Music Cataloging at Yale [1] ♪ General music cataloging resources [2]
Definitions for use in music cataloging
RDA does not define the ranges of vocal types. General practice is to follow the instructions given in the Subject Cataloging Manual: Subject Headings section H 1917.5: Base vocal range on the verbal indication on the item. If no vocal range is indicated, use the ranges specified in the New Harvard Dictionary of Music:
These ranges correspond to the following: |
||
High voice | Medium voice | Low voice |
Soprano: C4-A5 | Mezzo soprano: A3-F5 | Alto: F3-D5 |
Tenor: B2-G4 | Baritone: G2-E4 | Bass: E2-C4 |
Note: these definitions, from the New Harvard Dictionary of Music, are used in music cataloging, using the Library of Congress Subject Headings [3] and RDA [4].
Vocal ranges for solo or choral works may differ, as evidenced from the different ranges found in other sources.
For example, see:
° The Wikipedia article on vocal range [5], which gives different ranges for operatic works and choral works.
° Catherine Schmidt-Jones' article [6] and chart [7].
° Grove Music Online definitions:
soprano: | C4 to A5 |
mezzo-soprano: | A3 to F#5 |
alto: | G3 to E5 (and contralto as F3-D5) |
tenor: | roughly C3 to A4 |
baritone: | A2 to F4 |
bass: | F2 to E4 |
Octave designation: The International Standards Organization (ISO) system for register designations assigns "C4" to middle C (the first ledger line below the staff in treble clef). A commonly found British standard assigns "c1" to middle C.
Links
[1] http://web.library.yale.edu/cataloging/music
[2] http://web.library.yale.edu/cataloging/music/general-music-cataloging-resources
[3] http://www.loc.gov/aba/cataloging/subject/
[4] http://web.library.yale.edu/cataloging/music/rda
[5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocal_range
[6] http://cnx.org/content/m12381/latest/
[7] http://cnx.org/content/m12381/latest/vocalranges.png