Benslow Music Trust Library
The Library is situated on the first floor of the main house. There are over 30,000 acquisitions of music, with more donations coming in regularly. The library is staffed by volunteers under the direction of Richard Bean, our Honorary Librarian.
What is in the Library?
The acquisitions include solo songs, piano and instrumental pieces, sets of parts for string and wind ensembles, chamber music, orchestral and choral works, full and miniature scores, etc. There are over 1800 books on music and collections of music magazines such as The Strad, Musical Times and Music and Letters. Below is a simplified list of categories with the totals of music and books held.
What is the current use of the Library?
Course tutors and participants make regular use of the Library. During courses, participants are able to use the Library at all times, using the music whilst in residence at the Trust.
Members of the Trust (over 1000) are able to take music away from Benslow, borrowing up to six items for up to three months, with renewals possible. (See `Membership and Support' for details of membership of Benslow Music Trust).
The Library is open during normal office hours and at all times during courses.
The Library is normally staffed by the volunteers on Monday mornings, and most afternoons. However members travelling to Benslow who wish to consult the volunteer staff are advised to make arrangements in advance.
The Library volunteers will post out music to members in response to postal, email or telephone requests, provided that the cost of postage is reimbursed.
Music donations and more space
The number of donations regularly received, both large and small, has put pressure both on the volunteers who sort and catalogue, and on the space needed to house the Library, and items are kept in back stores. Due to the space and access problems, it has been suggested that the library should be extended.
Future considerations for the Library
At present it is not possible to make the library catalogue available on the internet. However we are able to send selected sections of the catalogue in Excel format by email, e.g. category 782.3 String quartets. Also we can, for a small fee, make the whole database available in Excel format on a CD. Obviously these copies are only correct when created and will not contain updates.
Members are encouraged to visit the library to study. There is a desk in the library and should this not be suitable, an alternative quiet area would normally be available, if arranged in advance.
Contact information:
Tel: 01462 459446 Email: library@benslow.org
Benslow Music Trust Library Catalogue
The Dewey/McColvin decimal classification has been adapted for use in our library. Below is a simplified list of library contents with category numbers, totals of scores held and category description.
Music Scores
780 Vocal music scores
781 Instrumental music scores
782 Chamber and orchestral music scores
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Music Books
783 General music theory
784 Vocal music
785 Instrumental music
786 Chamber music etc.
787 Aesthetics, appreciation, study
788 History of music, national music
789 Biography and criticism, miscellaneous
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780
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Vocal Music Scores
.1 240 National and folk songs
.2 95 Children's and unison songs
.3 1605 Solo songs
.41 225 Duo and trio songs
.44 395 Madrigals, chansons
.45 740 Secular mixed unaccompanied
.46 330 Secular mixed with keyboard
.48 350 Female voices
.51 410 Sacred mixed unaccompanied
.52 425 Sacred mixed with keyboard
.57 360 Carols and collections
.58 70 Hymns and collections
.6 1090 Cantatas, Oratorios, Masses
.7 555 Operas and stage works
.8 1890 Publishers' bound samples
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781
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Instrumental Music Scores
.11 740 Flute
.12 260 Oboe / Cor Anglais
.13 525 Clarinet
.136 85 Bassethorn
.14 175 Bassoon
.15 145 Trumpet
.16 60 Horn
.17 55 Trombone
.19 115 Saxophone
.25 135 Guitar
.3 1170 Violin
.301 415 Violin sonatas
.302 225 Violin concertos
.33 305 Two violins or more
.331 155 String duets
.34 550 Viola
.35 710 Cello
.351 120 Two cellos or more
.36 55 Viola de gamba
.37 55 Double bass
.4 2540 Piano solo
.5 360 Piano solo collections
.51 90 Harpsichord collections
.6 365 Piano duets
.64 310 Two pianos, four hands
.7 410 Organ solos, collections
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782
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Chamber And Orchestral
.1 210 String trios
.2 415 Trios for piano and strings
.25 245 Trio sonatas
.3 1180 String quartets
.4 140 Quartets for piano and strings
.5 325 String quintets
.51 85 String sextets and larger
.62 115 Duos for mixed wind
.63 120 Trios for mixed wind
.64 85 Wind quartets
.65 185 Wind quintets
.66 110 Wind ensemble
.67 195 Brass ensemble
.7 180 Full orchestra
.71 345 String orchestra
.72 75 Solo instruments and strings
.74 235 Light orchestra
.81 375 Solo recorder / keyboard
.82 370 Two recorders
.83 355 Three recorders
.84 335 Four recorders
.85 185 Five or more recorders
.87 270 Recorders with instruments
.92 75 Jazz
.93 460 Dance Band Music
.94 175 Old Time Dance Music
.99 690 Scores, large
.991 2070 Scores, miniature
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783
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Works of reference and music theory
.0 185 Encyclopedias, dictionaries
.05 95 Bibliography, essays
.1 60 Theory, harmony
.5 65 Form, composition
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784
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Singing and opera
.1 35 Voice training, interpretation
.5 65 Church music, Opera
.86 70 Opera librettos
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785
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Instruments
.0 20 Instruments - general
.1 25 Wind instruments
.4 45 String instruments
.5 50 Keyboard instruments
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786
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Chamber, orchestra
.0 20 Chamber
.3 35 Orchestra
.6 15 Conducting
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787
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Aesthetics, Appreciation, Study
.0 40 Appreciation, aesthetics
.2 245 Study, specific works
.5 65 Study, general works
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788
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History And Criticism Of Music
.0 55 General history of music
.8 95 Music of different periods
.1 45 Folk and national music
.2 20 Music worldwide
789 Biography, Criticism, Miscellaneous
.0 645 Biography - individuals
.6 65 Biography - collective
.7 90 Autobiography
.95 25 Benslow interest
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