Recording other distinguishing characteristics of the expression of musical works (RDA 6.18)

Music Cataloging at Yale ♪ Preferred titles

Arrangements, transcriptions, etc. (6.18.1.4) | Sketches (6.18.1.5) | Vocal and choruses scores (6.18.1.6)

A distinguishing characteristic serves to differentiate an expression of a musical work from another expression of the same work (e.g., an arrangement, sketches, vocal score).
(6.18.1.2) Sources of information
Take information on other distinguishing characteristics of the expression of a musical work from any source.
(6.18.1.3) Recording other distinguishing characteristics of the expression
Best practices for music cataloging, draft: If giving other distinguishing characteristic as a component of an access point, routinely also give other distinguishing characteristic in a 381 field.
(6.18.1.4) Arrangements, transcriptions, etc.
Record the word arranged to one or more works, or to parts of one or more works, of one composer that are:
     ° "serious," "classical," or "art" music (broadly speaking)
          ° and are
               » arrangements, transcriptions, versions, settings, etc., in which music for one medium of performance has been rewritten for another medium
                and/or
               » simplified versions of previously existing musical works.
               » arranged, transcribed, etc. by the composer or by someone else
     ° in the "popular" idiom (e.g., rock, jazz) (broadly speaking)
          ° only if the expression is either
               » an instrumental work arranged for vocal or choral performance
                or
               » a vocal work arranged for instrumental performance

From the LC-PCC PS: The following are not to be considered arrangements:
° Revisions by the original composer:

  • ° if a composer revises a work, retaining the original title and opus number, and the revision is one of a different instrumentation within the same broad medium (e.g., orchestra, instrumental ensemble, band), do not consider the revision to be an arrangement. Use the same authorized access point for the original and the revision.

° Alternative instruments:

  • ° a work composed before 1800 for a baroque, renaissance, or other early instrument (viola da gamba, recorder, etc.), or for voice, in a resource that is edited for or performed on a modern instrument or as an alternative voice part provided the key is unchanged and the notation has not been significantly changed.
  • ° a work for a melody instrument originally written for one or more alternative instruments or separately published for one or more alternative instruments in the first or other early editions, for a work with a non-distinctive title, record a preferred title for one of the alternatives and provide an addition to the preferred title for the other version(s)
    • When the preferred title for such a revision is non-distinctive, record a preferred title for one of the alternatives and provide an addition to the preferred title for the other version(s):
      • Brahms, Johannes, ‡d 1833-1897.
        Sonatas, ‡m clarinet, piano, ‡n op. 120, ‡n no. 1 (Viola)

° Added accompaniments:

  • ° a work to which an accompaniment or other parts have been added with no alteration of the original music.
    • » However, for notated music, classify the resource as an arrangement, assign subject headings for both the expanded and the original media of performance, and add "Arranged" to the subject heading for the expanded version.

° Song transpositions:

  • ° one or more songs transposed to accommodate a voice range different from the original.

Best practices for music cataloging: Follow LC-PCC PS.
(6.18.1.5) Sketches
If the expression consists of a composer's sketches for one or more musical compositions, record Sketches.
(6.18.1.6) Vocal and choruses scores
If the expression is a vocal score or a chorus score, record Vocal score(s) or Chorus score(s) as applicable.
Vocal score = a score showing all vocal parts, with the instrumental accompaniment either arranged for keyboard(s) or other chordal instrument(s) or omitted
Chorus score = a score of a work for solo voices and chorus showing only the parts for chorus, at least in those portions of the work in which the chorus sings, with the instrumental accompaniment either arranged for keyboard(s) or other chordal instrument(s) or omitted.