Sheet Music

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Last updated: Feb 04, 2013 by Enrique Diaz
1 min read

Published Sheet Music

Overview

Groups of sheet music are generally organized by composer / arranger.  They can sometime be grouped by subject, singer or lyricist.  This procedure will work best for single published arrangements not entire scores

Sorting

Depending on the nature of of the collection itself, do the following:

  • Use genre term "sheet music" for all items.
  • Include title and subtitle.
  • Include the name of the publisher and place of publication.  This is very important to differentiate between arrangements
  • Find the authorized heading for the composer and include the name of the lyricist if applicable. In order to differentiate between arrangements it may be necessary to include the singer, arranger or illustrator. 
  • Indicate in scope and content how the collection was arranged.

Cataloging Examples

(3) Benedict, Julius, 1804-1885, composer and H. F. Chorley, lyricist. Wilt thou not come? : ballad. London (England): Cramer, Beale & Co. : sheet music, ca. 1853-1861. 1 folder.  Signed by Julius Benedict.

(7) Brian, Havergal, 1876-1972, composer. Three illuminations. London (England): J. & W. Chester : sheet music, c. 1917. 1 folder. Illustrated by Alvin Langdon Coburn.

Resources

There are several strategies to finding the date of publication when a copyright date is not provided.  One strategy is to look at MARC records in OCLC, LC or the British Library.  You can also look for records in Hofmeister. http://www.hofmeister.rhul.ac.uk/2008/content/database/search/advanced.html