I'm cataloging songbooks.  What is the difference between 783.0942 and 783.242?

The number 783.0942 means "songs for single voices"; 783.242 means "songs for solo voice."  For 783.0942, note first that 783.09 is subordinate to 783, "Music for single voices." Then notice that the number 783.242 is subordinate to 783.2, which has the caption "Solo voice."  So 783.2 is for works with one person singing. 

What else is in 783 is shown by the contents of 783.1, "Single voices in combination," which includes part-songs, vocal duets, vocal trios, etc.  So what goes in 783.01-783.09 is material for single voices including both music for solo voice and music for more than one voice.  The other kind of vocal music is at 782.5, "Mixed voices," where choral music is found.

So one person singing a single part is at 783.2-783.9 (and by implication 783.242); more than one person each singing a single part is at 783.1; and works about the two together are at 783-783.09.

Submitted by: Thanks to Anne Clements at Central Baptist College for submitting this question.
Last revised: 03 November 2004