Chronological and geographic subdivisions for subject headings for jazz and popular music

Music Cataloging at Yale ♪ Subject cataloging

Chronological subdivisions for popular music | Jazz and popular music subject heading subdivisions

From Subject Cataloging Manual: Subject Headings (See the Manual for the complete instructions)
H 1916.5, 2: Geographic and chronological subdivisions:
Select the chronological subdivision on the basis of:
For written music, in the following order of preference:
   1. when the music was popular,
   2. date of composition,
   3. date of publication		 For performed music (sound recordings, moving images materials, etc.):
   1. when the music was popular,
   2. by the date of the recording, etc.
According to H 1916.5, there are only seven headings for jazz and popular music that can be subdivided chronologically by decade [listed below], each of which have explicitly established (but not free-floating) chronological subdivisions that reflect their specific historical development. The standard century subdivisions listed in H 1916.5 (e.g., --To 500, --500-1400, --15th century, etc.) are not used as subdivisions for jazz and popular music subject headings or for subject headings for folk or non-Western music. The latter is covered under H 1917: Music of ethnic, national, and religious groups. There is no provision for chronological subdivision in H 1917.
Source: edited from MLA-L messages from Jay Weitz and Chuck Herrold, June 18, 2008
H 1160, 3: Musical compositions: Geographic subdivisions:
This instruction sheet applies to headings representing musical forms and types of compositions, medium of performance, style, etc. Rock music is given as an example. The following instructions, excerpted from H 1160, apply to jazz and popular music subject headings:
Use geographic subdivisions to bring out the origin of the music when the geographic focus is stated or implied in the title or series. Exceptions are made for jazz and popular music styles and genres that originated in the United States [listed below].
When both chronological and geographic subdivisions are used in a heading, the geographic subdivision comes before the chronological subdivision.

Chronological subdivisions for popular music
For chronological subdivisions for classical music (i.e., western art music), see Chronological subdivisions

Subject heading Chronological subdivision
Bluegrass music --To 1951; 1951-1960 ... 1981-1990; 1991-2000; 2001-2010; 2011-2020
Blues (Music) --To 1931; 1931-1930 ... 1981-1990; 1991-2000; 2001-2010; 2011-2020
Country music --To 1951; 1951-1960 ... 1981-1990; 1991-2000; 2001-2010; 2011-2020
Jazz --To 1921; 1921-1930 ... 1981-1990; 1991-2000; 2001-2010; 2011-2020
Popular instrumental music --To 1901; 1901-1910 ... 1981-1990; 1991-2000; 2001-2010; 2011-2020
Popular music --To 1901; 1901-1910 ... 1981-1990; 1991-2000; 2001-2010; 2011-2020
Rock music --To 1961; 1961-1970 ... 1981-1990; 1991-2000; 2001-2010; 2011-2020

SOURCE: Music Cataloging Bulletin, vol. 19, no. 4, p. 4; LC Subject Cataloging Manual H 1619.6

Jazz and popular music subject heading subdivisions

Certain popular music styles and genres that originated in the United States are not subdivided by --United States. They may, however, when appropriate, be subdivided by regions, states, and cities of the United States.

Subject heading  Subdivide chronologically? Subdivide by
--United States
 if brought out in item		 Add 043 n-us---
when implied in
the subject heading
Big band music
Bluegrass music
Blues (Music)		 No
Begin --To 1951
Begin --To 1931		 No
No
No		 Yes
Yes
Yes
Boogie Woogie (Music)
Bop (Music)
Calypso (Music)		 No
No
No		 No
No
Yes		 Yes
Yes
No
Christian rock music
Contemporary Christian music
Country music		 No
No
Begin --To 1951		 Yes
Yes
No		 No
No
Yes
Disco music
Dixieland music
Doo-wop (Music)		 No
No
No		 Yes
No
No		 No
Yes
Yes
Folk-rock music
Funk (Music)
Gospel music
Honky-tonk music		 No
No1
No
No		 No
No
Yes/No2
No		 Yes
No1
Yes
Yes
Jazz
Jazz vocals
Klezmer music		 Begin --To 1921
No
No		 No
No
Yes		 Yes
Yes
No
Old-time music
Popular music
Popular instrumental music
Ragtime music		 No1
Begin --To 1901
Begin --To 1901
No		 No
Yes
Yes
No		 Yes1
No
No
Yes
Rap (Music)
Reggae music
Rhythm and blues music		 No
No
No		 No
Yes
No		 Yes
No
Yes
Rock music
Rockabilly music
Salsa (Music)
Soul music		 Begin --To 1961
No
No
No		 Yes
No
Yes
No		 No
Yes
No
Yes
Steel band music
Swing (Music)
Western swing (Music)
Women's music3		 No
No
No		 Yes
No
No
No		 No
Yes
Yes
Yes

1 Inferred from LC practice.
2 Original LC handout said no; however, LC Subject Cataloging Manual H 1619.6 does not list Gospel music as one of the headings not to be subdivided by "--United States."
3 Do not confuse with the subject headings Music by women composers and Feminist music Sources: LC handout, 1992 OLAC meeting; Music Cataloging Bulletin, vol. 33, no. 3, Mar. 2002; LC Subject Cataloging Manual H 1619.6