Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials (Music)

DCRM(M) - Draft rules

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - XYZ 

- A -

Adaptation (Music) -  A musical work that represents a distinct alteration of another work (e.g., a free transcription); a work that paraphrases parts of various works or the general style of another composer; a work that is merely based on other music (e.g., variations on a theme).  (AACR2)

Arrangement (Music) -  A musical work, or a portion thereof, rewritten for a medium of performance different from that for which the work was originally intended; a simplified version of a work for the same medium of performance.  (AACR2)

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- B -

Basso continuo -  See Thoroughbass.

Binder's album -  A collection of pieces bound together by the owner. Primarily a nineteenth-century practice.  (Thorin)

Binder's title -  1. A title lettered on the cover of a collection of pieces bound together by the owner.  2. Whatever title the binder puts on the cover of a bound score or book, as distinct from the publisher's original cover title.  (Thorin)

- C - 

Caption title -  A title given immediately above the opening bars of the music.

Choirbook -  A large music book made to be placed on a stand in front of a choir.  Each part is notated separately, usually in the configuration that presents, when the book is open, the soprano and tenor parts on the verso of a leaf, and the alto and bass parts on the recto of the next leaf; hence, the term "choirbook format."  This physical format was common in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.  (Thorin)

Chorus score -  This term is used only for works originally for solo voice(s) and chorus with accompaniment.  In order for this term to be used in the physical description area for a particular manifestation of a work, the item must omit the solo voice(s), at least in those portions of the work in which the chorus does not sing.  In addition, if the accompaniment is originally for other than keyboard instrument it must be either arranged for keyboard instrument or omitted; if originally for keyboard instrument it must be omitted.  This term is not used for works originally unaccompanied or for any manifestation of an accompanied work with the original accompaniment.  (AACR2)

Close score -  A musical score giving all the parts on a minimum number of staves, normally two, as with hymns.  (AACR2)

Condensed score -  A musical score giving only the principal musical parts on a minimum number of staves, and generally organized by instrumental sections.  (AACR2)

Continuo -  See Thoroughbass.

Cover -  For printed music, a folder whether attached or detached, wrapped around the printed music, and made of substantially different material (heavier or different colored paper) than the paper on which the music is printed.  (Smiraglia); A wrapper made of material different from that used throughout the rest of the publication.  (AACR2[?])

- D - 

Decorative title page -  A title page for printed music, made of the same material as the paper on which the music is printed, and bearing a substantial illustration (often in lieu of a cover).   (Smiraglia)

Distinctive title -  1. A title proper for a musical work that does not consist of the name of a type of composition, or of one or more names of types of composition and a connector ("and" etc.), (e.g., Lincoln portrait)  2. A title proper for a musical work that consists of the name of a type of composition modified by an adjective (e.g., Little suite).  (Smiraglia)

- E - 

Excerpt -  A passage of music, such as an aria from an opera or oratorio, or movement from a symphony, which is extracted from a complete work and published or performed separately.  (Thorin)

- F -

Figured bass -  See  Thoroughbass.

- G - 

Generic title -  A title proper for a musical work that consists of the name(s) of one or more types of composition (e.g., fugue, sonata, divertimento, piece, etc.).  (Smiraglia)

- H -

- I -

Identifying elements -  Statements appearing with the title proper of a musical work such as serial number, opus or thematic index number, key, and date of composition.  (Smiraglia)

Interlinear words -  Words of a text that are placed between lines (staffs) of music.  (Thorin)

- J -

- K -

Key -  "A statement of the specific tonality of a work (or at least its principal movements) frequently introduced into the titles of those works which ordinarily consist only of the names of musical forms, e.g., sonata, symphony, etc.  In most cases the key is designated by both its pitch-name and mode (i.e. major, minor), but in certain modern works, the pitch-name only is given and represents a predominant or recurring tonal centre rather than a specific tonality in the classical sense." (IAML, s.v. "key").  (Thorin)

- L - 

Librettist -  The author of a libretto.  (Thorin)

Libretto -  The literary text of an extended vocal composition such as an opera or musical comedy, whether or not it is published separately from the music.  The libretto of a musical comedy is sometimes called its book. (Thorin)

List title page -  A title page for printed music that enumerates several musical works offered by the publisher, often with an asterisk or underscore indicating the work contained within.  (Smiraglia)

Liturgical music -  Music set to a text that is officially sanctioned or traditionally accepted for religious observance by a church or denominational body, e.g., Mass, Magnificat, etc.  The term normally excludes settings of hymns, psalms, etc., intended for congregational singing.  (Thorin)

- M -

Medium of performance -  The instruments, voices, etc., used in the realization of a musical work.  (Smiraglia)

Mensural notation -  [placeholder]

Miniature score -  A complete score about nineteen centimeters in height, meant for study or listening rather than for conducting or performing purposes, and sometimes including analytical or historical notes.  Also called pocket score, or study score.  (Thorin)

Movement -  A complete section within a sonata, symphony, suite, etc., usually having its own title and/or tempo marking. When publiched or performed separately, a movement is considered an excerpt.  (Thorin)

Musical presentation statement -  A term or phrase found in the chief source of information of a publication of printed music or a music manuscript that indicates the physical presentation of the music (e.g., score, miniature score, score and parts).  This type of statement should be distinguished from one that indicates an arrangement or edition of a musical work (e.g., vocal score, 2-piano edition, version with orchestra accompaniment, chorus score).  (AACR2)

- N -

Number notation - [placeholder]

- O -

Opus number -  A number assigned to a musical composition, generally by the publisher and/or composer, to represent the order of composition. (Smiraglia)

- P - 

Part (Music) -  1. The music for one of the participating voices or instruments in a musical work.  2. The written or printed copy of one or more (but not all) such parts for the use of one or more performers, designated in the physical description area as part.  (AACR2)  The manuscript or printed parts for fifteenth- and sixteenth-century polyphonic music are often called "partbooks."  (Thorin)

Passe-partout -  Refers to a type of title page "printed from one plate which was intended to be used again in other editions.  Such plates were usually artistically executed.  They contained, besides extensive decoration, such information as would remain appropriate to a number of different editions, e.g., the imprint.  The remaining information was added to the particular edition." (Kr pp. 90-92)  (Thorin)

Pasticcio -  A medley or composite work.  In its narrowest sense, an arrangement of tunes from favorite operas, designed to entertain audiences of the eighteenth century.  (Thorin)

Piano [violin, etc.] conductor part -  A performance part for a particular instrument of an ensemble work to which cues have been added for the other instruments to permit the performer of the part also to conduct the performance.  (AACR2)

Piano score -  A reduction of an orchestral score to a version for piano, on two staves.  (AACR2)

Plainsong notation -  See Staff notation.

Plate number (Music) -  A numbering designation assigned to an item by a music publisher, usually printed at the bottom of each page, and sometimes appearing also on the title page.  It may include initials, abbreviations, or words identifying a publisher and is sometimes followed by a number corresponding to the number of pages or plates.  (AACR2)

Publisher's label -  A slip bearing a revised imprint and pasted over the original by a publisher who has bought the stock of another and reissued it in the new firm's name, or who through contractual agreement is the licensed agent or distributor for a publisher in another country.  Such an imprint can also be stamped on the title page, with or intended to replace the original publisher's name.  (Thorin)

Publisher's number (Music) -  A numbering designation assigned to an item by a music publisher, appearing normally only on the title page, the cover, and/or the first page of music.  It may include initials, abbreviations, or words identifying the publisher.  (AACR2)

- Q -

- R -

- S -

Score -  A series of staves on which all the different instrumental and/or vocal parts of a musical work are written, one under the other in vertical alignment, so that the parts may be read simultaneously.  (AACR2)

Shape-note notation -  A species of staff notation common in nineteenth-century tune books that uses symbols in the shapes of circles, diamonds, squares, and triangles, which when placed on the staff designate degrees of the diatonic scale as well as pitches.  (Thorin)

Short score -  A sketch made by a composer for an ensemble work, with the main features of the composition set out on a few staves.  (AACR2)

Skeleton score - An abbreviated score, made in the early stages of composition of an opera, where only the essential instrumental lines (usually 1st violin and bass) are set under the vocal line(s) (Cf. New Grove, "Verdi, Giuseppe, $4(i) Operas")

Staff notation -  A method of writing music that uses horizontal lines (and spaces) which, when symbols are placed on them, indicate pitches. The most common form of staff notation encountered today is "modern staff notation," using a five-line staff with round-shaped symbols (notes) to indicate pitches and durations.  "Plainsong notation" uses a four-line staff with square-shaped symbols (neumes) to indicate pitches, and is used in some editions of monophonic liturgical music of the Catholic Church.  (Thorin)

Superlinear words -  Words of a text that appear above the lines (staffs) of music.  (Thorin)

- T -

Tablature -  "General name for the various early (15th-17th cent.) systems of notation (for keyboard instruments, lute, guitar, viol, flute, etc.) in which the tones are indicated by letters, figures, or other symbols instead of notes on a staff." (HDM)  (Thorin)

Tablebook -  A large music book made to be placed on a table and displayed in such a way that the performers can read their parts while seated or standing across or around the table.  Each part is notated separately, usually in a configuration that presents, when the book is open, different parts in inverted and/or perpendicular positions.  This physical format was sometimes used for instrumental and/or vocal chamber music of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.  (Thorin)

Thematic index/catalog -  A bibliography of the works by a composer, usually arranged chronologically, usually containing reproductions of the themes or the first few measures of each work, and sometimes including a transcription of the autograph score and a complete listing of published editions of each work.  (Smiraglia)

Thematic index number -  A number assigned to each musical work of a composer by the compiler of a thematic index.  (Smiraglia)

Thoroughbass -  "A corruption of 'through bass' (in English) in the sense of one which is continuous, hence an approximate translation of Basso continuo.  As such, it specifically relates to a characteristic feature of the new style of composition which emerged ca. 1600 replacing the intermittent bass lines of earlier music.  The thorough-bass part was usually supplemented with figures, hence the common expression "Figured bass" by which it is also known, indicating the accompanying harmonies which were filled out or "realised" on a keyboard instrument (or lute) in extempore fashion ... together with additional support from other bass (wind and/or string) instruments"  (IAML)  (Thorin)

Trio sonata -  A type of Baroque chamber music written in three parts (two upper voices plus a thoroughbass part).  A trio sonata is normally performed by four instruments, e.g., two violins in the upper voices, a violoncello or bassoon to play the bass line, and an instrument such as a harpsichord or lute to provide the realization of the thoroughbass accompaniment.  For cataloging and classification purposes, a trio sonata is considered a trio.  (Thorin)

Type of composition -  A form of composition (e.g., sonata), a genre (e.g., bagatelle), or a generic term used by many composers (e.g., piece). (Smiraglia)

-U -

- V - 

Vocal score -  This term is used for works originally for chorus and/or one or more solo voices, with accompaniment.  In order for this term to be used in the physical description area for a particular manifestation of a work, the item must include the solo voice(s) (if any).  In addition, if the accompaniment is originally for other than keyboard instrument it must be either arranged for keyboard instrument or omitted; if originally for keyboard instrument it must be omitted.  This term is not used for works originally unaccompanied or for any manifestation of an accompanied work with the original accompaniment.  (AACR2)

- W -

- X Y Z -

Sources:

AACR2

Smiraglia, Richard P. Describing music materials : a manual for descriptive cataloging.   3rd ed.   Lake Crystal, Minn. : Soldier Creek Press, c1997.

 Thorin, Suzanne E.  The acquisition and cataloging of music and sound recordings : a glossary.   [Canton, Mass.] : Music Library Association, 1984.