For this session, we'll be working on how to find printed music in the library, and how to assess and choose the right score for your purpose.
The text and videos below will cover some of the content we'll touch on in the session, and will be useful for preparing, reviewing, or if you aren't able to attend class.
At UWM Libraries, and most American university libraries, most physical materials are arranged according to the Library of Congress classification system. In the system, each item is given a call number, which includes a combination of letters and numbers based on the subject matter, author, and date of the item.
Music materials are divided into call numbers beginning ML, for books and other material about music, MT for sources related to music instruction and study, and M, which is used for printed music. Within ML and MT, the organization proceeds by specific subject area. In the Ms, the organization is based on the instrumentation or ensemble the music is written for, with M2 and M3 used for large collected editions that might mix instrumentations.
Not all scores of the same work are created equal. When you locate a score, in the library, online, or elsewhere, consider:
There are several categories that most score editions fall into that can help in making an assessment:
performing edition: this is a version of the score published for performers. It will usually be in a format that is easy to play from, and will include performance markings and suggestions from the editor to make performance easier or to update the instructions for a modern player. It may not always be clear what details come for the original, and what the editor has added.
facsimile edition: a photographic reproduction of the original score. This might be a handwritten manuscript or early print edition, and in some cases the facsimile might be very elaborate and reproduce elements like holes and embossing found in the original. Often, they will be accompanied by scholarly commentary and explanation, or a modern transcription. The goal is to allow users access to a one-of-a-kind original and all the details it might include.
Ur-text edition: an edition usually created by a scholar and based on a single early source-- often the composer's handwritten personal copy (autograph) or a first edition. The editor tries to reproduce that source as closely as possible, with minimal changes or additions, in order to represent the composer's intention. They can be used by both scholars and performers who want to make their own decisions about performance details.
critical edition: an edition created by a scholar and usually based on information gained from multiple sources and extensive research. Conflicts between different sources, known as variants, may be listed and explained, and there is usually a substantial "critical commentary" section that explains the source material, differences, decisions, etc. These are often published in big, multi-volume sets that aren't very practical for performance.
