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How orchestral sets are catalogued

Entries are grouped together under composer. Each entry consists of the following information:

• Title (including opus number, key and editor where applicable)
• Orchestration
• Duration (in minutes)
• Publisher

Score types

The type of score available in each set is indicated:

• (FS) Full score
• (MS) Miniature score
• (PC) Piano conductor
• (-) No score

Orchestration

Orchestration is shown by grouping instruments together as they would normally appear in the score: wind / brass / percussion / strings / continuo.

Example:

Symphony no. 3, op. 55, E flat major 'Eroica'
Scoring: FS 2222 3200 T Str Duration: 48'-52' Publisher: Breitkopf

The entry would indicate that:

• a full score was included in the set
• the instrumentation consisted of:
    - two flutes,
    - two oboes,
    - two clarinets,
    - two bassoons,
    - three horns,
    - two trumpets,
    - no trombones or tuba,
    - timpani
    - strings.

Non-standard instruments

Non-standard woodwind instruments are denoted by an asterisk (*) before the number of instruments, while non-standard brass instruments are listed separately at the end of the sequence.

Tuned percussion, harps and keyboard instruments required are listed separately after the percussion.

Example:

Romeo and Juliet : ballet. Suite no. 1, op. 64a
Scoring: FS *3*3*3*3 4331 T Perc Xyl Bells Hp Pf Str Sax Duration: 27' Publisher: Kalmus

This entry indicates that a full score is included in the set and that in addition to the basic double woodwind a piccolo, cor anglais, bass clarinet and contrabassoon are required. The brass section includes four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, one tuba and one saxophone. In addition to the timpani and untuned percussion a xylophone, bells, one harp and one piano are required.

Optional instruments

Any optional instruments are placed in brackets.
 

Strings

The usual breakdown of strings would be violin I, violin II, viola, cello and double bass. The absence of any of these would be noted (e.g. no vla).
 

Solo instruments

Solo instrumental parts which are not included in the title of the work are given in the orchestration. Most of the orchestral sets in Westminster Music Library's collection include solo parts.

Music online

Students, musicians and music lovers have access to key online resources through their library membership:

• International Index to Music Periodicals
• Music Online Reference
• Naxos Music Library
• Oxford Music Online
• See also the online performing arts resources.

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