGuides: Piano: Scores

Jump to: Find a specific piece of music | Find any piece of music with specific instruments

Find a specific piece of music

Find Scores and Recordings

In the Allen Library

Open the library catalog.
Search the title and composer's name.
Limit to the format you desire.
Find a result for the piece you need.
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

Browsing is a great way to discover new music if you don't have a specific piece in mind!

Use these call numbers to find piano music:

Call Number	Genre
M20 – M39	Solo piano
M198 – M216	Two or more pianists
M217 – M239	Duets: Piano + string
M240 – M271	Duets: Piano + wind
M272 – M283	Duets: Piano + plucked
M284 – M285	Duets: Piano + other
M310 – M314	Trios: Piano + strings
M315 – M319	Trios: Piano + winds
M320 – M324	Trios: Piano + string + wind
M325 – M329	Trios: Piano + plucked
M330 – M334	Trios: Piano + string + plucked
M335 – M339	Trios: Piano + wind + plucked
M340 – M344	Trios: Piano + other
*see note	Quartets through nonets
M1010 – M1011	Concertos with orchestra
M1110 – M1111	Concertos with string orchestra

*Quartets (400s), quintets (500s), through nonets (900s) follow a pattern similar to trios, for example:

M310–M314 = Piano & string trios
M410–M414 = Piano & string quartets

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

A Seat at the Piano
Piano works from over 200 composers of diverse backgrounds and identities. Searchable by nationality and other keywords.

Guides in the Library

A Guide to Piano Music by Women Composers by Pamela Youngdahl Dees
Call Number: ML128 P5 D44 [Allen reference]
Publication Date: 2002
A practical guide to piano music composed by 144 women born before the 20th century. The music is described by genre, mood, style, technical requirements, and difficulty.
Guide to the Pianist's Repertoire, Fourth Edition by Maurice Hinson; Wesley Roberts
Call Number: ML128 P5 H 2014 [Allen Reference]
Guide to solo piano literature for over 2,000 composers. Each entry describes difficulty and musical features.
The Piano in Chamber Ensemble by Maurice Hinson
Call Number: ML128 P5 H6 C [Allen reference]
Publication Date: 1978
Lists works for piano with 2 or more instruments, with information on performance level, length, individual movements, and style.
Traditional World Music Influences in Contemporary Solo Piano Literature by Elizabeth C. Axford
Call Number: ML128 P5 A93 [Allen reference]
Publication Date: 1997
Identifies solo piano pieces with world music influences such as non-Western scales, modes, folk tunes, rhythmic, percussive or harmonic devices and timbres.

Find more repertoire guides

Browse the Reference shelves by call number:

Call Number	Topic
ML128 C4	Chamber music guides
ML128 P5	Piano music guides

Browse the catalog by subject:
Piano music > Bibliography

Browse the Catalog for Music

If you're not looking for a particular piece, browse the catalog using subjects, for example:
Concertos (Piano)
Piano music
Piano music (4 hands)
Sonatas (Piano)

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:

How do I choose the right format?

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: