For a number of historical reasons, the National Library of Scotland's music material is entered in four main catalogues and various indexes. For information on the types of material listed in different catalogues, see a general overview.
Catalogues and searching | Indexes
Catalogues
- Main Music Card Catalogue: The main music card catalogue which is situated in the catalogue hall contains cards for printed music published before c.1810, printed music published abroad up to c. 1992, much but not all printed music published in Great Britain between c.1810 and 1992. Material is indexed by composer or title.
- NLS/BCM Card Catalogue: The NLS/BCM card catalogue contains cards from BCM of post 1957 printed music held by the NLS. Entries are indexed by composer or title. There is also a classified index.
- Library Search: Library Search contains records for most books on music and a small proportion of scores (mainly popular and Scottish printed music published after 1992). Material can be searched by author/title/subject/series/keyword etc. Advanced search capabilities include searching specific fields. Searches can also be limited (e.g. date or type of material).
- Sound Recordings Card Catalogue: The sound recordings catalogue lists individual items on LPs by composer and title. This card catalogue is closed.
- Supplementary Handwritten Card Catalogue: The supplementary handwritten card catalogue contains entries of printed music published in Great Britain between c.1810 and c.1900.
Indexes
- 18th Century Scottish Keyboard Music Sheaf Index: This closed index lists keyboard music by title.
- Burns Songs Sheaf Index: The Burns songs sheaf index lists Burns settings by composer and/or title. This index is closed.
- Clarsach Sheaf Index: A closed index listing tune titles.
- Film Music Sheaf Index: A closed index listing film, tune and song titles.
- Gaelic Folk Songs Translation Sheaf Index: The Gaelic folk songs translation sheaf index offers access points for Gaelic titles as well as English translations. This index is closed.
- Popular Music Song Sheaf Index: The Popular music song sheaf index contains lists of popular songs from published collections. This index is closed.
- Scott Songs Sheaf Index: The Scott songs sheaf index lists Scott settings by composer and/or title. This index is closed.
- Scottish Bagpipe Card Index: The Scottish bagpipe card index lists individual tunes found in published collections. Please note that this index is no longer maintained.
- Scottish Bagpipe Sheaf Index: A closed index listing tune titles.
- Scottish Fiddle Sheaf Index A closed index listing tune titles.
- Scottish Folk Sheaf Index: The Scottish folk sheaf index lists songs by composer or title. This index is closed.
- Scottish Instrumental Music Card Index: The Scottish instrumental music card index lists individual tunes (mainly fiddle) found in published collections. Please note that this index is no longer maintained.
- Scottish Song Card Index: The Scottish song card index includes detailed entries of individual songs found in collections and anthologies. In many cases musical incipits are included. Please note that this index, though still a very useful reference tool, is now closed.
- Scottish Sound Archives Sheaf Index: The Scottish sound archives index lists sound recordings by title, composer and performer. This index is still maintained.
- Television and Radio Tune Sheaf Index: A closed index listing tune and programme titles.