Music Guide: Scores

Online Scores

Babel Scores This link opens in a new window
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Online library of musical scores composed within the last 40 years.

Classical Scores Library
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Contains classical scores from both in-copyright and public domain editions. The major composers output is represented, as well as many lesser known composers and works.
IMSLP/Petrucci Music Library
Public domain music scores and parts.
Women Composers Collection
A collection of mostly 19th- and early 20th-century digitized musical scores by women composers held at the University of Michigan Music Library.

Browse scores virtually

Scores in the Music Library are shelved according to the Library of Congress classification system. Follow these steps to virtually browse our scores:

1) Identify the LC range you want to browse. For example, are you looking for string quartets? Those are shelved in M452.

2) Use the 'Browse' search in UW Libraries Search to browse by call number.

3) In the 'Browse by' pulldown menu, select 'Browse by Library of Congress call numbers.' Enter the LC range you want to browse. Use the arrows in the bottom right to navigate.

Sheet Music

Ashford Sheet Music Collection
The Paul Ashford Sheet Music Collection largely contains music from and about Washington State and the Pacific Northwest.
Pacific Northwest Sheet Music Collection
A subset of the Ashford Sheet Music Collection focusing specifically on Washington and Pacific Northwest Sheet Music.
Baltic Score Collection
The UW Libraries is developing a collection of Baltic choral music scores, sheet music, recordings, and related materials. This quick guide allows you to search the entire collection (some 900 items in 2012) by country (Estonia, Latvia, or Lithuania), composer's name, genre (choral, vocal, or instrumental) and medium (score, recording, book)
Silent Film Scores and Arrangements
Scores and Arrangements digital collection offers unique insight into the development of music and scores in film. The collection includes over 3,000 items published or created for use in silent film accompaniment between 1904 - 1927. These items include scores written for specific films, cue sheets that compile melodies for use at certain moments in specific films.
Historic Sheet Music Collection, 1800-1922
This sheet music collection consists of approximately 9,000 items published from 1800 to 1922, although the majority is from 1850 to 1920 [view finding aid for the collection]. The bulk was published in many different cities in the United States, but some of the items bear European imprints. Most of the music is written for voice and piano; a significant minority is instrumental.