History:CSGv2/Work/Title/Work and opus identification Proposal

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Official Documentation > Style Guidelines > The Classical Style Guidelines
Artist
Title: Work and Opus | Movement | Ornamentation | Special Cases

The Work and Opus Identification Framework

Classical Work
Work and Opus
Work Form Instrumentation and voicing Key Scale Catalogue and Opus

Most classical composers have their works contained either within opuses or catalogues. The Work and Opus Identification section of a CSG for Works title identifies a particular work and the catalogue or opus identifier to which the work belongs.


Basic Framework

The basic framework includes the work type, the instrumentation, the key, the scale, and the catalogue or opus identification.

Framework

Work Type for Instrumentation and/or voice type(s) in Key Scale , Catalogue Identifier and Number
Work Type for Instrumentation and/or voice type(s) in Key Scale , Opus Number

In all framework descriptions, new elements inserted into the framework by the current section are indicated with bolded text and a violet background.

'Connecting' words

'For' and 'in' should use their linguistic equivalents; e.g., French CSG for Works would use 'pour', German CSG for Works would use 'für', etc.



Work Form

Work and Opus
Work Form Instrumentation and voicing Key Scale Catalogue and Opus

This is the form, or type, of the overall composition, such as 'Symphony'.

  • The form should normally be capitalized using sentence case, e.g., 'Incidental music'.
  • The form should almost always use the correct linguistic equivalent for whichever version of CSG for Works is being used. For example, if English CSG for Works is being used, 'Symphonie' would be incorrect, while 'Symphony' would be correct.
Note: This should not be understood to mean that Artist Intent is overidden. If the composer invented a new name for the composition's form, then that name should be used untranslated. 'Symphonie fantastique' would be correct in English CSG for Works, whereas 'Fantastic symphony' would not.

A list of common (and uncommon) work forms is available on the CSGv2 resource page.



Instrumentation and/or voice type(s)

Work and Opus
Work Form Instrumentation and voicing Key Scale Catalogue and Opus

This is a listing of the instruments and/or vocal types found in the overall composition.

  1. Instruments and vocal types should always be lowercased, unless the instrument's name itself contains a proper name.
  2. For multiple instruments or voices, the quantities should be indicated using Arabic numerals, not spelled out.
  3. For listings of three or more instruments and/or voices, use a serial comma.
  4. When listing more than 2 instruments and/or vocal types, spell out 'and' (or its linguistic equivalent). Do not use an ampersand.
  5. For a case which the count is singular (1 of something), do not indicate singular counts.
  6. No particular ordering is more correct. However, if an instrument is featured in the composition, it should be listed first.
  7. Note that certain work types imply an instrument, e.g. a 'concerto' is defined as a composition for solo instrument and orchestra. Thus, any concerto should always have 'orchestra', listed last, in the instruments list.
Incorrect Correct
Piano piano
Two flutes 2 flutes
piano, 2 organs and cello piano, 2 organs, and cello
3 pianos, 2 organs, 4 tenors, & soprano 3 pianos, 2 organs, 4 tenors, and soprano
1 viola and 2 cellos viola and 2 cellos
Concerto for orchestra and piano Concerto for piano and orchestra
Concerto for violin Concerto for violin and orchestra


A list of all standard and opera vocal types can be found on the CSGv2 resource page.



Key and Scale

Work and Opus
Work Form Instrumentation and voicing Key Scale Catalogue and Opus

This is the key and scale in which overall composition is composed.[1]

  • The key and scale should always stay consistent with the language being used for the title, e.g., do not use the French 'La dièse majeur' in a German CSG for Works title.
  • Keys should always be uppercased, unless it is more musicologically correct within the particular language that minor keys be lowercased. e.g. 'si minore'.
  • Scales should always be lowercased, unless it is more musicologically correct within the particular language that minor keys be uppercased. e.g. 'His-Dur'.
  • When keys are written in English, "sharp" and "flat" must always be lowercased and linked to the key with a hyphen ('E-flat'). For other languages, use whatever hyphenation and/or spacing is most musicologically correct.


For English, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish CSG for Works titles, the keys and scales reference list on the CSGv2 resource page is the definitive listing with regards to capitalization, spelling, spacing, and hyphenation.



Catalogue Identifier, Catalogue Number, and Opus Number

Work and Opus
Work Form Instrumentation and voicing Key Scale Catalogue and Opus

Some classical composers, especially the more well known ones, have had their works catalogued by another person.[2] These catalogues often have quite long names, and thus standard abbreviations are used for them, e.g., 'BWV' or 'KV'. The catalogue abbreviation should be used[3], with the catalogue's number for the work then following.

Examples
BWV 954
HWV 295
K. 509 No. 1

Alternately, some composers catalogue themselves using opus numbers.

  • Opus should always be abbreviated 'Op.' (including the period).[4]
Example
The opus contains only one composition: Op. 88
The opus contains multiple compositions: Op. 116 No. 1
  • A catalogue or opus number can refer to only a single composition, or to many, each individually numbered within the catalogue or opus number. (See the section on abbreviating the word 'number' for more information.)
  • Some rare movements have two catalogue numbers from within the same catalogue; one for the movement, and one for the overall composition. The catalogue number which should be used for this part of the CSG for Works framework is the one assigned to the overall composition.
  • Some composers have had multiple catalogues made of their works. Such catalogues, if they are considered definitive (and are not musicologically unimportant) may each be listed in the work title, each catalogue identifier separated by ' / '.



Application

Applied, the basic framework then looks like this:

Work form for instrumentation and/or voice type(s) in Key scale , Catalogue Identifier and Number
Canon for 3 voices in 1 in C major , K. 553
Concerto for bassoon in B-flat major , K. 186e / KV 191


Work form for instrumentation and/or voice type(s) in Key scale , Opus Number
Trio for violin, viola, and cello in E-flat major , Op. 3



Advanced structure

The basic framework defines the Work and Opus identification for most cases. However, there are special cases which add some complexity.

The advanced cases described below insert modifications into the basic framework. These modifications should be combined as needed.


Numbered works


Work and Opus
Work Form Numbered work form Instrumentation and voicing Numbered work form for instrument(s) and/or vocal(s) Key Scale Catalogue and Opus Numbered composition within a catalogue number or opus


Many composers, in addition to opuses or catalogs, have had their works numbered. The number can identify fall in one of several places, however, depending on just what is being counted.


Framework

Case 1
Work form Work form number for Instrumentation/vocals in Key Scale , Catalogue/Opus
Case 2
Work form for Instrumentation/vocals Work form for instrumentation number in Key Scale , Catalogue/Opus
Case 3
Work form for Instrumentation/vocals in Key Scale , Catalogue/Opus Number within Catalogue number or Opus


Possible cases resulting in numbered works:

  1. The number may be counting a particular work type, regardless of instrumentation or vocal types, in which case it would be inserted between the Work Type and the Instrumentation.
  2. The number may be counting a particular work type paired with a particular instrumentation or vocal type(s), in which case it would be inserted between the Instrumentation and the Key.
  3. The number may be counting which work within an opus is being identified, in which case the work number would be added directly after the Catalogue or Opus identification. (Also reference the section on Catalogue and Opus identification.)


Applied

Work form Work number
(case 1)
for Instrumentation/vocals Work for
instrumentation number
(case 2)
in Key Scale , Catalogue/Opus Number within Catalogue/Opus
(case 3)
Case 1
Symphony
No. 5
for orchestra in B-flat major , K. 22
Case 2
Concerto for piano
No. 1
in F major , K. 37
Case 3
Sonata for piano in F minor , Op. 2
No. 1
12 German Dances for orchestra in C major , K. 567
No. 12
Cases 1 and 3 simultaneously
Sonata
No. 3
for piano in F minor , Op. 2
No. 1


Abbreviating 'number'

Each language abbreviates the linguistic equivalent of 'number' differently. The correct abbreviation should be used, depending on whichever language version of CSG for Works is being used. '#', 'Number', and 'Num' should never be used.
Do not mistake the character "º" (masculine ordinal[5]) with "°" (degree). Note that Italian and Russian use the numero sign[6], not 'N' plus the masculine ordinal.
English
No.
French
German
Nr.
Italian
Portugese
Russian
№ (This is also correct for any other cyrillic-using language.)
Spanish



Named works


Work and Opus
Work Form Instrumentation and voicing Key Scale Name Catalogue and Opus


Framework

Work Type for Instrumentation and/or voice type(s) in Key Scale , Catalogue Identifier and Number " (Common) Name "

NOT DONE YET

A composition may be named. This may be an official name given by the composer, e.g., 'Tristan und Isolde', 'The Seasons', or 'A London Symphony', or a name by which the work has come to be known, e.g., the 'Jupiter' Symphony.


For works with a common name, the common name should be placed after the catalog or opus number. If there is a opus work number present, the common name is placed after that as well. The common name ought to be surrounded by quotation marks of the type correct for the CSG language style being used. If there is more than one common name, within the quotes use a standard ASCII forward slash with a single standard ASCII space on each side ( / ) to separate the names. The common name ought to be capitalized according to the appropriate CapitalizationStandard for that name's language.

  • Symphony No. 41 for Orchestra in C major, K. 551 "Jupiter"
  • Missa brevis No. 9 for Soloists, Chorus & Orchestra in C major, K. 196b / KV 220 "Spatzenmesse"
  • Kantate, BWV 106 "Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit / Actus tragicus"




Variations based on other works


Work and Opus
Work Form (Composer of basis work) Basis work Instrumentation and voicing Key Scale Catalogue and Opus


Variations insert one entire CSG for Works title entirely into another. The work upon which the variations are based is referred to here as the basis work.


Framework

If the composer who wrote the basis work is the same composer as the variations, then use:

Work Type on Basis work for Instrumentation and/or voice type(s) in Key Scale , Catalogue/Opus

If it is not the same composer, then use:

Work Type on Composer of basis work : Basis work for Instrumentation and/or voice type(s) in Key Scale , Catalogue/Opus


Applied

Same composer:

Work form on Basis work for instrumentation/vocals in Key scale , Catalogue/Opus
Symphony on Serenade No. 7 for Orchestra in D major, K. 249 "Haffner" for Orchestra in D major , K. *248b / KV *250 NMA IV/11/7 No. 2


Different composers:

Work form on Composer of basis work : Basis work for instrumentation/vocals in Key scale , Catalogue/Opus
Canon on Antonio Salieri : La fiera di Venezia: "Mio caro Adone" for 3 Voices in 1 in C major , K. 553
Concerto on Dutch Traditional : "Wilhelmus van Nassau" for Bassoon in B-flat major , K. 186e / KV 191
Trio on André Ernest Modeste Grétry : Les mariages samnites: March "Dieu d'amour" for Violin, Viola, and Cello in E-flat major , Op. 3



Unusual catalog numbers: Anhang, Appendix, deest, WwO


Work and Opus
Work Form Instrumentation and voicing Key Scale Catalogue and Opus


Framework

Work Type for Instrumentation and/or voice type(s) in Key Scale , Catalogue Identifier and Number

NOT DONE YET



Movements with multiple identifier numbers


Work and Opus
Work Form Instrumentation and voicing Key Scale Catalogue and Opus


Framework

Work Type for Instrumentation and/or voice type(s) in Key Scale , Catalogue Identifier and Number

NOT DONE YET



'Super' opuses


Work and Opus
'Super' opus Work Form Instrumentation and voicing Key Scale Catalogue and Opus


Framework

'Super' opus : Work Type for Instrumentation and/or voice type(s) in Key Scale , Catalogue Identifier and Number

Rarely, a case can occur where an opus is itself part of an even larger opus - a 'super' opus. In such cases, the CSG for Works framework still applies, but modified such that the Work and opus identification framework is used multiple times, as needed for each increased 'container' opus level.

Rather than the normal:

  • [Work and opus identification]: [Movement identification]: [Ornamentation identification]
the framework is extended to:
  • [Work and opus identification]: [Work and opus identification]: [Movement identification]: [Ornamentation identification]
  • [Work and opus identification]: [Work and opus identification]: [Work and opus identification]: [Movement identification]: [Ornamentation identification]
etc.

Non-standard Modes


Work and Opus
Work Form Instrumentation and voicing Key Scale Mode Catalogue and Opus


Framework

Work Type for Instrumentation and/or voice type(s) in Key Scale Mode , Catalogue Identifier and Number
Work Type for Instrumentation and/or voice type(s) in Key Mode Scale , Catalogue Identifier and Number
Work Type for Instrumentation and/or voice type(s) in Key Mode , Catalogue Identifier and Number
Work Type for Instrumentation and/or voice type(s) in Mode , Catalogue Identifier and Number

Works are assumed, by default, to use the seven note diatonic scale. This is the scale most frequently used in Western music, especially any music composed since the 15th century.[7]

However, in some cases, an alternate mode[8] may be indicated.[9] These can include the augmented, chromatic, whole tone, aeolian, pentatonic, octatonic, and diminished modes, to name only the more common ones. When needed, the key and scale should be modified to include the mode. Typically the mode will go after the scale, but in some cases (chromatic and whole tone), it is more grammatically and musicologically correct that it either precede or replace the scale.

Examples
  • B major diminished
  • C/C-sharp chromatic

Microtones and non-diatonic full/half tone keys


Work and Opus
Work Form Instrumentation and voicing Key Scale Catalogue and Opus


When dealing with alternate temperments[10] or microtones[11], especially in enharmonic compositions or compositions from non-Western sources[12], quarter, three-quarter, and other unusual keys may be encountered.

For works using keys other than the standard diatonic full and half-tone ('flat' or 'sharp') keys, use them as needed. Just as with 'flat' and 'sharp', the key should be spelled out and linked to the scale using the same standard method as the more common half-tones. (See the reference listing for full and half-tone keys.)


Microtones, standard keys, and some of the uncommon keys
Incorrect Correct What is it?
English French German Italian Russian Spanish
- A A A A A A full tone
A A-sharp La dièse Ais La diesis Ля диез La sostenido half tone sharp
ATemplate:music A-semisharp La dièse barré (?) La semi-diesis Ля полу-диез La semisostenido quarter tone sharp
ATemplate:music A-double sharp La double dièse Aisis La doppio diesis Ля дубль-диез La doble sostenido two chromatic tones sharp
ATemplate:music A-sesquisharp La trois-demi de dièse (?) La diesis e mezzo Ля полтора диеза La sostenido y medio three-quarter tone sharp
A A-flat La bémol As La bemolle Ля бемоль La bemol half tone flat
ATemplate:music A-semiflat La demi bémol (?) La semi-bemolle Ля полу-бемоль La semibemol quarter tone flat
ATemplate:music A-double flat La double bémol Asas La doppio bemolle Ля дубль-бемоль La doble bemol two chromatic tones flat
ATemplate:music A-sesquiflat La trois-demi de bémol (?) La bemolle e mezzo Ля полтора бемоля La bemol y medio three-quarter tone flat



Non-standard scales


Work and Opus
Work Form Instrumentation and voicing Key Scale Catalogue and Opus


Framework

Work Type for Instrumentation and/or voice type(s) in Key Scale , Catalogue Identifier and Number

NOT DONE YET

  • For works using non-diatonic scales, such as Persian or Yaman, insert the scale indication before the Key. ("...in Yaman A major")
  • For works using diatonic scale modifications such as harmonic or melodic, insert the scale modification indication before the Key (and after the non-diatonic scale name, if needed). ("...in Yaman harmonic A major")
  • For works using Scales other than major or minor, use them as needed. They ought to be properly capitalized or lowercase, depending upon the name of the scale and the rules within the language being used.



Modulating Keys, Modes, and/or Scales


Work and Opus
Work Form Instrumentation and voicing Key Scale Mode Catalogue and Opus


Framework

Work Type for Instrumentation and/or voice type(s) in Key to Modulated Key Scale , Catalogue Identifier and Number
Work Type for Instrumentation and/or voice type(s) in Key Scale to Modulated Scale , Catalogue Identifier and Number

Some rare works use modulating keys, modes, or scales. In such cases, list both keys, modes, and/or scales. The linguistic equivalent of 'to' should then be used to connect the two.

Example
  • Modulating Prelude for Piano in F major to E minor, K. deest NMA IX/27/2 No. 2

Notes and References

  1. Some work forms, such as a symphony, can change key and/or scale within or between movements. For such works, use the initial key and scale of the first movement, unless there is good reason to use a different key and scale. However, always stay consistent; do not use the key of the first movement but the scale of the third movement. For the special case of modulating keys, modes, and/or scales, see the applicable advanced structure.
  2. Cataloguer Relationship Type can be used to link these cataloguers with the artist whom they catalogued.
  3. This overrides Abbreviation Style; catalogue identifiers should be abbreviated.
  4. This overrides Abbreviation Style; Opus should be abbreviated.
  5. U+00BA: Windows: Alt+0186 Linux: Ctrl+Shift+U 00BA Mac: See Apple's support
  6. U+2116: Windows: Alt+2116 Linux: Ctrl+Shift+U 2116 Mac: See Apple's support
  7. When did modal music give way to the modern key system?
  8. Music theory online : notes, harmonies & scales: Modes
  9. What were the twelve modes?
  10. Music theory online : pitch, temperament & timbre
  11. The Tone and Semitone; Microtones
  12. True not only for modern or non-western compositions; see Antoine de Bertrand's Je suis tellement amoureux.