Classical Music
Special Resource Pages:
On this page:
Welcome
Searching for classical music from Albinoni to Zelenka? You'll find something of interest here for you!
Feel like listening to classical music while you read this? Just enter your library card number and last name to listen to 276,000 tracks of streamed music from the NAXOS, BIS, Chandos, CPO, Hanssler, Hungaroton, and Marco Polo labels.
Focus on Classical Music
New CDs
A couple of recent productions from the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the New Zealand String Quartet:
Symphonies nos. 6 and 7, Finlandia, Jean Sibelius.
Performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra; Pietari Inkinen, conductor.
"With this fourth volume, Finnish conductor Pietari Inkinen completes his cycle of Sibelius's numbered symphonies, of which the Symphonies Nos. 1 and 3 were acclaimed as 'warm and poignant' (Classical Music Sentinel), Symphonies Nos. 4 and 5 as having 'raw intensity' (Guardian) and Symphony No. 2 as 'entrancing... highly recommended' (Allmusic.com). The tranquil and sunny poetry of Symphony No. 6 joins the majestic single-movement Symphony No. 7, coupled with Finlandia, the work which established Sibelius's fame and became a symbol of Finnish freedom." (naxos.com)
Notes from a journey.
Performed by the New Zealand String Quartet.
This recording includes works by New Zealand composers including John Psathas, Ross Harris, Jack Body, Michael Norris and Gareth Farr.
"The New Zealand String Quartet's latest offering is full of resonance... This celebration of the inspirational symbiosis that these four musicians share with our composer community has much going for it. If one could venture a superlative for the word immaculate, then Wayne Laird's production would deserve it; as far as visual presentation is concerned, Simon Kaan's Untitled Waka on the cover could not be bettered for cool elegance..." (from the New Zealand Herald review). You can read more about Notes from a journey at the NZSQ website.
New to the library
Spotlight Review
The power of music: pioneering discoveries in the new science of song, by Elena Mannes; foreword by Aniruddh D. Patel.
"The award-winning creator of the acclaimed documentary 'The Music Instinct: Science & Song' explores the power of music and its connection to the body, the brain, and the world of nature." (Syndetics summary)
All new classical CDs
Check out our new book lists section for a complete list of all new classical CDs at the library, compiled every month.
Other recent items
MyLibrary:
Have a look at the libraries' Classical Music recent picks for more new CDs, biographies of classical musicians and new scores.
MyLibrary is a free service which allows you to set up your own portal page to collect lists of new books, CDs and DVDs in the library. Our librarians compile these lists on a monthly basis across the different subject areas in the library's collection, and for many subjects these monthly lists are available going back a number of years.
Magazines
In print @ the library
Lending classical music magazines are shelved in the Art, Music & Literature Magazine collection on the first floor of the Central Library, and in the branches on the magazine stands.
Here are links into the catalogue for just a few of our most popular classical music magazines:
Catalogue search
Online journals & articles
Each site contains at least some full-text of the print magazines
- www.bbcmusicmagazine.com
- www.gramophone.co.uk - the mighty Gramophone
- www.ffaire.com (Not to be confused with Fanfare - the American reviewing magazine).
- www.lafolia.com - containing more in-depth new music reviews and articles
- www.opera-opera.com.au - Australasia's independent monthly newspaper of musical theatre.
- Music and Vision - focusing on news e.g. concert reviews, upcoming event,although there are articles.
- All Things Strings - sample articles from the latest issue always available.
- Music for the love of it - excerpts include themes around musicianship, and musicality and ensemble skills for the amateur performer.
See also...
The library also has some subscription databases available to library members - check out our MyGateway Music Page, and search across thousands of articles on a range of music-related topics.
Searching the Catalogue
Can't find what you need above?
Try searching our Catalogue. Below you'll find some tips for searching for classical music.
If you know parts of the title and the composer...
The best way is to select the Advanced button on the left hand side of the main catalogue screen, enter the composer's name under 'Author or Name', type what you know of the title and format in the 'Keywords' option; then Click Search.
E.g. Puccini, Tosca
Works with a "title" e.g. Carmen...
Use the 'Title browse', or 'Title keyword' options.
Note: Ignore articles in all language including English, e.g. The, Die, Le, La etc.
Need more help?
You can find more detailed help on how to search for classical music on our Classical Music Search Tips page.
Shelf Help: Scores
| Subject: | Dewey Number: |
|---|---|
| Vocal music | 780 |
| Operas and musicals | 780.7 |
| Part songs | 780.4 |
| Sacred music including Masses, Oratorios, Cantatas | 780.5-780.6 |
| Solo Vocal Collections | 780 |
| Instrumental music | 781 |
| Cello | 781.35 |
| Flute | 781.11 |
| Guitar | 781.25 |
| Organ | 781.7 |
| Piano | 781.4 |
| Piano duet | 781.6 |
| Pianos (2) | 781.64 |
| Violin (Also includes Trios, quartets etc. of the same instrument.) |
781.3 |
| Chamber and orchestral combinations | 782 |
| Piano trios | 782.2 |
| String trios | 782.1 |
| Strong quartets | 782.3 |
| String quintets | 782.5 |
| Wind quintets | 782.6 |
| Wind sextets | 782.65 |
| Orchestral scores | 782.7 |
| Other combinations of quintet/sextets etc. | 782.7 |
| Miniature scores of any kind of work | 782.77 |
Useful Websites & Online Databases
- BBC Proms Archive
Lists "performances, composers, works, soloists, conductors and ensembles in its 115-year history" (see BBC article here). Browse the archive, create your own lists, and contribute your thoughts and memories. - Classical Music at the British Sound Archive
Explore 1,200 historical performances of works by Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms dating from 1915 to 1958. The vast majority of these recordings are now out of print, making this a vital resource for understanding Western classical music heritage. The broad scope of recordings in the Classical Music section allows listeners to compare performance styles from the USA to Denmark to Russia. - NAXOS classical music
Now free online to Wellington library members. Just enter your library card details to listen to 276,000 tracks of streamed music from the NAXOS, BIS, Chandos, CPO, Hanssler, Hungaroton, and Marco Polo labels, with 500 new CDs added each month. Includes over 100 New Zealand CDs! - NZLive.com
This site will tell you what's happening in the New Zealand Arts scene. Check out the highlights in upcoming Wellington musical events. - MusicAustralia
A new online service to help you find, access and navigate a rich store of information on Australian music, musicians, organisations and services from a single access point. Drawing on the extensive bibliographic resources contained in the National Bibliographic Database (NBD), and a new database on Australian music and music organisations, MusicAustralia delivers information on about 130,000 music items. Browse topical themes such as sport or war songs. - The Lied and Art Song Texts Page
This is an archive of texts to lieder and other art songs. There are composer and poet indexes plus a word search function if the title of the song has escaped you. plus links to translation guides. - Allclassical.com
General biographical material as well as access to works listings. - Cadence
A database of choral sets and orchestral parts held by New Zealand choirs, orchestras and libraries. - Classical Composers' Archive
Wide range of composer information, including "today's musical history". Ever heard of Firkusny? Definitely includes the obscure and hard to find! - British Library Music collections
A premier music library's collections and resources. Take a look at their catalogues or online exhibitions. Try their Mozart's thematic catalogue from February 1784 until December 1791 (the last 7 years of his life). - www.sounz.org.nz
Centre for New Zealand music : developing and fostering New Zealand music, its creation, performance, publication, recording and broadcast by working with and on behalf of NZ composers. - www.tunespotting.com
Tunespotting is a melody search engine. While there is the usual database to search, beyond that, you can search by playing your computer keyboard or by entering notes on a stave. - MyGateway Music Page
Search across thousands of articles on a range of music-related topics and browse online magazines at our MyGateway Music Page. - Classical orchestra links
Orchestral news and links to the key world orchestras, including our own Vector Wellington Orchestra and NZSO.
Contact us
This page is written and maintained by Bridget. My aim is to keep you informed about the classical music and scores section of the library and to highlight parts of the collection which may interest you. Comments and suggestions about this page or the classical music collection are welcomed to Bridget.
