Western Libraries

Finding CDs, LPs and Videos Using the Western Libraries Catalogue

The University of Western Ontario's MUSIC LIBRARY owns more than 23,000 catalogued CD titles...(fyi-we have a substantial backlog of CDs, too...)

KEYWORD searching is a FAST and EFFICIENT way to find the ones you wish to borrow, no matter what their format: Classical Instrumental CDs | Popular Music CDs |Classical Vocal CDs (Songs or Arias) | LPs | Videos |

Choose: LIBRARY CATALOGUE.

From the TABS above the search box, select: KEYWORDS

To enhance your SUCCESS RATE - INCLUDE:

  • Keyword COMPACT to narrow your search-results to CDs-only
  • Use "AND" to connect your KEYWORDS
  • Include UNIQUE keywords in your search strategy

When in doubt, you may wish to:

  • Check spelling of composer's name by using an AUTHOR search - [N.B. for Classical music, this is the ONLY time I recommend searching by Author!]

Your search-strategy will depend upon the type of music you seek:

To Find Classical Instrumental CDs

INCLUDE (in your KEYWORD search):
  • COMPOSER'S SURNAME
  • keyword COMPACT to narrow your search-results to CDs-only
  • "AND" to connect your KEYWORDS
  • PLURAL of the genre (e.g. SONATAS, even if you want only ONE - trust me!!)
  • Name of the INSTRUMENT, if applicable
  • If you seek a CD of music for two or more like instruments, then say so, e.g. CLARINETS
You may also find it helpful to include:
  • OPUS or thematic catalogue NUMBER for the work (e.g. 31 if you want any of Beethoven's Op. 31 sonatas)
  • UNIQUE or DISTINCTIVE word from the TITLE, if applicable
  • PERFORMER's name (e.g. Schiff, or Brendel, or Goode)
e.g.

BEETHOVEN AND SONATAS AND PIANO AND COMPACT AND GOODE

- OR -

BEETHOVEN AND SONATAS AND PIANO AND COMPACT AND 31 AND BRENDEL


To Find Popular Music CDs

INCLUDE:

  • TITLE of the desired song – in parentheses, e.g. (SCENTLESS APPRENTICE).
  • NAME of the GROUP or PERFORMER, e.g. NIRVANA
  • "AND" to connect KEYWORDS and (phrases-in-parentheses)
e.g. COMPACT AND (SCENTLESS APPRENTICE)
For Pop Music, you may find it useful to Search by AUTHOR:

• Single-name pop artists, or musical groups :

e.g. BEATLES, MADONNA or NIRVANA
• popular performers using the form LASTNAME, FIRSTNAME:
e.g. PRESLEY, ELVIS


To Find Classical Vocal Music CDs (Songs or Arias)

INCLUDE:

  • TITLE of the song or aria – in parentheses, e.g. (GRETCHEN AM SPINNRADE)
  • “AND” to connect KEYWORDS and (phrases-in-parentheses)
  • COMPOSER’S SURNAME

  • the keyword COMPACT to narrow your search-results to CDs-only

e.g. (GRETCHEN AM SPINNRADE) AND COMPACT

You may also find it useful to include:

PERFORMER’s name (e.g. Bartoli, Otter, Pavarotti, or Ramey)

e.g. (GRETCHEN AM SPINNRADE) AND COMPACT AND AUGER

If you do NOT find a desired aria:

  • DELETE your (Title in parenthesis)
  • INCLUDE the OPUS or thematic catalogue NUMBER for the LARGER WORK (e.g. “626" if you seek any aria from Mozart’s Requiem, KV. 626)
  • ADD a UNIQUE or DISTINCTIVE word from the TITLE of the LARGER WORK


To Find Records (i.e. "long-playing" LPs)

Call numbers for all LPs (black vinyl, long playing records) in the Music Library start with either "Rec" or "MTR".

Follow the instructions for finding Classical Instrumental CDs | Popular Music CDs | Classical Vocal CDs (Songs or Arias) ...

but...

...substitute the word "SOUND" for "COMPACT."

e.g. BEETHOVEN AND SONATAS AND PIANO AND SOUND AND LANDOWSKA

e.g. SOUND AND (MUSIC MINUS ONE)

e.g. (GRETCHEN AM SPINNRADE) AND SOUND

...to remove ALL CDs from your result - note the use of TWO PAIRS of parentheses - plus the phrase "AND NOT":

e.g. ((GRETCHEN AM SPINNRADE) AND SOUND) AND NOT COMPACT


To Find Video Recordings

INCLUDE:

  • Keyword "VIDEORECORDING" or "VIDEO**" to narrow your search-results to videos-only
  • "AND" to connect your KEYWORDS
PLUS one or more of the following:
  • UNIQUE or DISTINCTIVE word(s) from the TITLE or SUBJECT

  • COMPOSER'S SURNAME, if applicable
  • PERFORMER's name (e.g. Bernstein, Rattle, etc.) if applicable
OR
Call numbers for all VHS video-recordings in the Music Library - Western Libraries begin with the prefix "MVD". You may "browse" this collection in-library, as the MVDs will be found on the shelves which are found AFTER the "NEW BOOKS" shelf in the Music Library; you may "browse on-line" by doing a Call Number search on the prefix MVD.
If you seek the Music Library's collection of DVD videos, search on the Call Number prefix of MDVD, and browse through the listings on the Western Libraries Catalogue.

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Last revision: October 2012.
Lisa Rae Philpott