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Jazz Research at the Library of Congress

Browse Using LC Classification

Although "jazz" music can be found throughout the Library's music collections, it is important to keep in mind a few specialized classification numbers that may help guide your research. For example, the Library holds a large collection of jazz lead sheets under the Library of Congress (LC) Classification Number -- M1356.2.

Using the Library of Congress Online Catalog, start by selecting the "Browse" option and then select "CALL NUMBERS (LC Class No.)" from the drop-down menu.

More information on specific useful classifications for researching "jazz" are listed below,

MT - Music Instruction

  • MT68
    Improvisation. Accompaniment. Transposition (includes Jamey Aebersold series)
  • MT239 
    Piano performance of popular music (ragtime, jazz, boogie-woogie, etc)
  • MT733.7 
    Jazz band performance
  • MT866 
    Vocal improvisation (includes scat singing)
  • MT868
    Jazz vocals - singing and vocal technique

ML - Music Literature

  • ML128.J3
    Jazz bibliographies
  • ML102.J3
    Jazz dictionaries
  • ML156.4.J3 
    Jazz discographies
  • ML3505.8
    Jazz periodicals. Societies. Serials
  • ML3505.9
    Jazz congresses
  • ML3506 
    General works on jazz
  • ML3507 
    Jazz-related addresses, essays, lectures

Books on jazz by region or country

  • ML3508-3508.8
    United States

ML3509.A-Z Other regions or countries, A-Z

  • ML3509.A35
    Africa (General)
  • ML3509.A7 - .A78
    Argentina
  • ML3509.A92 - .A928 
    Australia
  • ML3509.A95 - .A958 
    Austria
  • ML3509.A97 - .A978 
    Azerbaijan
  • ML3509.B42 - .B428 
    Belgium
  • ML3509.B46 - .B468 
    Bermuda 
  • ML3509.B7 - .B78
    Brazil
  • ML3509.B95 - .B958 
    Bulgaria
  • ML3509.C2 - .C28
    Canada  
  • ML3509.C37 - .C379 
    Caribbean Area
  • ML3509.C5 - .C58
    Chile
  • ML3509.C65 - .C658 
    Colombia
  • ML3509.C76 - .C768 
    Croatia
  • ML3509.C88 - .C888 
    Cuba
  • ML3509.C9 - .C98
    Czech Republic. Czechoslovakia 
  • ML3509.D45 - .D458 
    Denmark
  • ML3509.E5 - .E58
    England
  • ML3509.E75 - .E758 
    Estonia
  • ML3509.E9
    Europe (General)
  • ML3509.F5 - .F58
    Finland 
  • ML3509.F7 - .F78
    France
  • ML3509.G3 - .G38
    Germany
  • ML3509.G7
    Great Britain (General)
  • ML3509.H96 - .H968 
    Hungary
  • ML3509.I5 - .I58
    Indonesia
  • ML3509.I82 - .I828 
    Israel
  • ML3509.I85 - .I858 
    Italy
  • ML3509.J3 - .J38
    Japan
  • ML3509.M47
    Mediterranean Region
  • ML3509.M6 - .M68
    Mexico 
  • ML3509.N4 - .N48
    Netherlands 
  • ML3509.N56 - .N568 
    New Zealand
  • ML3509.N6 - .N68
    Nigeria 
  • ML3509.N8 - .N88
    Norway 
  • ML3509.P7 - .P78
    Poland 
  • ML3509.P84 - .P848 
    Portugal 
  • ML3509.R8 - .R88
    Russia. Soviet Union. Russia (Federation) 
  • ML3509.S34
    Scandinavian countries (General)
  • ML3509.S6 - .S68
    South Africa
  • ML3509.S73 - .S738 
    Spain 
  • ML3509.S8 - .S88
    Sweden
  • ML3509.S9 - .S98
    Switzerland  
  • ML3509.T97 - .T978 
    Turkey
  • ML3509.V4 - .V48
    Venezuela 

General Topics

  • ML3918.J39
    Political aspects of jazz
  • ML3921.8.J39
    Religious aspects of jazz
  • ML3918.J39
    Social aspects of jazz

M - Notated Music

  • M28
    Piano music - Marches
  • M30
    Piano music - Dances (general)
  • M31
    Piano music - Dances (two-rhythm)
  • M32
    Piano music - Dances (three-rhythm)
  • M1350
    ​Dance orchestra or instrumental ensemble - pre-dating July1, 1944
  • M1355
    ​Song orchestrations (vaudeville, etc.)
  • M1356
    ​Dance orchestra or instrumental ensemble - general
  • M1356.2
    Dance orchestra or instrumental ensemble - lead sheets
  • M1366
    ​Jazz ensembles
  • M1622
    ​Vaudeville, music-hall, etc. songs published between 1850 and 1923