Tips for finding music

Our Collection

We are pleased to offer a large and diverse music collection. Our CDs are located on level 2, shelved in the following categories:

General searches for music CDs

First, click on the music link in the teal bar at the top of the catalog page. This will give you the following search options:

Music Artist Keyword: Use this space to enter the first, last, or group name of the performer, composer, or conductor of the work you're looking for. You can combine names to find duets, or albums where one artist sings songs written by another artist.
For example: Artist Keyword: Bruce Springsteen
Artist Keyword: Ella Fitzgerald George Gershwin

Music Title Keyword: Use this space to enter all or part of the title of the CD you are looking for. Don't use song titles in this field — only the title of the entire CD.

Music Subject Keyword: Use this to enter the type of music, such as "Klezmer", or "Celtic". Be careful — large categories such as "Jazz" or "Classical" will give you too many hits to be useful. Many types of music don't have their own subject headings, making them hard to locate with a subject search.

Song Title Keyword: Use this field to search for an individual song. This is a great way to find a song on a compilation or a movie soundtrack, as well as on the singer's own album. It also allows you to find the same song done by various artists or on various albums by the same artist. You can search just one of these options, or combine them for an in-depth search. Remember: the more terms you enter, the fewer hits you are likely to get.

Tips & Tricks

Soundtracks and Cast Recordings

A soundtrack is the music from a film. An original cast recording is the music from a theatrical production. You will sometimes find entries for the same title in both categories (Grease, Mamma Mia, etc.)

Same Artist, Different Group

Sometimes an artist will play in more than one group, or appear as a guest on someone else's CD. These may not be located in the same shelf area (Bill Evans can be found under Jazz EVA, but the Bill Evans Group is under Jazz BIL).

Classical

Sonatas:

It may help to specify the instrument, or the key in which the piece is performed. For example
Song Title Keyword: sonata 5 or sonata in G minor.
You could also add the composer into the artist box.
For a collection of sonatas, make sure to use the plural.

Symphonies:

Use "symphony" as a song title not a keyword, which will retrieve pieces of music that include the word, but also orchestras such as the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Conductors:

Music Artist Keyword will also search for conductors. You can combine an artist, composer and conductor as terms, such as "Ozawa and Beethoven"

Librarians Can Help

Can't find it on the shelf at the Library?

Use the telephone on the desk on Level 2 to call the reference desk.

Found it in the catalog, but Andover does not own it?

Place a reserve on the item, or ask a reference librarian to reserve it for you.

Looking for Sheet Music?

We have many popular and Broadway scores, but we do not carry classical scores. Ask a reference librarian to help!

Looking for a music DVD or VHS?

Enter the title in the "Video" category in the teal line near the top of the catalog. For example, entering West Side Story into the video title box brings up a DVD with call number DVD/Musical. All music DVDs are shelved on level 2 just outside the library director's office

Can't find it in the Catalog?

If none of these search strategies bring you the results you want, you can search the entire catalog in the Advanced search mode, which allows you to limit to music CDs and/or to Andover only. Please contact the reference desk for assistance.