The M Classes

Arts Library, UCSB

Books, bound periodicals, and scores in the library are arranged on the shelf in broad subject areas based on a system called the Library of Congress (LC) Classification. These broad areas are indicated by one or two letters at the head of every LC call number. In the music section of the Arts Library at UCSB, scores are arranged under the letter M, books on music under ML and MT. Unlike music, most subject areas do not have mnemonic letters. For example, in Davidson Library, philosophy books are under B, history under D, E, or F, political science under J. See Where is it?, a guide to LC class letters and their locations in the library.

Following the letter or letters beginning the call number is a number indicating a more specific subject area. For music students, using the LC classification is one way to browse through the library's holdings of scores, books on music, and music periodicals. For example, if you are a violinist and would like to look through the library's collection of string quartets, you could simply go to the shelves and look under M452, the class for string quartets. Or if you are a pianist and want to find a volume of Beethoven piano sonatas, you could go to M23 and look under B for Beethoven. As you can see, you will find it handy to learn the numbers for your particular performance area. Browsing the shelves under relevant classification numbers is a good way learn about the literature for your instrument and discover resources previously unfamiliar to you. See Introduction to the M Class, and the concise summary of the ML numbers. See also M, ML, and MT class numbers for brass, guitar, percussion, piano, strings, vocal music, and woodwinds. The guide to the M classes available from the University of Tennessee Music Library and the index available from the Indiana University Music Library are also helpful.

It is important to remember that materials on the shelf under the various classification numbers may not represent all of the library's holdings. For example, the volume of Beethoven piano sonatas you are looking for on the shelf under M23 B may be charged out to another library user. To make sure you are finding all the library's books or scores within each classification, you should search in Pegasus, UCSB's online library catalog.

INTRODUCTION TO THE M CLASS

In the M class the number usually indicates medium or, in some cases, form or genre. An important exception is M3, the class number for complete editions of the works of individual composers. For example, to find the new complete edition of the works of J. S. Bach, look under M3, then under B for Bach. Another exception is M2, where you will find collections of scores emphasizing a particular historical period or geographical area. Here, for example, are the multivolume sets Recent Researches in the Music of the Baroque Period (M2 .R42) and Musica Britannica (M2 .M7).

In the M class, instrumental music is numbered first, followed by secular vocal music, then sacred. Within instrumental music, solo and chamber music come first, followed by music for larger instrumental groups: full orchestra, then string orchestra, then band. Solo music for one instrument alone without accompaniment is numbered up to M179. Duets are mostly in the M200s, trios in the M300s, quartets M400s, etc., up to orchestral music beginning with M1000. Concertos are included in the M1000s (full orchestra) and M1100s (string orchestra). For most instruments the class number for full scores of concertos is followed by the number for scores with the orchestra parts reduced for piano. For example, violin concertos in full score are classed M1012, followed by violin concertos with piano reduction under M1013 (or M1112 and M1113 respectively for string orchestra). Consequently, one does not have to search in two different places to find full and reduced scores of concertos for a particular instrument, since they are together on the shelf.

Vocal music is unfortunately not ordered as neatly as instrumental. The class numbers begin approximately with M1500 for full scores of operas. Sacred vocal music follows secular, beginning approximately with M2000 for full scores of oratorios (notice that both secular and sacred begin in parallel with large dramatic works). The class for vocal scores of operas is M1503, and for oratorios, M2003. Solo songs, secular and sacred, do not have parallel numbers: the former begin with M1611, the latter with M2102. Collected songs of individual composers are under M1620. Song cycles are under M1621.4. See vocal music.

Most class numbers are arranged on the shelf alphabetically by composer. For example, if you are looking for a vocal score of an opera by Puccini, look in the M1503s under P. If you are looking for a collection of solo songs by Schubert, look in the M1620s under S. For symphonies by Mozart, look in the M1001s under M.

M, ML, AND MT CLASS NUMBERS FOR BRASS

Solo music, unaccompanied

M 80-84 -- Horn

M 85-89 -- Trumpet

M 90-94 -- Trombone

M 95-99 -- Tuba

Solo with piano

M 255-259 -- Horn

M 260-261 -- Trumpet

M 262-263 -- Trombone

M 264-265 -- Tuba

Chamber music

M 288-289 -- Duets, winds

M 357.4, 457.4, etc. -- Brass trios, quartets, etc.

Solo with orchestra

M 1028-1029 -- Horn

M 1030-1031 -- Trumpet

M 1032-1033 -- Trombone

M 1034.T8, 1035.T8 -- Tuba

Other useful M class numbers

M 1001 -- Symphonies

M 1002 -- Symphonic poems

M 1003 -- Orchestral suites, variations

M 1004 -- Overtures

Literature

Books on construction, music, and playing:

ML 933 -- Brass, general

ML 955-958 -- Horn

ML 960-963 -- Trumpet, cornet

ML 965-968 -- Trombone

ML 970-973 -- Tuba, baritone, etc.

Instruction and study

Instrumental techniques, including methods, studies, and orchestral excerpts:

MT 418 -- Brass, general

MT 420-428 -- Horn

MT 440-448 -- Trumpet, cornet

MT 460-468 -- Trombone

MT 480-488 -- Tuba

MT 496-496.8 -- Baritone, euphonium

See also M, ML, and MT numbers for guitar, percussion, piano, strings, vocal music, and woodwinds.

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M, ML, AND MT CLASS NUMBERS FOR GUITAR

M 125-129 -- Solo guitar

M 292-293 -- Two guitars

M 365-369, M 465-469 (etc.) -- Three, four (etc.) guitars

M 276-277 -- Guitar and piano

M 294-295 -- Guitar and one string instrument

M 296-297 -- Guitar and one wind instrument

M 1037.4.G8 -- Guitar with full orchestra

M 1137.4.G8 -- Guitar with string orchestra

ML 1015.G9, 1016.G8 -- Books on guitar music, playing, construction

MT 580-588 -- Guitar techniques, methods, studies

See also M, ML, and MT numbers for brass, percussion, piano, strings, vocal music, and woodwinds.

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M, ML, AND MT CLASS NUMBERS FOR PERCUSSION

Solo and chamber music

M 146 -- Solo percussion

M 175.X6 -- Solo marimba, xylophone

M 284.P4, M 285.P4 -- Piano and percussion

M 284.X9, M 285.X9 -- Piano and marimba, xylophone

M 298 -- Other duets including percussion

M 385 -- Trios including percussion

M 485, 585, etc. -- Quartets, quintets, etc. including percussion

Solo with orchestra

M 1038 -- Full orchestra

M 1039 -- Piano reduction

M 1138 -- String orchestra

M 1139 -- Piano reduction

Other useful numbers

M 1001 -- Symphonies

M 1002 -- Symphonic poems

M 1003 -- Orchestral suites, variations

M 1004 -- Overtures

Literature

Books on percussion instruments:

ML 1030 -- General

ML 1031 -- Construction

ML 1033 -- Music and playing

ML 1035 -- Drum, kettledrum, etc.

ML 1039 -- Carillons

ML 1040 -- Other percussion instruments including bells

Instruction and study

MT 655 -- General

MT 660 -- Kettledrums

MT 662 -- Side drum, small drum, etc.

MT 710 -- Carillon, bell ringing

MT 719 -- Xylophone

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M, ML, AND MT CLASS NUMBERS FOR PIANO

Piano (harpsichord, etc.) solo

M 21 -- Miscellaneous collections

M 22 -- Collections by one composer

M 23 -- Sonatas

M 24 -- Suites

M 25 -- Other separate pieces

M 26 -- Left hand only

M 26.2 -- Right hand only

M 27 -- Variations

M 30-32 -- Dances

M 32.8-39 -- Arrangements

Piano, four hands

M 200-201 -- Collections

M 202-204 -- Separate works

M 207-212 -- Arrangements

Two pianos

M 214 -- Original compositions

M 215 -- Arrangements

M 216 -- Two or more pianos, three or more performers

Other chamber music

M312, 412, 512 -- Piano trios, quartets, quintets

Solo with full orchestra

M 1010 -- Full score

M 1011 -- Two-piano score

Solo with string orchestra

M 1110 -- Full score

M 1111 -- Two-piano score

Literature

Biographies of pianists:

ML 397, 417

Books on construction, music, and playing:

ML 650 -- General

ML 651 -- Harpsichord, clavichord

ML 652-697 -- Construction

ML 700-747 -- Music and playing

Instruction and study

MT 220 -- General

MT 222 -- Methods

MT 225-242 -- Studies and exercises

MT 243 -- Teaching pieces

MT 245, 247 -- Instructive editions

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M, ML, AND MT CLASS NUMBERS FOR STRINGS

Solo music, unaccompanied

M 40-44 -- Violin

M 45-49 -- Viola

M 50-54 -- Cello

M 55-59 -- Double bass

M 59 -- Viola da gamba, viola d'amore

Solo with piano or continuo

M 217-223 -- Violin

M 224-228 -- Viola

M 229-236 -- Cello

M 237-238 -- Double bass

M 239 -- Viola da gamba, viola d'amore

Chamber music

M 351 -- String trios

M 452, 552, etc. -- String quartets, quintets, etc.

M 312, 412, 512, etc. -- Piano trios, quartets, quintets, etc.

Solo with full orchestra

M 1012, 1013 -- Violin (full score, piano reduction)

M 1014, 1015 -- Viola (full score, piano reduction)

M 1016, 1017 -- Cello (full score, piano reduction)

M 1018 -- Double bass (full score and piano reduction)

Solo with string orchestra

M 1112, 1113 -- Violin (full score, piano reduction)

M 1114, 1115 -- Viola (full score, piano reduction)

M 1116, 1117 -- Cello (full score, piano reduction)

M 1118 -- Double bass (full score and piano reduction)

Other useful numbers

M 1001 -- Symphonies

M 1002 -- Symphonic poems

M 1003 -- Orchestral suites, variations

M 1004 -- Overtures

Literature

Biographies of string players:

ML 398, 418

Books on construction, music, and playing:

ML 750 -- General

ML 755 -- Construction of string instruments

ML 756 -- Music and playing, string instruments

ML 760 -- Viola da gamba and other early string instruments

ML 800-897 -- Violin

ML 900-905 -- Viola

ML 910-915 -- Cello

ML 920-925 -- Double bass

Instruction and study

Instrumental techniques, including methods, studies, and orchestral excerpts:

MT 259 -- General

MT 260-279 -- Violin

MT 280-298 -- Viola

MT 300-318 -- Cello

MT 320-334 -- Double bass

MT 336 -- Viola d'amore

MT 338 -- Viola da gamba and other early string instruments

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M, ML, AND MT CLASS NUMBERS FOR VOCAL MUSIC

Solo songs with orchestra

M 1613 -- Full scores

M 1614 -- Vocal scores

Solo songs with piano

M 1619 -- Collections by more than one composer

M 1620 -- Collections by one composer:

M 1620.B -- Brahms

M 1620.F -- Faure

M 1620.I -- Ives

M 1620.S -- Schubert, Schumann, Strauss

M 1621 -- Separate songs

M 1621.4 -- Song cycles

Operas, musicals

M 1500 -- Full scores

M 1503 -- Vocal scores

Oratorios

M 2000 -- Full scores

M 2003 -- Vocal scores

Other useful numbers

M 1530 -- Secular choruses, mixed voices with orchestra, full scores

M 1533 -- Secular choruses, mixed voices with orchestra, vocal scores

M 2010 -- Masses

M 2011 -- Masses, unaccompanied

M 2020 -- Sacred choruses, mixed voices with orchestra, full scores

M 2023 -- Sacred choruses, mixed voices with orchestra, vocal scores

Literature (a very selective list)

ML 1400-3275 -- Vocal music

ML 1460 -- Vocal technique

ML 1500-1554 -- Choral music

ML 1600-2881 -- Secular vocal music

ML 1700 -- Dramatic music (opera, musical theater, etc.):

ML 1711 -- United States

ML 1727 -- France

ML 1729 -- Germany

ML 1731 -- British Isles

ML 1733 -- Italy

ML 2075 -- Film music

ML 2500-2862 -- Songs

ML 2600-2770 -- Part songs

ML 2633 -- Madrigals

ML 2800-2862 -- Solo songs:

ML 2811 -- United States

ML 2827 -- France

ML 2829 -- Germany (Lied)

ML 2831 -- British Isles

ML 2900-3275 -- Sacred vocal music:

ML 3000 -- Christian (general)

ML 3002-3095 -- Roman Catholic

ML 3100-3188 -- Protestant

ML 3195 -- Jewish

ML 3197 -- Islamic

Instruction and study

Singing and voice culture:

MT 820 -- General

MT 821 -- Physiology, hygiene

MT 823 -- History of vocal pedagogy

MT 825-850 -- Systems and methods

MT 885 -- Studies and exercises

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M, ML, AND MT CLASS NUMBERS FOR WOODWINDS

Solo music, unaccompanied

M 60-64 -- Flute

M 65-69 -- Oboe

M 70-74 -- Clarinet

M 75-79 -- Bassoon

M 105-109 -- Saxophone

M 110.R4 -- Recorder

Solo with piano or continuo

M 240-244 -- Flute

M 245-247 -- Oboe

M 248-252 -- Clarinet

M 253-254 -- Bassoon

M 268-269 -- Saxophone

M 270.R4-271.R4 -- Recorder

Chamber music

M 288-289 -- Duets, winds

M 357.2, 457.2, 557.2, etc. -- Woodwind trios, quartets, quintets, etc.

M 557 -- Woodwind quintets (Flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn)

Other useful numbers

M 1001 -- Symphonies

M 1002 -- Symphonic poems

M 1003 -- Orchestral suites, variations

M 1004 -- Overtures

Literature

Books on construction, music, and playing:

ML 930 -- Woodwinds, general

ML 935-937 -- Flute

ML 940-943 -- Oboe

ML 945-948 -- Clarinet

ML 950-953 -- Bassoon

ML 975-978 -- Saxophone

ML 990.R4 -- Recorder

Instruction and study

Instrumental techniques, including methods, studies, and orchestral excerpts:

MT 340-348 -- Flute

MT 350-353 -- Recorder

MT 360-368 -- Oboe

MT 380-388 -- Clarinet

MT 400-408 -- Bassoon

MT 500-508 -- Saxophone

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THE ML CLASS

Dictionaries, Encyclopedias | Bibliography | History by period, region | Biography | Composition | Conducting | Instruments | Vocal music | Program music | Dance music | Popular music | Folk, ethnic (etc.) music | Philosophy and physics of music |

ML 1, ML 5 -- Periodicals

ML 48-54 -- Texts of vocal works

ML 50 -- Operas

ML 54.6 -- Songs

ML 55 -- Collections, festschrifts

ML 60 -- Collections (by one author)

ML 82 -- Women and music

ML 96.4, 96.5 -- Facsimiles of composers' sketches, autographs

Dictionaries and encyclopedias

ML 100 -- General

ML 102 -- Special topics (by topic)

ML 105 -- Biographical, international

ML 106 -- Biographical, national (by country)

ML 108 -- Terminological

Bibliography

ML 113 -- International

ML 120 -- National (by country)

ML 128 -- Special topics (by topic)

ML 134 -- Composers (thematic catalogs, etc.) (by composer)

ML 136 -- Library catalogs (by library)

ML 156 -- Discography

History and criticism

ML 160 -- General

By period

ML 162-169 -- Ancient

ML 170-190 -- Medieval

ML 194 -- 17th century

ML 195 -- 18th century

ML 196 -- 19th century

ML 197 -- 20th century

By region

ML 199-220 -- North America

ML 200 -- United States

ML 220-239 -- Central, South America

ML 240-325 -- Europe

ML 330-345 -- Asia

ML 350 -- Africa

ML 360 -- Australia, Oceania

Biography -- ML 385-429

ML 410 -- Composers (by composer)

ML 416-419 -- Instrumentalists (by performer)

ML 420 -- Singers (by singer)

Composition -- ML 430-455

ML 431 -- Notation

ML 442 -- Thoroughbass

ML 444 -- Harmony

ML 448 -- Form

ML 455 -- Instrumentation

Conducting and interpretation -- ML 457

Instruments and instrumental music -- ML 460-1354

ML 460 -- General

ML 462 -- Catalogs of musical instruments

ML 465 -- Early music (to 1600)

ML 467 -- 1600-1750

ML 475-484 -- North American, Central America

ML 486 -- South America

ML 489-522 -- Europe

ML 525-541 -- Asia

ML 544 -- Africa

ML 547 -- Australia, Oceania

ML 550-649 -- Organ

ML 650-747 -- Piano

ML 750, 755 -- Strings (general, construction)

ML 800-897 -- Violin

ML 900-927 -- Viola, cello, double bass

ML 930-990 -- Wind instruments

ML 1000-1018 -- Plectral instruments

ML 1030-1040 -- Percussion

ML 1055 -- Sound recordings

ML 1092 -- Electronic instruments

ML 1100-1165 -- Chamber music

ML 1200-1270 -- Band music

ML 1300-1354 -- Orchestral music

Vocal music -- ML 1400-3275

ML 1500-1554 -- Choral music

ML 1600-2881 -- Secular vocal music

ML 1700 -- Dramatic music (opera, musical theater, etc.)

ML 1711 -- United States

ML 1727 -- France

ML 1729 -- Germany

ML 1731 -- British Isles

ML 1733 -- Italy

ML 2075 -- Film music

ML 2500-2862 -- Songs

ML 2600-2770 -- Part songs

ML 2800-2862 -- Solo songs

ML 2811 -- United States

ML 2827 -- France

ML 2829 -- Germany (Lied)

ML 2831 -- British Isles

ML 2900-3275 -- Sacred vocal music

ML 3000 -- Christian (general)

ML 3002-3095 -- Roman Catholic

ML 3082 -- Chant

ML 3100-3188 -- Protestant

ML 3195 -- Jewish

ML 3197 -- Islamic

Program music -- ML 3300-3354

Dance music -- ML 3400-3465

Popular music -- ML 3469-3541

ML 3470 -- General

ML 3477 -- United States

ML 3506-3509 -- Jazz

ML 3518 -- Big band

ML 3521 -- Blues

ML 3524 -- Country

ML 3534 -- Rock

National music (folk, ethnic, etc.) -- ML 3545-3775

ML 3547 -- Ethnomusicology

ML 3550-3570 -- North America

ML 3572 -- Central America

ML 3575 -- South America

ML 3580-3730 -- Europe

ML 3740-3758 -- Asia

ML 3760 -- Africa

ML 3770 -- Australia, Oceania

Jewish music -- ML 3776

Musicology -- ML3797

Ethnomusicology -- ML3799.E

Philosophy and physics of music

ML 3800 -- General

ML 3805-3817 -- Acoustics and physics

ML 3830 -- Psychology

ML 3845-3877 -- Aesthetics

ML 3880 -- Criticism

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