SEARCHING FOR MUSIC IN LUCIA-A Brief Guide for Getting Started

This guide teaches primarily by example rather than explanation. It is intended to get you started searching for music in the Mudd Library using the text-based version of LUCIA, the online catalog. Please be sure to ask the music librarian if you have trouble finding the music you need.

The basic search command

Limiting by format makes searching much easier. Note: The little vertical line (virgule) is just above the ENTER key on pc keyboards.

Basic Search Commands a=walker gw|t=cantos|m=cm finds a score of Gwyneth Walker's Cantos for the End of Summer    a=walker gw|t=cantos|m=jm finds a recording of the same piece a=rossini|t=cenerentola|m=gm or simply t=cenerentola|m=gm finds videorecordings of Rossini's Cenerentola

You may search by composer only a=sarasate pablo|m= a=schoenberg|m= You may search by performer a=perlman|m=jm a=chicago symphony|m=jm a=karajan|m=jm

Generic Titles
To find a piece with a generic title such as sonata, concerto, suite, or symphony, enter the genre in the plural. For compositions involving solo instruments, you may want to follow the genre with the name of the instrument.

Collective titles
In addition to having an individual score for an item, the Library may have a collection that includes the piece you are interested in. Use the following searches to find collections of works by one composer.

Distinctive Titles
Many compositions have distinctive titles-- a title totally unique to the specific work. Works that have distinctive titles include operas, oratorios, ballets, and pedagogy method books. These works can be referred to in different ways. The general rule when searching for distinctively titled items is to search for them in the language of the composer. For example, if you are looking for a copy of "Daily Exercises for Piano" by Carl Czerny, a search for the English title yields no results. This is because the work is officially referred to in German, "Tägliche Studien." Because it is often difficult to locate these materials if you do not know the title in the original language, it is often easier to do a search for the composer and limit to scores: a=czerny|m=cm. You could also check to see how the item is listed in the composer entry in the New Grove Dictionary. You might also try keyword searching.

Keyword Searching
Keyword searching can be an effective way to find pieces whose exact title you are unsure of or for locating items in a collection.

Type k to begin. Type q to quit.

fi kreisler and liebesfreund or fi kreisler and liebes?

You can use the ? if you are unsure how a word ends. It acts as a substitute for one or more letters.

Limiting in Keyword
sound recordings -- fi kreisler and sound recording

scores -- fi kreisler and liebes? not sound recording (do not type and score !!!)

Displaying results
di all – to see short records ; di long all -- to see all selections on a recording, and who is performing

Using opus or thematic index numbers
Examples of thematic index numbers are the numbers you often see with works by Bach (BWV) and Mozart (K.). Be cautious with this search strategy -- it is not nearly as all inclusive as it seems!

fi bach and 1007 not sound recording -- to find a score of Bach's Cello Suite BWV 1007

fi mozart and 219 and compact disc? -- to find a compact disc of Mozart's Violin Concerto in A major

Subject Searching
You may choose to search for music materials by subject. 

s=sonatas (trumpet) -- calls up "all" trumpet sonatas in the Library
s=oboe music -- calls up music for solo oboe
s=violin and piano music -- calls up music for violin and piano
s=concertos piano -- calls up piano concertos
s=violin and violoncello music -- duos for violin and cello
s=piano instruction and study -- calls up method and pedagogy materials for piano