Scholars exploring Poland's disproportionately large contribution to the body of Western classical music will find a superb collection of research materials in the Music Division of the Library of Congress. The works of all major and many minor Polish composers have been acquired, including numerous holograph scores.
While bibliographic control of the Music Division's holdings (now estimated at more than eight million pieces) is being automated, the card catalogs in the Music Reading Room provide the most comprehensive access, particularly to material in special collections.
Considering the composer's stature, it is not surprising that the works of Frederic Chopin are among the Division's most valued possessions, comprising his collected works, numerous first editions of individual pieces, and the autographed scores of his Mazurka in B minor, Opus 33, no. 4, and his Prelude in A-flat major, op. posth. Piano music. Selections.
Another treasure, the Paderewski collection, includes the second draft of his Minuet in G, Opus 14 Piano music. Selections.
Autograph scores and recordings by Karol Szymanowski Music of Szymanowski [sound recording], Tadeusz Kassern Concertino : na obój i orkiestrę smyczkową, Krzysztof Penderecki Seven gates of Jerusalem [sound recording], Henryk Wieniawski Violin, piano music. Selections, Tadeusz Jarecki Quartet for strings, op. 21, and numerous less known composers also are available.
The Performing Arts Reading Room is the access point for the collections in the custody of the Music Division at the Library of Congress. Numbering approximately 20.5 million items and spanning more than 1000 years of Western music history and practice, these holdings include the classified music and book collections, music and literary manuscripts, iconography, microforms, periodicals, musical instruments, published and unpublished copyright deposits, and close to 500 special collections in music, theater, and dance.
