It appears to me that instrumental music scores are classified with works about the scores. So, for instance, if I had a score for a concerto by Bach, it would go in the same number (784.24) as a treatise about that score. (In fact, there are instructions in the Manual to not add Table 1 notation 092 for a criticism of a specific work so that it will fall at the same class number as the work.) However, vocal music seems to be splitting the scores from the treatise. So, if I have a score of a mass by Bach, it would be classed in 782.5 for the executants (mixed voices) with 323 added to indicate a mass. But if I have a treatise about that same mass, it would go in 782.323 (under nondramatic vocal form), thereby separating the criticism from the work.

I know that there are libraries out there that want the scores separated from the works about the music; however, this seems entirely contrary to the concept of collocation (I try to classify all criticisms of a literary work with the literary work) and seems contrary within the numbers for music itself.

Vocal music is treated differently from instrumental music because an original vocal score is written for a specific voice or ensemble. However, many different arrangements usually follow. For example, a pop song could be written for a baritone and be made famous by a soprano. Most carols are sung by both single voice and choir. If we followed the usual practice of classing both the piece and works about it in the same number, as is done for instrumental music, works about a specific vocal work would be scattered throughout 782.5-782.9 and 783.

For example, in the LC database, there are recordings of versions of the hymn “Old Rugged Cross” for mixed choir, for a male trio, for solo soprano, for solo baritone. If recordings or treatises about each version were classed with the score, they would have to be classed in 782.527, 783.13827, 783.6627, and 783.8827, respectively. We felt this scattering would be a huge disservice to the user, who would not know all of the various arrangements. Thus, we made the decision to class all treatises and recordings of a specific form of vocal music, regardless of who is performing, in 782.1-782.4, e.g., all treatises and recordings of “Old Rugged Cross” are classed with hymns in 782.27.

Last revised: 09 January 2004