Chamber Music
PDF Guide
Classification Numbers for Chamber Music
M300–386 Trios:
| M300–M304 | Organ and two other instruments: |
| M300 | Collections (different composers) |
| M301 | Collections (one composer), original works |
| M302 | Separate works, original |
| M303 | Collections (one composer), arrangements |
| M304 | Separate works, arrangements |
| M305–M309 | Reed organ and two other instruments (follows pattern of M301–M304) |
| M310–M314 | Piano and two stringed instruments: |
| M310 | Collections (different composers), original works and arrangements |
| M311 | Collections (different composers), original works |
| M312 | Piano, violin or viola, and violoncello |
| M312.4 | Separate works, original (other combinations than M312 instrumentation) |
| M313 | Collections (one composer), arrangements |
| M314 | Separate works, arrangements |
| M315–M319 | Piano and two wind instruments (follows pattern of M301–M304) |
| M320–M324 | Piano, one stringed, and one wind instrument (follows pattern of M301–M304) |
| M325–M329 | Piano and two plucked instruments (follows pattern of M301–M304) |
| M330–M334 | Piano, one stringed, and one plucked instrument (follows pattern of M301–M304) |
| M335–M339 | Piano, one wind, and one plucked instrument (follows pattern of M301–M304) |
| M340–M344 | Piano and other combinations (follows pattern of M301–M304) |
| M349–M353 | String trios (follows pattern of M301–M304) |
| M355–M359 | Wind trios: |
| M355 | Collections (different composers), original works and arrangements |
| M356 | Collections (different composers), original works |
| M357 | Separate works, original (woodwinds and brass) |
| M357.2 | Separate works, original (woodwinds only) |
| M357.4 | Separate works, original (brass instruments only) |
| M358 | Collections (one composer), arrangements |
| M359 | Separate works, arrangements |
| M360–M364 | Stringed and wind instruments (follows pattern of M301–M304) |
| M365–M369 | Plucked instruments (follows pattern of M301–M304) |
| M370–M374 | Stringed and plucked instruments (follows pattern of M301–M304) |
| M375–M379 | Wind and plucked instruments (follows pattern of M301–M304) |
| M380–M384 | Stringed, wind, and plucked instruments (follows pattern of M301–M304) |
| M385 | Other combinations of specified instruments (including percussion) |
| M386 | Unspecified instruments, or combinations of specified and unspecified instruments |
Quartets, quintets, sextets, septets, octets, and nonets follow similar patterns (in the M400s, 500s, 600s, 700s, 800s, and 900s, respectively).Some of the most frequently requested combinations of more than three instruments may be found below. For more details, or to find other combinations of instruments, see M: Music and Books on Music, available at the reference desk or at the index table in the reference section (Z696.U5 M 1998).
Not all chamber music in the Cook Music Library is out on the shelf.Please consult IUCAT to find information about music that is checked out or in the Frontlog.
Classification Numbers of Other Frequently Requested Combinations
Ranges (for collections and separate works)
| M410–M449 | Piano quartets (winds and/or strings) |
| M450–M459 | String quartets |
| M455–M457 | Wind quartets |
| M510–M554 | Piano quintets (winds and/or strings) |
| M555–M559 | Wind quintets |
Most common individual works:
| M412 | Piano quartets (Piano, violin, viola, and violoncello) |
| M452 | String quartets (Two violins, viola, and violoncello) |
| M457.2 | Woodwind quartets |
| M457.4 | Brass quartets |
| M512.2 | Piano quintets (Piano, two violins, viola, and violoncello) |
| M557.2 | Woodwind quintets |
| M557.4 | Brass quintets |
Some Useful Subject Headings
(for subject searches in IUCAT or WorldCat)
Trios:
| piano trios [always means works for piano, violin, and violoncello] | |
| string trios [various stringed instruments] | e.g., string trios (violins (2), violoncello) |
| brass trios [three brass instruments] | e.g., brass trios (horn, trombone, trumpet) |
| wind trios [mixed brass and woodwind, various combinations] | e.g., wind trios (flute, horns (2)) |
| woodwind trios [three woodwind instruments] | e.g., woodwind trios (bassoon, clarinet, flute) |
| trios [various instruments of all types] | e.g., trios (piano, flute, violoncello) |
Quartets follow similar patterns as above, for instance:
piano quartets [always means works for piano, violin, viola, and violoncello]
string quartets [always means works for 2 violins, viola, and violoncello)]
brass quartets [various combinations as above]
Patterns are similar for quintets, sextets, septets, octets, and nonets.Other useful subject terms include suites and variations followed by the instrumentation, e.g., suites (piano, violin, viola, violoncello) or variations (flute, horn, percussion, violoncello).For complete listings of headings, consult the Library of Congress Subject Headings located on the Index Table on the first floor of the Music Library.
Selected Bibliography
Anderson, Paul G., and Lisa Ormston Bontrager, comp.Brass Music Guide: Ensemble Music in Print.Northfield, IL: Instrumentalist Co., 1987. Ref. ML128 .W5 A59
Clark, David Lindsey.Appraisals of Original Wind Music: A Survey and Guide.Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1999.Ref. ML128 .W5 C6
Cohn, Arthur.The Literature of Chamber Music.4 vols.Chapel Hill, NC: Hinshaw Music, 1997.Ref. ML1100 .C64
Farish, Margaret K.String Music in Print.New York: R.R. Bowker Co., 1973.Ref. ML128 .S7 F2(with multiple supplements until 1998)
Gillaspie, Jon A., Marshall Stoneham, and David Lindsey Clark.The Wind Ensemble Catalog.Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1998. Ref. ML128 .W5 G52
Lawrence, Ian.The Twentieth-Century String Quartet: An Historical Introduction and Catalogue.Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2001. Ref. ML128.C4 L37
Stoneham, Marshall, Jon A. Gillaspie, and David Lindsey Clark. Wind Ensemble Sourcebook and Biographical Guide.Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1997. Ref. ML128.W5 S76
Selected Internet Resources
| Chamber Music America | www.chamber-music.org |
| Victorian Amateur Chamber Music Society | https://vacms.weebly.com/ |