Finding Audio Recordings

Discographies are subject-specific lists containing various amounts of information about sound recordings. They can be in book or journal article form, a concise list at the end of a book or article on a given subject, or on the Web.

• To locate discographies via the catalog, conduct a word search on the topic and add the word "discography." For a more relevant search, use advanced search with "discography" as a subject and add other keyword(s) (examples: popular music, women musicians, composer/performer name).
• Articles published in periodicals may be or contain discographies. To find them, use "discography" or "discographies" as one search term in Periodical Indexes Online.
• Music Index Online give these sample terms to use: DISCOGRAPHIES; PERFORMER CREDITS; PHONOGRAPH RECORDS - Catalogs; RECORDINGS; RECORDINGS - Lists; as a subheading under particular individuals and various types of musicians (example: JAZZ MUSICIANS - Discographies).

If you want to locate music from a particular era, consult a music chronology (timeline). Use the catalog and the subject "music chronology." Some of these resources can help you find music by geographical area as well. After you have located the name of a composer, performer, or work, search for recordings in the UMD catalog.