Music Cataloging at Yale ♪ MARC tagging
Note: this page was created with music cataloging in mind.
See also 381: Other distinguishing characteristics of a work or expression | 382: Medium of performance | 383: Numeric designation of musical work | 384: Key
The 380 field is used in authority records for LCGFT indicating the class, form, genre, and/or other characteristics of the work being described.
For the use of LCGFT in bibliographic records in the 655 field, see Genre/form index term (MARC 655)
Use in conjunction with Recording form of work (RDA 6.3), MLA's Best practices for using LCGFT for music resources, Commonly used music terms in the Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms (LCGFT), and Instructions for PCC catalogers in Descriptive Cataloging Manual (DCM) Z1, section on field 380.
Indicators and subfields for 655 field
General instructions:
- Prefer a controlled vocabulary, such as LCGFT (Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms), LCSH (Library of Congress Subject Headings), etc.
- Capitalize the first term in each subfield ‡a.
- When terms are not from a controlled vocabulary, use the singular form.
- Do not record in a 380 field types of composition terms that are:
- medium of performance terms (e.g., Duet)
- tempo markings (e.g., Allegro)
- other generic terms that do not convey formal characteristics (e.g., Piece, Music)
Generally use the most specific appropriate term available. For example:
- "Chamber music" is a narrower term under "Art music," so both terms would not be for a chamber work.
- "Sonatas" is a narrower term under "Art music," so both terms would not be used for a sonata for a solo instrument.
- "Waltzes (Music)" is a narrower term under "Dance music," so only "Waltzes (Music)" would be used when the work is a waltz and no other dance form is present.
However, use as many terms as are needed to adequately describe the work:
- "Sonatas" and "Chamber music" for a sonata for a chamber group.
- "Waltzes (Music)" and "Chamber music" for a waltz for a chamber group.
- "Songs," "Cantatas," and "Sacred music" for a sacred cantata for solo voice.
sources: LC MARC 21 format for authority data and DCM Z1