Find out how to request items before you visit the Library.
Some of our music collections are usually included in our Archives and Manuscripts catalogue. While this catalogue is unavailable our Reference team can help by checking paper catalogues and other sources. Please get in touch with your query.
In addition, the following digitised copies of older catalogues give details of music manuscripts acquired before about 1900: Hughes-Hughes, Augustus, Catalogue of Manuscript Music in the British Museum, 3 vols (London: British Museum, 1906-1909).
Vol I: Sacred vocal music
Vol II: Secular vocal music
Vol III: Instrumental music, treatises etc.
This digitised handlist gives references to manuscript material acquired between 1908-1967: Willetts, Pamela J., Handlist of music manuscripts acquired 1908-67 (London: British Museum, 1970)
Our team in the Rare Books & Music Reading Room also have has a full list of microfilms of printed and manuscript music, available on request.