The scope note under the heading in LCSH will indicate when the form heading is usually for a specific instrument and should not be qualified by the name of that instrument. Some form headings have an implied medium of performance and will not be qualified. for some unknown, mysterious reason, the Library of Congress has decided that a particular form heading should not be qualified by medium of performance.ġ. because the medium of performance is implied in the form Ģ. There are two reasons why a form heading would not be qualified by medium of performance:ġ. Musical form/genre headings that are not qualified by medium of performance A work titled "Sonata" for four violins would be assigned the subject heading: String quartets (Violins (4))
When a work for three or more instruments is titled "Sonata," the uniform title may use that term as the initial title element, but the subject heading will be either "Trio sonatas" or a medium of performance heading (trios, quartets, etc.). The form subject heading "Sonatas" is applied to music for one or two instruments only. When a parenthesis is the final element of a subject heading, there is no final period.
The name of the instrument is enclosed in parentheses. Musical form/genre headings are usually qualified by medium of performance. To assign a second subject heading for medium of performance, such as Piano music, would be incorrect, since the first subject heading is more specific and sufficient. For example, a sonata for piano will be assigned the subject heading Sonatas (Piano). This means that in most cases, a single subject heading will sufficiently describe the work. The most specific form heading should be used when that form is found in LCSH. Some forms are found in LCSH: Sonatas, Rondos, Waltzes, etc., and others are not: Fantasies, Preludes. Musical form/genre headings are used when the work is in a specific form and that form is found in LCSH. Music using non-musical instruments as instruments.Percussion music: music for percussion instrument(s) | indicating number of percussion instruments.Keyboard (harpsichord, piano, organ, etc.) music.Large ensembles: Band or orchestra | One or more instruments accompanied by large ensemble.Ten or more instruments: one to a part | two or more to a part.three to nine instruments: standard chamber combinations | other chamber combinations: number of instruments: three | four | five | six | seven | eight | nine.one to two instruments: like instruments | different instruments | one chordal and one other instrument.Examples of form and medium of performance subject headings.Medium of performance headings: Form of the name of instruments in subject headings.Musical form/genre headings | not qualified by medium of performance | for works for more than one instrument.See also: Subject headings for vocal music | Subject subdivisions and qualifiers for music subject headings | Coding for form and topic subdivisions
Music Cataloging at Yale ♪ Subject cataloging