Browsing the collection

Five tips to find what you’re looking for!

1. Know what you're looking for

Start your search with a well-chosen keyword. Refine the scope of your search: are you looking for a score, audio recording or literature (select music catalog)?

A drop-down menu with the different scopes appears once you start typing your keywords in the search bar, or you can select them on beforehand by clicking on the search icon at the right of the search bar.

2. Filter and refine

If you precisely know what you’re looking for, you can use the advanced search to search on the name of the author/composer, (a part of the) title or type of document (score, recording, article, book, journal, database).

If you’re looking for a score, choose the scope scores to use extra filters like instrumentation and number of players. Please note: the search engine only works with English names. To help you, there is this non-exhaustive list.

All search results appear in a on relevance ordered list. At the left column, you can choose for an alphabetic ordered list (on the name of the author/composer or title).

3. What, and where?

You’ll get more information by clicking on Location and Details.
Beneath the tab Location you’ll see the library and call number where the item is located. The staff member in the library can help you find the work. Beneath the tab Details you’ll find more bibliographic information about the work.

4. Journals

Are you looking for a(n) (article in a) journal? The best way is to search on the title of the journal.

MATRIX has an interesting collection of journals with current subscriptions on among others Musiktexte, Positionen and The Wire.

5. Databases

To get your research started, we have access to some useful databases. Oxford Music Online combines the music encyclopedia Grove Music Online, The Oxford Companion to Music and Oxford Dictionary of Music. RILM Abstracts of Music Literature (1967-Present) makes it easy to track down what literature has already been published on your research topic. For listening to music, we have access to Naxos Music Library (only for five simultaneous users). Rock’s Backpages gathers top shelve pop journalism, next to an extensive audio library of exclusive interviews.

KU Leuven students and staff have access to the datebases through Limo wherever they are. Other users have access in the library.

Didn't find what you're looking for? Contact our librarian.