In library catalogs, all versions of a work are grouped under the author or composer’s name. This is simple for books, but music titles often vary by language or publisher.
For example, Stravinsky’s Orpheus may appear as:
Orpheus: ballet in three scenes
Orpheus: ballet en trois tableaux
To unify these variations, catalogers assign a Uniform Title—a standardized title used across all records for that work.
When a composer gives a composition a title that is not the name of a musical form, that non-form, or distinctive title, in its original language, is used as the preferred title. Works that have distinctive titles include operas, oratorios, ballets, and many other types of vocal and stage works. Here are some well-known examples from the dramatic repertoire:
Many musical works have titles that actually are the names of forms or types of compositions ("sonatas," "concertos," "symphonies," and so forth). In these cases, the name of the form of the work is used as the first word of the preferred title. In the introductory Mozart concerto examples, you saw that each preferred title began with the word "Concertos":
Concerto in A major for piano, K. 488 or Piano concerto no. 23 in A, K.488 by Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, 1756-1791 is known as Concertos, piano, orchestra, K. 488, A major
Performance Medium in Preferred Titles
|
Correct |
Incorrect |
|
Quartets, violins (2), viola, cello, no. 3 |
String quartets, no. 3 |
|
Sonatas, flute, piano |
Flute, piano sonatas |
If you can’t find a piece by its specific or uniform title, it may be part of a larger collection. Libraries often hold editions and recordings that include many works by the same composer—sometimes the only way a piece is available.
For example, some of Beethoven’s piano sonatas may appear only in a complete set of all 32 sonatas. These collections may not list individual works in the catalog, so you’ll need to search by collective uniform titles, which fall into three types:
1. Form Collective Title
Used for works of the same type and medium.
Example:
Schubert. Songs – includes songs for voice and piano.
2. Performance Medium Collective Title
Based on the instrument or group performing.
Example:
Bach. Organ music – includes various forms (fugues, chorales) for organ.
3. General Collective Title
Used for mixed-form, mixed-medium collections, often scholarly.
Example:
Joplin. Works – includes operas, rags, etc.
If you're unsure which volume contains the piece, ask a librarian—they can help navigate multi-volume sets and foreign-language contents.