Magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) and absorption spectra are reported for the gamma-band region (12 500-19 000 cm(-1)) of TiO in an Ar matrix. The spectra show two sets of transitions that can be assigned to TiO molecules at inequivalent matrix sites. Sharp absorption bands and temperature-independent A terms are found to be quantitatively consistent, with the 4 pi <-- 6 sigma electronic excitation of randomly oriented molecules at high-symmetry sites. For the other site(s), which are associated with broad absorption bands and temperature-dependent C terms, a model is proposed where ground-state orbital angular momentum is partially quenched by a low-symmetry crystal field. Semiquantitative application of this model explains some of the finer details of the spectra and suggests a preferential orientation of the low-symmetry sites where the molecular axis is perpendicular to the surface of the matrix-deposition window.