Finding Sheet Music

The composer must often decide whether their published composition should appear, note for note, as it was written for a specific combination of instruments (a full orchestral score, for example), or whether to rewrite the musical parts for a different combination of voices or instruments (an arrangement or reduction).  Sometimes multiple versions are available.    

Scores are very expensive to produce, so economics may drive what scores are available.

 In some cases, a "full score" is unavailable for purchase, too large to be useful for study, or is too expensive for a library to purchase.  Often, too, it is easier for people learning or even performing the score to work from an arrangement or a reduction.  So we have some scores available as "full scores", others available as "miniature scores", and in varied arrangements -- most notably for one or more pianos.   

You can tell whether something is a full score, or is arranged, by looking at the "Description" areas of an item's record in the catalog. These include the Subject, Genre, Format and General Notes tags.

Sometimes you might see "miniature score": like a study score, it is a FULL orchestral score but it's printed in a small format to make it more portable.

This version of a Beethoven symphony is arranged for two pianos.

This is a piano-vocal arrangement of songs from a Broadway show.  

This is a full orchestral score.  Compare the number of pages with the piano arrangement below