How to search for musical scores

Searching for musical scores in the encyclopedic catalogue presents a special case.

All of La Musicale’s scores can be found in the swisscovery Ville de Genève , the Network of Genevan libraries. In an extensive catalogue devoted mostly to books, you will find: 

– scores by designation (Musique imprimée, i.e., sheet music)
– scores that come with a CD by designation (Ensemble multi-supports, i.e., multi-support item)
– handwritten scores by designation (Musique manuscrite, i.e., handwritten score)

When there is no particular designation, the item is either a text of some kind or a book.

A specific search

– search for a precise work by a well-known composer, use the access by author index.
– search for a repertory or a selection of pieces, use the access by classification (by index or keyword)
– search by musical genre with the prefix musg
– search by instrumentation with the prefix musi

The wording of the search by classification (musg or musi), as well as the order of the list of instruments indicated must be respected. You can also use the checklists of validated terms to narrow your search:

• Genre musical (musg) – list of terms used 
• Instrumentation (musi) – list of terms used

Several sites to help you with your search are also available online:

• Help swisscovery

Searching for a score on the shelves

Scores are also directly accessible in the open access room. Items are classified by musical genres and instruments.

Items in storage

All items that are held in storage are accessible by request.

– consult the catalogue
– fill out a form with the call numbers of the items you would like to have
– go to the reception desk with your library card or a valid ID
– requested items will be brought to you immediately for consultation in the library or circulation
– list of call numbers and their meaning

Digital scores

If you haven’t found what you are looking for, there are digital scores available online:

– scores from RERO-DOC
– free online scores via our series of links

Doing a search for digital materials on music

Most digital resources are under license; they can be accessed from the terminals of La Musicale as well as those of the bibliothèques du Réseau swisscovery.

The new interface swisscovery integrates all of the digital resources of our partner libraries as well as the resources that are outside our catalogue.

In the advanced search function, you have several options to choose from, “Search in All resources,” “Geneva Catalogue,” or “Online resources.”

Tips for certain types of searches

For biographical articles, or catalogues of works:
Oxford Music Online

To create a specialized music bibliography

RILM (Répertoire International de Littérature Musicale/International Repertory of Music Literature)

To locate musical sources

RISM (Répertoire International de Sources Musicales/International Inventory of Musical Sources)

To find resources in the humanities (articles, reviews, etc.)

JSTOR – Platform for academic journals, books and primary sources
Revues.org
CAIRN

To listen to music online

Discothèque Naxos
Listening station

To consult the question-and-answer site InterroGE

InterroGE, music category