The following illustrations show the "Advanced Search" in the library catalog. (On the Library's homepage, click "Catalog" then "Advanced Search" beside the search box.)
The names of countries, regions, or peoples can be combined with the word “music” as search terms. Use subject terms like these:
Music – India
Music – Latin America
Jews – Music
Subject Contains music india
The subject term “Folk music” can also be combined with the names of countries or regions:
Subject Contains folk music hungary
The subject term “Folk songs” can be combined with the names of countries, regions, peoples, nationalities, and languages. Use subject terms like these:
Folk songs, American
Folk songs, Jewish
Folk songs, Bantu
Subject Contains folk songs french
To get more results:
When researching a country, try broadening your search to its region (for example, music of Brazil may be included on a CD album of Latin American music).
When researching a region, also search individual countries in the region.
See also topical music.
Instruments
Names of specific instruments can be searched as a keyword search. This will retrieve any mention of the instrument as accompaniment in a recording’s credits, as well as subject headings for the instrument when it is playing a prominent role.
Any Field Contains erhu
Or, search broader categories of instruments, combined with the name of a country or region:
Subject Contains stringed instruments china
You can also use Hornbostel/Sachs terms (aerophone, chordophone, membranophone, idiophone). Search these as keywords:
Any Field Contains chordophone*
(The asterisk will retrieve both "chordophone" and "chordophones.")
Use the following subject terms, combined with the name of a specific country if desired:
Ethnomusicology
Sound recordings in ethnomusicology
World music
Folk music
Folk songs
There are a number of subject terms that relate to music and religious practice:
Music of specific communities
The word “music” can be combined with the names of peoples, religious communities, or houses of worship. Use subject terms like these:
Church music
Synagogue music
Navajo Indians – Music
Hindu music
Subject Contains Phrase hindu music
Hymns and hymnals
Both these words can be searched as subject headings.
“Hymns” can also be combined with the names of countries, nationalities, languages, and denominations. Use subject terms like these:
Hymns, American
Hymns, English – United States (“English” here refers to the language.)
Catholic Church – Hymns
Baptists – Hymns
Subject Contains Phrase hymns american
Music for specific holidays
The following can be searched as subject terms:
Epiphany music
Lenten music
Easter music
Advent music
Christmas music
Passover music
Synagogue music – Rosh ha-Shanah services
Subject Contains Phrase Christmas music
Religious texts set to music
Well-known texts can be searched as subject terms, combined with the word “music”:
Subject Contains ave maria music
Subject Contains psalms 23 music
Lesser-known texts can be searched as titles or keywords:
Title Contains Phrase sursum corda
Religious forms and genres
Use subject terms like these:
Chants (Plain, Gregorian, etc.)
Chants (Buddhist)
Masses
Requiems
Choruses, Sacred
Sacred songs
Sacred vocal music
Organ music
Spirituals (Music)
Gospel music
Contemporary Christian music
Subject Contains Phrase chants buddhist