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Comp  Form of Composition


Bytes

 SCO, REC: 008/18–19; 006/01–02

Input standards

 SCO, REC: Optional. Two-character code. Default: uu

Definition
SCO, REC, 006

The form of composition of printed and manuscript music and musical sound recordings. The form of composition code is based on the terminology in the work itself and provides a coded approach to the content of the work. In addition to codes for forms, the list also includes codes for musical genres (e.g., Ragtime music). The codes are based on LC subject headings.

Guidelines

 Assign codes when they apply to the item as a whole (e.g., if the item is a symphony and one of the movements is in sonata form, only the code for symphonies is recorded). If more than one code is appropriate, use the code mu (Multiple forms), with appropriate specific codes given optionally in field 047 (Form of Musical Composition Code). Also use code mu when non-MARC codes are contained in field 047.

Codes
blank character No information supplied
an Anthems. Anthems, antiphons and magnificats.
bd Ballads
bt Ballets
bg Bluegrass music
bl Blues
cn Canons and rounds. Canons, rounds and other compositions employing strict imitation throughout.
ct Cantatas
cz Canzonas. Instrumental music so designated.
cr Carols
ca Chaconnes
cs Chance compositions
cp Chansons, polyphonic
cc Chant, Christian
cb Chants, Other
cl Chorale preludes
ch Chorales
cg Concerti grossi
co Concertos
cy Country music
df Dance forms. Music for individual dances, except Mazurkas, Minuets, Pavanes, Polonaises and Waltzes.
dv Divertimentos, serenades, cassations, divertissements and notturni
ft Fantasias. Also for fancies, fantasies, etc.
fl Flamenco. Generic term which refers to all the Flamenco styles, or palos, and to other forms of song and dance coming from the folkloric tradition of Spanish gypsies.
fm Folk music. Includes folk songs.
fg Fugues
gm Gospel music
hy Hymns
jz Jazz
md Madrigals
mr Marches
ms Masses
mz Mazurkas
mi Minuets
mo Motets
mp Motion picture music
mu Multiple forms or non-MARC codes present in
mc Musical revues and comedies
nc Nocturnes
nn Not applicable. Not a musical sound recording.
op Operas
or Oratorios
ov Overtures
pt Part-songs
ps Passacaglias. All types of ostinato basses.
pm Passion music
pv Pavans
po Polonaises
pp Popular music
pr Preludes
pg Program music. Do not use for symphonic poems.
rg Ragtime music
rq Requiems
rp Rhapsodies
ri Ricercars
rc Rock music
rd Rondos. Rondos and instrumental rondeaux.
sn Sonatas
sg Songs
sd Square dance music
st Studies and exercises. Items intended for teaching purposes (often entitled "Studies," "Etudes," etc.), not for "concert etudes."
su Suites
sp Symphonic poems
sy Symphonies
tl Teatro lirico. Used for a large number of more specific terms which describe Spanish and Spanish American theatre music: tonadilla escénica, fiestas de música, sainetes líricos, entremeses cómico-lírico, etc.
tc Toccatas. Instrumental music so designated.
ts Trio-sonatas
uu Unknown. Items whose form and genre are unstated or unknown or whose subject headings reflect only the medium of performance.
vi Villancicos. Characteristic form of Spanish polyphony, religious or secular, from the 16th to 18th centuries. Religious villancicos were usually sung in important ceremonies (including Christmas, when these songs were sometimes called pastoradas).
vr Variations
wz Waltzes
za Zarzuelas. Term applicable to all musical plays taking that name, from the fiestas de zarzuela of the 17th/18th-centuries to the so-called zarzuela moderna ("modern zarzuela") from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century.
zz Other forms not found on this list. None of the other defined codes are appropriate (e.g., incidental music, electronic music, etc.).

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