The Music Library The University of Western Ontario Library System LONDON, Ontario, CANADA N6A 3K7 (519) 661-3913 // (519) 661-3927 (fax) // www.lib.uwo.ca/music/ STRING ENSEMBLES FINDING MUSIC FOR STRING AND CHAMBER ENSEMBLES IN WESTERN’s MUSIC LIBRARY Much music for strings in string ensembles and in combination with other instruments may be found in the Western Libraries Music Library. Some of this music will be found in obvious locations while other important repertoire is scattered throughout the collection - other collections are “invisible” - please see the final page of this pathfinder for information about the Cobbett Collection . 1.1.1. Finding a KNOWN piece of 3.3.3. Using the SUBJECT index to music find music for string ensembles Any piece of music for which you know the composer and the title may be found by looking in the Western Libraries Catalogue : a.a.a.Strings in standard www.lib.uwo.ca combinations Choose the KEYWORD (a.k.a. “Boolean”) option Several chamber ensembles are considered of the Catalogue: combine the composer’s name standard combinations in which the with a unique title, opus number, and/or instrumentation is consistently the same. thematic catalogue number, remembering to use For strings, these Subject Headings are: “AND” in-between your keywords (to link desired terms). STRING TRIOS E.g. brahms and quartets and parts STRING QUARTETS should retrieve all performing editions (as in It is considered unnecessary to list the “score and parts”) of Brahms’s string quartets - specific instrumentation as the user knows as owned by the Western Libraries Music Library. that the standard string trio consists of If you are unsure of titles, opus or thematic violin, viola, and violoncello and that the catalogue numbers, refer to the various string quartet is always made up of two repertoire guides listed below, or consult violins, viola, and violoncello. “Works” lists in the articles on individual composers as found in The New Grove Much important string ensemble music Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2 nd ed., includes piano. The usual standard (29 vols. - or online). combinations are NEVER USE AUTHOR, TITLE OR AUTHOR-TITLE to search for music, PIANO TRIOS especially NOT for “prolific” composers! PIANO QUARTETS 2.2.2. Piano with ONE string instrument PIANO QUINTETS For information on this topic, consult the For an explanation of these Subject Headings, handouts on individual instruments, e.g. see the handout Piano Ensembles . Violin, Viola, Violoncello , etc. b.b.b.Strings in non-standard **IMPORTANT** combinations When using a SUBJECT search on the Chamber ensembles which do not fall into Western Libraries Shared Library Catalogue, the above standard categories are usually you must: listed in the subject index under the number of instruments in the ensemble, • be very careful to input the e.g. instrumentation of the ensemble in the TRIOS order explained above • distinguish between those ensembles QUARTETS that consist of strings alone ( e.g. STRING TRIOS) and mixed ensembles QUINTETS (e.g. TRIOS – which include other SEXTETS instrument types). SEPTETS Note that the keyboard instrument is always OCTETS listed first when there are more than two instruments in the ensemble. NONETS . If the ensemble consists only of stringed 4.4.4.BROWSING on the shelf for music instruments, the basic Subject Heading are: STRING TRIO A perfectly legitimate way to find suitable music. Some useful call numbers for STRING QUARTETS browsing on the shelf are: . (etc.) M 349-353 – string trios . STRING NONETS M 450-454 – string quartets After each basic Subject Heading M 551-552 – string quintets (QUARTETS , etc.) the instruments are organized in the following order: M 650-654 – string sextets M 852 – string octets keyboard M 952 – string nonets winds (includes woodwinds and brasses – these are sub-arranged For a complete explanation of these call alphabetically) numbers and others (strings in combination with other instruments), refer to LC percussion Classification/Class M, Music located near the reference desk. strings – arranged in score order Some examples are: REPERTOIRE LISTS TRIOS (PIANO, CLARINET, VIOLA) For assistance in identifying appropriate STRING TRIOS (VIOLINS (3)) repertoire for string ensembles the following [note that since this is a non-standard reference sources are very useful: combination the instrumentation is used] QUARTETS (FLUTE, VIOLIN, VIOLA, Farish, Margaret K. String Music in Print . VIOLONCELLO) 2nd ed. New York: Bowker, l973. [Ref ML 128.S7 F4 1973 + STRING QUARTETS (VIOLIN, VIOLA, Supplement at Ref ML 118.M956 VIOLONCELLO, DOUBLE BASS) [A non-standard combination requires that v.6 suppl. + ML 118.M956 v.6t instrumentation is listed!!] suppl.] QUINTETS (HORN, VIOLINS (2), VIOLA, A classified list of solo, study, and chamber VIOLONCELLO) works. Includes stringed instruments with voice and stringed instruments with electronic tape. STRING QUINTETS (VIOLINS (2), VIOLA, VIOLONCELLO, DOUBLE BASS) Lawrence, Ian. The Twentieth-century String ...REPERTOIRE LISTS ...Cont’d. Quartet : An Historical Introduction and Music-in-print series [electronic resource]. Catalogue . Lanham, Md. ; London : Roslyn, PA. : emusicquest, [2002] - Scarecrow Press, 2001. [ML 128.C4L37 2001] Continues the following print monographic series titles: Sacred choral music in print; Classical vocal music in Further suggestions for ensemble literature may print; Orchestral music in print; String music in print; also be found by consulting repertoire lists for Classical guitar music in print; Woodwind music in print; Piano music in print; and includes Miscellaneous individual instruments - check the Music Library’s music in print, with plans for more titles to be added. pathfinders for individual instruments. Christensen, James. The String Players' Guide HISTORY of chamber to Chamber Music. Chicago : Open Court, 2008. [MT 728.C48 2008] music Cohn, Arthur. The Literature of Chamber For detailed and scholarly information on Music. Chapel Hill, N.C. : Hinshaw Music, chamber music and its history, consult c1997. [ML 128.C4C6 1997 v.1-4] The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Substantial guide to chamber music, including Musicians, 2nd ed. 29 vols. (London: biographical and other information useful for the Macmillan, 2001). writing of program notes. v. 1. Abaco to Eggen – v. 2. Eggermann to [The New Grove is located on the Kyurkchiisky – v. 3. Labey to Ronsheim – v. 4. Dictionary Table, and also available to Röntgen to Zwilich. curremt Western students, faculty and staff - online - BE SURE to Canadian Music Centre. Chamber Music for ‘authenticate’!] Strings in the Library of the Canadian Music Centre. [Toronto, ON: The Useful information will be found in The New Canadian Music Centre, 1993. Grove under the following headings: [ML 128.S7C35 1993] Chamber Music Canadian Music Centre. Canadian Chamber Music=Musique de Chambre Sources of instrumental Canadienne. [s.l.]: CMC, 1980. ensemble music to 1630 [Ref ML 128.C4 C34 1980] as well as within the articles on: This work also includes solo works for instrumentalists. String quartet Scott, William. A Conductor's Repertory of Chamber Music: Compositions for Nine String trio to Fifteen Solo Instruments. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1993. Quintet [Ref ML 128.C4 S37 1993] Trio , etc. Works are listed by composer, by combination of similar instruments, and by title. Of particular interest, Each article has an extensive bibliography “Compositions Including String Combinations.” (with cited titles listed in chronological order), and cites books and journal articles Rangel-Ribiero, Victor and Robert Markel. on the various chamber music-related topics Chamber Music: An International Guide – the Western Libraries Music Library has to Works and Their Instrumentation. many of the books and articles cited in this New York: Facts on File, 1993. bibliography. A useful listing divided into three sections: composers before Haydn/Mozart; composers from Beethoven to When using a bibliography, please be sure our time: Master Quick-Reference Index. Organized to distinguish between books ( titles always by composer and title, instrumentation is listed in a listed in italics ) and periodical or journal grid. articles ( "titles always listed within quotation marks ") to save yourself valuable time. ...HISTORY of Chamber Music PERFORMING PRACTICE ...Cont’d. Historically-informed performance is an Call numbers for books may be found by ongoing consideration for all performers. searching by either AUTHOR or TITLE , or Following are titles which may prove useful by using a KEYWORD search to combine to violinists: author and title words. Cyr, Mary. Performing baroque music. Call numbers for journal articles may be Portland, Or. : Amadeus Press, 1992. found by searching for the title of the ML457.C9 1992 periodical ( **NOT ** the title of the article!!) in the Western Libraries A practical guide to all aspects of Baroque music Catalogue , e.g. performance. Orchestra Canada Hefling, Stephen E. Rhythmic alteration in seventeenth- and Some particularly useful titles are: eighteenth-century music : notes inégales and overdotting. New York Baron, John H. Chamber Music: a : Schirmer Books, 1993. Research and Information Guide. [ML 437.H43 1993] New York: Garland, 1987. [Ref ML 128.C4 B37 2002]. Carter, Stewart (ed.) A performer's guide to seventeenth-century music. Provides much useful information on all aspects of New York : Schirmer ]Books, c1997. chamber music: reference, history, studies by region/country,