Musical Scores and Recordings: Overview

Discover Musical Scores and Recordings

SMU Libraries has music scores, CDs, DVDs, LPs, and streaming music and video databases. Use Advanced Library Search to search for scores and recordings by title, composer, keywords, and more.

Search by Title

Searching for musical works can be difficult because they might be known by several different titles in different languages. You may need to try several different types of searches to retrieve relevant scores and recordings.

In Advanced Library Search:

• Specify the title and author/creator (composer) with the search boxes' drop-down menus.
• Use the plural form of genre titles and include the instrument if relevant (ex. sonatas, violin; symphonies; trios, oboe).
• Include identifying numbers such as an opus or work number.
• Set the Material type to scores, sound recordings, or video/film.
• Limit your results to Online Resources for streaming audio and video.

Some pieces will be in collected works editions. For example, if you want a specific Beethoven piano sonata, you can find it in scores including multiple piano sonatas. For this type of search, avoid specific information like an opus number or key to find collected works.

For more help with searching, see Improving Search Results.

Locate Scores and Recordings on the Shelf

Find the library location and call number of the score or recording in the Library Search record under “Get It.” Call numbers are arranged alphabetically. Each shelf is marked with the range of call numbers it holds.

• Most print scores are found on the third floor of Hamon Arts Library, in the M call number range.
• Sacred music scores are found in the Bridwell Library Basement in the M call number range.
• Physical recordings are in Hamon Arts Library. Ask for recordings at the Hamon service desk. For LPs, a turntable with an MP3 converter is available.

Learn how to read call numbers.

Streaming Music and Video Databases

Streaming music databases allow users to access and listen to thousands of recordings online with features such as search and browse functions, liner notes, and playlists.