Guidelines |
Use the following guidelines.
- Arrangements are coded for the medium of the work being described, not for the original medium.
- Codes are recorded in score order, if possible, listing soloists first.
- If a performer plays more than one instrument in a composition, code for the principal instrument if that can be determined. Code for the first instrument, if it cannot.
- If in doubt, use the more specific code. For example, use code vh for high voice only if the score is not more specific indicating soprano, tenor, etc.
Use code vn for a narrator or speaker. If the item has monologues with music (Orchestra), enter:
Use unspecified codes if the composition has been prepared without specific instrumentation. If the item is a sextet for woodwinds, enter:
- Use the various unknown codes if you cannot determine the specific instrumentation.
If you use the MARC 21 Instruments or Voices Codes below to specify the instruments or voices, code the 2nd indicator blank. These MARC 21 codes are recorded in lowercase alphabetic characters. After each code, enter a two-digit number indicating the number of parts, not the number of performers (except, code for the number of performers in the case of percussion). If the number of parts is unknown, enter only the code for the instrument or voice.
| Brass |
| ba |
Horn |
| bb |
Trumpet |
| bc |
Cornet |
| bd |
Trombone |
| be |
Tuba |
| bf |
Baritone |
| bn |
Brass, unspecified |
| bo |
Other (obsolete; use bz) |
| bu |
Brass, unknown |
| by |
Brass, ethnic (includes lur, Russian horn, shofar, etc.) |
| bz |
Brass, other (includes alpenhorn, bugle, cornett, euphonium, fluegelhorn, ophicleide, sackbut, etc.) |
| Choruses |
| ca |
Mixed |
| cb |
Women's |
| cc |
Men's |
| cd |
Children's |
| cn |
Choruses, unspecified |
| cu |
Choruses, unknown |
| cy |
Choruses, ethnic |
| cz |
Unspecified (obsolete; use cn) |
| Electronic |
| ea |
Synthesizer |
| eb |
Tape |
| ec |
Computer |
| ed |
Ondes Martenot |
| en |
Electronic, unspecified |
| eo |
Other (obsolete; use ez) |
| eu |
Electronic, unknown |
| ez |
Electronic, other (includes Theremin, Trautonium, etc.) |
| Keyboard |
| ka |
Piano |
| kb |
Organ |
| kc |
Harpsichord |
| kd |
Clavichord |
| ke |
Continuo |
| kf |
Celeste |
| kn |
Keyboard, unspecified |
| ko |
Other (obsolete; use kz) |
| ku |
Keyboard, unknown |
| ky |
Keyboard, ethnic |
| kz |
Keyboard, other (includes harmonium, etc.) |
| Larger ensemble |
| oa |
Full orchestra |
| ob |
Chamber orchestra |
| oc |
String orchestra |
| od |
Band |
| oe |
Dance orchestra |
| of |
Brass band (brass with some doubling, with or without percussion) |
| on |
Larger ensemble, unspecified |
| oo |
Other (obsolete; use oz) |
| ou |
Larger ensemble, unknown |
| oy |
Larger ensemble, ethnic (includes gamelan, klezmer, etc.) |
| oz |
Larger ensemble, other (includes concertina ensembles, flute ensembles, zither ensembles, etc.) |
| Percussion |
| pa |
Timpani |
| pb |
Xylophone |
| pc |
Marimba |
| pd |
Drum |
| pn |
Percussion, unspecified |
| po |
Other (obsolete; use pz) |
| pu |
Percussion, unknown |
| py |
Percussion, ethnic (includes mridangam, tabla, tambour, etc.) |
| pz |
Percussion, other (includes glass harmonica, Jew's harp, vibraphone, etc.) |
| Strings, bowed |
| sa |
Violin |
| sb |
Viola |
| sc |
Violoncello |
| sd |
Double bass |
| se |
Viol |
| sf |
Viola d'amore |
| sg |
Viola da gamba |
| sn |
Strings, bowed, unspecified |
| so |
Other (obsolete; use sz) |
| su |
Strings, bowed, unknown |
| sy |
Strings, bowed, ethnic (includes hardanger fiddle, hu ch'in, etc.) |
| sz |
Strings, bowed, other (includes arpeggione, baryton, hurdygurdy, keyed fiddle, lyra-viol, etc.) |
| Strings, plucked |
| ta |
Harp |
| tb |
Guitar |
| tc |
Lute |
| td |
Mandolin |
| tn |
Strings, plucked, unspecified |
| to |
Other (obsolete; use tz) |
| tu |
Strings, plucked, unknown |
| ty |
Strings, plucked, ethnic (includes balalaika, bouzouki, Celtic harp, cheng, dulcimer, koto, vina, yüeh ch'in, etc.) |
| tz |
Strings, plucked, other (includes banjo, cimbalom, mandola, tambura, theorbo, etc.) |
| Voices |
| va |
Soprano |
| vb |
Mezzo soprano |
| vc |
Alto |
| vd |
Tenor |
| ve |
Baritone |
| vf |
Bass |
| vg |
Counter tenor |
| vh |
High voice |
| vi |
Medium voice |
| vj |
Low voice |
| vn |
Voices, unspecified (includes narrator, speaker, etc.) |
| vu |
Voices, unknown |
| vy |
Voices, ethnic |
| vz |
Unspecified (obsolete; use vn) |
| Woodwinds |
| wa |
Flute |
| wb |
Oboe |
| wc |
Clarinet |
| wd |
Bassoon |
| we |
Piccolo |
| wf |
English horn |
| wg |
Bass clarinet |
| wh |
Recorder |
| wi |
Saxophone |
| wn |
Woodwinds, unspecified |
| wo |
Other (obsolete; use wz) |
| wu |
Woodwinds, unknown |
| wy |
Woodwinds, ethnic (includes bagpipe, biniou, bombarde, pipe, ti tzu, etc.) |
| wz |
Woodwinds, other (includes basset horn, crumhorn, flageolet, kazoo, obeo d'amore, shawm, etc.) |
| Unspecified |
| zn |
Unspecified instruments (includes accordion, bajan-accordion, bandonion, etc.) |
| zu |
Unknown |
| zz |
Unspecified (obsolete; use zn) |
|
Examples |
| Performers or ensembles, subfield ǂa |
Data in 048 |
| String quartet |
048 sa02 ǂa sb01 ǂa sc01 |
| Sonata for clarinet and piano |
048 wc01 ǂa ka01 |
| Piano trio |
048 ka01 ǂa sa01 ǂa sc01 |
| Large orchestra |
048 oa |
| String orchestra music |
048 oc |
| Chorus |
048 ca |
| Chorus (SAB) |
048 ca03 |
| Two choruses |
048 ca ǂa ca |
| Two four-part choruses |
048 ca04 ǂa ca04 |
| Chorus (SA) and organ |
048 cb02 ǂa kb01 |
| Dance orchestra (trumpets, saxophones, violins, clarinets, etc.), using scored arrangements |
048 oe |
| Jazz ensemble (unspecified instrumentation) with named vocalist |
048 oe ǂa vn01 |
| Concerto grosso for oboes and strings |
048 wb ǂa su |
| Concerto grosso for two oboes and string orchestra |
048 wb02 ǂa oc |
| O'Bryant's Washboard Band (clarinet, piano, washboard) |
048 wc01 ǂa ka01 ǂa pz01 |
| Jazz septet (piano, trumpet, drums, banjo, clarinet, trombone, and bass) |
048 ka01 ǂa bb01 ǂa pd01 ǂa tz01 ǂa wc01 ǂa bd01 ǂa sd01 |
| Songs for soprano and piano and for tenor and piano |
048 va01 ǂa ka01
048 vd01 ǂa ka01 |
| Accompanied soloists, subfield ǂb |
Data in 048 |
| Soloists (SSATBB), chorus (SATB), and string orchestra |
048 ǂb va02 ǂb vc01 ǂb vd01 ǂb vf02 ǂa ca04 ǂa oc |
| Concerto for flute with the orchestra arranged for piano |
048 ǂb wa01 ǂa ka01 |
| Concerto for piano with the orchestra arranged for piano |
048 ǂb ka01 ǂa ka01 |
| Solo for English horn with string quartet accompaniment |
048 ǂb wf01 ǂa sa02 ǂa sb01 ǂa sc01 |
| Concerto for guitar and orchestra |
048 ǂb tb01 ǂa oa |
| Solo for bassoon accompanied by string orchestra and harp |
048 ǂb wd01 ǂa oc ǂa ta01 |
| Code a solo instrument that is not accompanied as a performer (subfield ǂa), not as a soloist (subfield ǂb) |
Data in 048 |
| Violoncello solo |
048 sc01 |
| Solo for piano or organ |
048 ka01
048 kb01 |
| Solo for saxophone or viola |
048 wi01
048 sb01 |
| Song for soprano and piano |
048 va01 ǂa ka01 |
| Piano four hands |
048 ka02 |
| Two piano music |
048 ka01 ǂa ka01 |
| Duet for trumpet (or horn) and trombone (or baritone) |
048 bb01 ǂa bd01
048 ba01 ǂa bd01
048 bb01 ǂa bf01
048 ba01 ǂa bf01 |
| If it is clear that the featured soloist is the only soloist on the selection, code the soloist in subfield ǂb |
Data in 048 |
| "Chicago" featuring Coleman Hawkins, only soloist, with the Ramblers |
048 ǂb wi01 ǂa bb02 ǂa bd01 ǂa ka01 ǂa wi01 ǂa pd01 |
| Blind Lemon Jefferson, blues singer, accompanying himself on the guitar |
048 ǂb vn01 ǂa tb01 |
| Featured trumpet and alto saxophone solos with large jazz ensemble |
048 ǂb bb01 ǂb wi01 ǂa oe |
| Since continuo indicates either one or two instruments, do not enter the number of parts, unless the number is specified |
Data in 048 |
| Sonata for oboe and continuo |
048 wb01 ǂa ke |
| Sonata for bassoon and two unspecified continuo parts |
048 wd01 ǂa ke02 |
| Trio-sonata for two violins and continuo, with continuo specified for harpsichord and cello |
048 sa02 ǂa kc01 ǂa sc01 |
| For large ensembles, code for the number of ensembles when more than one such ensemble is specified |
Data in 048 |
| Three percussionists and two string orchestras |
048 pz03 ǂa oc02 |
| Two chamber orchestras |
048 ob02 |
| When coding the medium of performance for percussion music, whether for a single performer or more than one, code for the number of performers, rather than for the number of parts or instruments |
Data in 048 |
| Percussion ensemble for drums, cymbals, triangle, gong, and timpani for three players |
048 pz03 |
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