There are a lot of music reference books out there from research guides to literature/repertoire guides, basic history to theoretical treatises. Print is stll alive!
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Music of Fantasy Cinema by The Library of Congress call number system is an "address" for each item. It is used by most academic libraries and applies across formats. Call numbers look like this: M1001 .B46 op. 3 no. 2 or ML410 .C545 H6 or MT265 .P42
Here's what that means...
The first letter designates that the item is a score, music literature (biography, history, criticism, philosophy) or music theory/teaching (how-to's, theoretical descriptions, treatises).
"M" = score, "ML" = literature, "MT" = theory/teaching
The second grouping is a "Cutter" number...a series of letters+numbers in a type of cipher.
For example: Chopin's Cutter designation is C54 or C545. When you see this combination (as above), the item is by/about Chopin.
Other helpful tips:
M3 is the collected works section. These are curated complete works by one composer. Solid scholarship.
Score designations: M2## are duets or accompanied solo works, M3## are trios, M4## are quartets, etc.
Print music resources that YOU should know as a music scholar. Familiarize yourself with these resources and you will have an easier time of researching!
