March 1, 2007

Troubleshooting: Post Titles

For the majority of posts, titles of posts refer to the composer, and each section of the library is organized alphabetically by name of composer.

There are a couple of intentional exceptions:


JAZZ FILES
For Jazz files, the title refers largely to the name of the arranger. The name of the composer may be listed in the text of the file.

SYMPHONIC CHOIR This section is essentially vocal in nature, but has been set aside separately from the Vocal Section in the library and organized differently for various reasons mentioned in this link. While the title still indicates the composer or arranger, the order of files is not alphabetically ordered by composer, but rather alphabetically by the title of the work.

Use of the search engine can alleviate any complications due to these exceptions.

Troubleshooting: Browsing

There are a few ways to browse through files:

1. Using Labels

Labels are useful in organizing music into different areas. Some labels indicate areas of the library, such as Winds, Vocal labels. Others, like Chamber Music indicate instrumentation, and others still like Baroque separate files according to compositional era.

An important thing to note is that files are uploaded by area, and not by these secondary labels. Thus, if you are browsing via a secondary categorization such as Strings, you will have to view the files by major section, i.e. the music for strings in the SBYSO section first (as it was uploaded later), followed by string music in the Symphonic section.

Simply put, areas of the library can be viewed in entirely alphabetical order. Other categorizations are still organized by area.

Click on this link for an overview of using labels.

Here are some specific complications in regards to labels:

URTEXT as a label refers to original, unaltered material from the Symphonic and SBYSO sections only. However, chamber music may include mention of urtext within the file, if not as a label.
OVERLAPPING LABELS
: Some genres/labels automatically incorporate other classifications - for example, musicals will necessarily be contemporary, and thus would be listed only under "Musical". On the other hand, music that is originally in the form of folk tunes and harmonized later on will be listed as "Traditional".

2. Using the Search Engine

The search engine in the upper left hand corner of any page on this website is a helpful tool not only for looking for a particular file or title, but also in searching for files in a different category (such as a specific publisher like Schirmer) which is not available in the labels. Remember that again that the files in the search results will be organized by section.

Click on this link for on overview on using the Blogger search engine.

Click on this link for some potentially tricky areas in searching for files.

3. Should I use the Archive?

Posts are archived by Blogger into months and years. This is primarily a tool for the Manager of the Arts Ensemble Library in uploading files in proper order by adjusting the time stamp of the posts. The best ways to browse would be the labels and search engine.

Troubleshooting: Finding a work

GENERALIZE YOUR SEARCH

While in most cases, specific searches yield efficient results, there are times when a generalized search can be more useful - a case in point would be files in smaller sections which may only have the surname of composers.

SPELLING OF COMPOSERS' NAMES

Out of academic authenticity, all materials, especially those in Spanish and German, are noted with appropriate diacritic symbols (though Handel is minus the umlaut, owing that the composer dropped its use in becoming an English citizen) Using the search engine should take this into account; often there should be no problems with names like Béla Bartók, however, lesser used symbols like those in Antonín Dvořák may require more a more detailed search.

Extra files with the more common spellings have been made available in order to redirect users to the files for which they are most likely to be looking.

Labels/Categories

Each posting has at least one label which helps to place music into categories - first the genre (symphonic, vocal, winds, jazz, etc.), then the period of composition, then further details that relate specifically to a genre or work, such as whether a symphonic work is in urtext edition or if a solo vocal work is in a piano-vocal arrangement.


The labels are in the side bar to the right, with the number of selections under that category in parantheses. Clicking on a selected label will open a new page showing all the works within that category. If there are many works under a selection, at the bottom of the page there may be an additional link, "Older Posts" which will bring up further selections from that category. For the major genre selections (Symphonic, Vocal, etc.). they will be listed in alphabetical order. For other labels, they will be listed first by genre and within each genre, alphabetically ordered.

The Search Engine

The in-built Blogger search engine is the most useful tool for finding a specific file. It is located in the upper left hand corner of the webpage, and within the white box type in either the name of a composer or work and press the section marked "Search Blog".


This is the best way to look for a file if you have specific information as to either its name or composer/arranger.

After a search, if you would like to return to the main page, just click on the main title of the blog, i.e. "arts ensemble library online".

Obtaining a File

Each file posting will provide various details about the selection, including composer, title and number of copies (if relevant).


Each file will also include the location of the file in red (in the example above, Vocal Section No. 4) - which acts also as a link to a map detailling the area in which that file is stored in the Arts Ensemble Library. To return to the main page, click on the main title i.e. "arts ensemble library online".

If you are a member of the music faculty, it is possible for you to take out the materials required directly with your own key access. Alternatively (and for faculty of the School of the Arts without key access) you can contact the Manager of the Library to send it to you. Graduate music students may have some access to the materials in the Library when it relates to a project or academic requirement. Other students can access the library by first contacting a member of the music faculty if a selection is required for an academic course related to the field, and then contacting the Manager of the Library at .

At all times and for all who require materials, please register all loans by filling out a loan form located on the door of Entrance No. 1 and placing it on the Manager's desk or in the mailbox of the Manager at the School of the Arts. If not, selections may be deemed as missing and be reordered at cost to the Arts programs.

The Discussion Area

An easy way to contact the Manager of the Library without having to open your email is to type in a request in the Discussion Area in the side bar.


This function also helps to provide information to others who may have the same or similar questions, especially when it deals with the way this website works.

Pierme

This post is to assist those looking for works under the contemporary composer Piermè. As the search engine is occasionally sensitive to diacritic marks, you may have been unsuccessful in finding library files under "Pierme". If this is the case, please use this link.