Canon for Four Voices, 1516
For Henry VIII
Petrus de Opitiis

A NOTE ABOUT THIS GUIDE

This guide demonstrates how to use Library of Congress Subject Headings to search the catalog for scores by instrumentation.

Subject Headings can seem complicated, but if you want to find scores or parts for an ensemble with specific instrumentation, it's more accurate than a Keyword search. 

If you're not finding what you need, please speak to a librarian for help.

Remember to limit your search to scores.
Then enter your search term(s) as described below.

CONTENTS:

1.  SUBJECT HEADINGS FOR BOOKS AND SCORES ARE DIFFERENT
2.  FOR SOLO INSTRUMENT MUSIC
3.  FOR A GENERAL SMALL ENSEMBLE COMBINATION
4.  STANDARD COMBINATION OF INSTRUMENTS
5.  OTHER COMBINATIONS OF INSTRUMENTS
6.  VOCAL MUSIC

1. SUBJECT HEADINGS FOR BOOKS AND SCORES ARE DIFFERENT

The library has BOOKS ABOUT MUSIC (call numbers ML and MT) and it also has MUSIC SCORES (call number M).

For BOOKS ABOUT MUSIC use the SINGULAR SUBJECT HEADING

• symphony
• sonata

For MUSIC SCORES use the PLURAL SUBJECT HEADING

• symphonies
• sonatas

SONGS is an important exception.

• Use Songs--History and criticism for books about songs
• Use Songs for scores

2.  FOR SOLO INSTRUMENT MUSIC

If you want a broad selection of solo music, with no limits on the specific type of the composition, do a subject search for the name of the instrument followed by the word "music."  For example:

• piano music
• violin music

If you want a specific type of composition, use the subject heading for that compositional form, followed by the name of the instrument in parentheses.  For example:

• sonatas (piano)
• suites (violin)

3.  FOR A GENERAL SMALL ENSEMBLE COMBINATION

Do a simple subject search on a combination of instruments:

• piano saxophone
• violin viola flute
• flute oboe clarinet bassoon

This gets you broad results with no limits on the the size of the ensemble. 

4. STANDARD COMBINATION OF INSTRUMENTS

Some standard musical forms have a standard combination of instruments, such string quartets with two violins, viola, and violoncello. (These standard combinations use specific names.)

There are five standard chamber combinations used in subject headings:

• String trios -- used for string trio (violin, viola, violoncello)
• String quartets  -- used for string quartet (2 violins, viola, violoncello)
• Piano trios -- used for piano trio (piano, violin, violoncello)
• Piano quartets -- used for piano quartet (piano, violin, viola, violoncello)
• Piano quintets -- used for piano quintet (piano, 2 violins, viola, violoncello)

Note that woodwind quartets and wind quintets are not used as standard chamber combinations for subject headings.

5. OTHER COMBINATIONS OF INSTRUMENTS

Other ensemble combinations are listed under the music form heading followed by the specific instrumentation in parentheses. 

Different instruments from different families.  Examples:

• Trios (Flute, violin, viola)
• Trios (Piano, horns (2))
• Quartets (Flute, oboe, violin, viola)
• Quartets (Piano, horns (2), violin)
• Quintets (Flute, oboe, trumpet, violin, viola)
• Quintets (Piano, horns (2), violas (2))
• Sextets (Bassoon, flute, oboe, trumpet, violin, viola)
• Sextets (Piano, flute, horns (2), violas (2))
• Septets (Flute, oboes (2), trumpet, violin, violas (2))
• Septets (Piano, clarinet, horns (2), percussion, violas (2))
• Octets (Flute, oboes (2), percussion, violins (2), viola)
• Octets (Piano, clarinet, flute, oboe, horn, tuba, violin, viola)
• Nonets (Flutes (2), oboes (2), trumpet, violins (2), violas (2))
• Nonets (Piano, bassoon, clarinet, flute, oboe, horn, tuba, violin, viola)

Instrumental ensembles  - example used for 10 or more different instruments from different families.

Different instruments from the same family. Examples:

• String trios (Violins (2), viola)
• Wind trios (Oboes (2), trumpet)
• String quartets (Violins (2), violas (2))
• Wind quartets (Oboes (3), trumpet)
• String quintets (Violins (3), viola, cello)
• Woodwind quintets (Bassoons (2), flute, oboes (2))
• String sextets (Violins (3), violas (2), cello)
• Brass sextets (Horns (2), trombones (2), trumpet)
• String septets (Violins (3), viola (2), cellos (2))
• Wind septets (Horns (4), oboes (2), trumpets)
• String octets (Violins (4), viola (2), cellos (2))
• Wind octets (Flutes (2), horns (4), oboes (2))
• String nonets (Violins (3), viola (3), cellos (3))
• Brass nonets (Baritones (2), horns (4), trumpets (3))
• Wind ensembles - example used for 10 or more different instruments from the same family

String ensembles  - example used for 10 or moer different instruments from the same family

Note that wind=(brass and woodwind), woodwind=(woodwind only), brass=(brass only)

Same instrument from the same family.  Examples:

• String trios (Violins (3))
• Woodwind trios (Oboes (3))
• String quartets (Violins (4))
• Brass quartets (Horns (4))
• String quintets (Violins (5)
• Woodwind quintets (Oboes (5))
• String sextets (Violins (6))
• Woodwind sextets (Oboes (6))
• String septets (Violins (7))
• Brass septets (Horns (7))
• String octets (Violins (8))
• Plucked instrument octets (Guitars (8))
• String nonets (Violins (9))
• Woodwind nonets (Oboes (9))
• Flute ensembles - example used for 10 or more of the same instrument from the same family.

Violin ensembles - example used for 10 or more of the same instrument from the same family.

6. VOCAL MUSIC

To search broadly with no limit by musical form:

• vocal music

To search for specific forms of vocal music:

• vocal duets
• vocal trios
• vocal ensembles

Subject Headings for voice parts:

• soprano and tenor: High voice
• mezzo-soprano, alto and baritone: Medium voice
• contralto and bass: Low voice  

For specific forms of music use the music form Subject Heading. For Example:

• Songs
• Oratorios
• Cantatas
• Masses

Works for one voice with or without accompaniment

• Unaccompanied

• Songs (High voice)
• Sacred songs (Low voice)
• Songs (Medium voice), Unaccompanied

• Accompanied

• Songs (High voice) with piano
• Sacred songs (Low voice) with violoncello
• Songs (High voice) with instrumental ensemble

The Subject Heading "Songs" implies secular; for sacred works use "Sacred songs".

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If you're not finding what you need, please speak to a librarian for help.