Writings about music are organized on the library shelves into two divisions that correspond roughly to three broad areas of study within the discipline—History/Literature (subclass ML) and Education + Theory/Composition (subclass MT). Looking for books about a particular composer? The class numbers below can be used to locate and browse the library shelves at ML 410, for example, for volumes of interest, filed on the shelves by composer last name.
When looking for specific materials, however, (a known author or title, for example) you should use UC Library Search to locate the exact call number of the item. Summary tables for the three Library of Congress classifications devoted to music—M Music, ML Literature on Music, and Musical Instruction and Study—are posted on the ends of ranges in the stacks. If you have any questions interpreting a call number or locating an item or area please don't hesitate to ask at the reference desk.
ML 1-109 General topics
ML 1, 4-5 Periodicals/Serials
ML 12-21 Directories/Almanacs
ML 25-28 Societies
ML 29-31 Music foundations
ML 32-33 Institutions
ML 35-38 Festivals and congresses
ML 40-44 Programs
ML 48-54.8 Librettos, texts of vocal works
ML 55 Collections, festschriften
ML 60 Collections by one author
ML 62-90 Special topics (by topic)
ML 82 Women and music
ML 90 Writings of musicians
ML 93-97 Manuscripts, autographs, paleography, etc.
ML 100-109 Dictionaries and encyclopedias
ML 100 General
ML 102 Special topics (by topic)
ML 105 Biographical, international
ML 106 Biographical, national (by country)
ML 108 Terminological
ML 162-3797 History and Criticism
ML 162-197 By period
ML 162-169 Ancient
ML 170-190 Medieval
ML 193-197 1600-
ML 198-350.5 By region or country
ML 198-239 Americas
ML 240-325 Europe
ML 330-345 Asia
ML 350-350.5 Africa
ML 360 Australia, Oceania
ML 385-429 Biography
ML 410 Composers (by composer)
ML 416-419 Instrumentalists (by performer)
ML 420 Singers (by singer)
ML 430-455 Composition
ML 431 Notation
ML 442 Thoroughbass
ML 444 Harmony
ML 448 Form
ML 455 Instrumentation
ML 457 Conducting and Interpretation
ML 460-1354 Instruments and instrumental music
ML 460 General
ML 462 Catalogs
ML 465-471 By period
ML 465 Early music (to 1600)
ML 467 1600-1750
ML 475-547 By region or country
ML 475-486 Americas
ML 489-522 Europe
ML 525-541 Asia
ML 544 Africa
ML 547 Australia, Oceania
ML 548 Jews
ML 549-1092 Individual instruments
ML 550-649 Organ
ML 650-747 Piano, clavichord, harpsichord, etc.
ML 750-927 String instruments
ML 930-990 Wind instruments
ML 1000-1018 Plucked instruments
ML 1030-1040 Percussion instruments
ML 1049.8-1091 Mechanical and other instruments
ML 1091.8-1093 Electronic instruments
ML 1100-1165 Chamber music
ML 1200-1270 Orchestral music
ML 1300-1354 Band music
ML 1379-1380 Electronic music, Computer music
ML 1400-3275 Vocal music
ML 1400 General
ML 1402-1406 By period
ML 1410-1451 By region or country
ML 1460 Vocal technique
ML 1500-1554 Choral music
ML 1600-2881 Secular vocal music
ML 1700 Dramatic music (opera, musical theater, etc.)
ML 1711 United States
ML 1727 France
ML 1729 Germany
ML 1731 British Isles
ML 1733 Italy
ML 2075 Film music
ML 2500-2862 Songs
ML 2600-2770 Part songs
ML 2800-2862 Solo songs
ML 2900-3275 Sacred vocal music
ML 3000 Christian (general)
ML 3002-3095 Roman Catholic
ML 3082 Chant
ML 3100-3188 Protestant
ML 3195 Jewish
ML 3197 Islamic
ML 3300-3354 Program music
ML 3400-3465 Dance music
ML 3469-3541 Popular music
ML 3470 General
ML 3477 United States
ML 3506-3509 Jazz
ML 3518 Big band
ML 3521 Blues
ML 3524 Country
ML 3534 Rock
ML 3545-3775 National music (folk, ethnic)
ML 3547 Ethnomusicology
ML 3550-3570 North America
ML 3572 Central America
ML 3575 South America
ML 3580-3730 Europe
ML 3740-3758 Asia
ML 3760 Africa
ML 3770 Australia, Oceania
ML 3776 Jewish music
ML 3797 Musicology
ML 3799.E Ethnomusicology
ML 3800-3923 Philosophy and physics of music
ML 3805-3817 Acoustics and physics
ML 3820 Physiology
ML 3830-3840 Psychology
ML 3845-3877 Aesthetics
ML 3880-3923 Criticism
ML 3930 Literature on music for children
MT 1 Theory of musical instruction
MT 2-5 History and criticism
MT 6-7 Music theory
MT 20-32 Special methods
MT 40-67 Composition
MT 58-67 Forms
MT 68 Improvisation, accompaniment, transposition
MT 70-71 Orchestra and orchestration
MT 73 Band and instrumentation for band
MT 90-145 Analytical guides, etc. (Hermeneutics)
MT 95-100 Opera, ballet, opera-ballet, etc.
MT 110-115 Oratorios, cantatas, etc.
MT 125-130 Orchestral music
MT 140-145 Chamber, organ, piano, violin, etc., music
MT 150 Guides
MT 170-810 Instrumental techniques
MT 180-257 Keyboard instruments
MT 180-198 Organ
MT 192-192.8 Electronic
MT 200-208 Harmonium (Reed organ)
MT 220-255 Piano
MT 257 Harpsichord
MT 259-338 String instruments
MT 260-279 Violin
MT 280-298 Viola
MT 300-318 Violoncello
MT 320-334 Doublebass
MT 339-538 Wind instruments
MT 350-353 Recorder
MT 340-359 Flute
MT 360-376 Oboe
MT 380-388 Clarinet (A, Bb,C, Eb, etc.)
MT 400-408 Bassoon
MT 418 Combined Brass
MT 420-432 Horn
MT 440-456 Trumpet/Cornet
MT 460-472 Trombone
MT 496-496.8 Euphonium/Baritone
MT 480-488 Tuba
MT 492 Saxhorn
MT 539-654 Plectral instruments
MT 540-557 Harp
MT 560-570 Banjo
MT 580-599 Guitar
MT 600-612 Mandolin
MT 620-634 Zither
MT 655-722 Percussion and other instruments
MT 728-733.6 Ensemble instruction and study
MT 728 Chamber music instruction and study
MT 730 Orchestral instruction and study
MT 733-733.6 Band instruction and study
MT 740-810 Instruction and study for children
MT 820-949 Singing and voice culture
MT 825-850 Systems and methods
MT 855-883 Special techniques
MT 898-949 Techniques for children