---
title: Searching and filtering
description: Find a piece with a plain-English search, filters, sortable columns, and a saved Columns picker.
---

The Library list combines a **natural-language search** with dropdown filters, so you can narrow a large library quickly. You can also sort by a column heading, choose which fields appear with **Columns**, and page through results (25, 50, or 100 pieces at a time). Column choices and page size are remembered for your account.

## Natural-language search

Type how you would ask a colleague — for example `Advent anthems for SATB`, `Psalm 23 for funeral`, or `easy unison for children`. Church Music Locker parses season, occasion, scripture, and genre when those are clear, then ranks the rest by meaning (not only title or composer). Results stay inside **your active workspace**; it does not search other churches or the public internet.

Leave the box empty to browse the full list. Dropdown filters still apply on top of search results.

## Filters

Use the dropdown filters to narrow by:

- Composer
- Voicing
- Difficulty
- Liturgical season
- Genre

Filters combine with each other and with search — for example, searching `Advent anthems` while filtering voicing to SATB shows only SATB pieces that matched the search.

## Columns, sorting, and paging

Use **Columns** to show or hide fields such as arranger, publisher, voicing, duration, or storage location. Title is always shown. Click a column heading to sort (click again to reverse, a third time to clear). Changing a filter, search, or sort returns you to the first page.

## Multi-movement works in results

A [multi-movement work](/docs/library/multi-movement-works) appears as a single expandable row — expand it to see its individual movements, each of which carries its own metadata for filtering purposes. If a search hits a movement, that work expands so the matching movement is visible.

:::note
Dropdown filters apply in your browser to the pieces already loaded. A typed search is sent to the server (there may be a brief pause after you stop typing).
:::