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Capitalization of key, opus, and number

Music Cataloging at Yale [1] ♪ Language tools [2]

Note: These instructions apply to recording information for title and contents notes in bibliographic records and 670 field [3] in authority records. They do not apply to authorized access points for music.

Key:

See also The names of keys in French, German, Italian, and Spanish [4]

  • In English, the key is capitalized, but not the mode: A major, D minor.
  • In German1, D in Dur and M in Moll are capitalized.
    • In major, the key is capitalized: D-Dur, Fis-Dur
    • In minor, it is not capitalized: a-Moll, fis-Moll
  • In other languages,
    • when given as a letter, the key is capitalized: F majeur, G mineur
    • but when given as a word, it is not capitalized: fa majeur, sol mineur.
  • Symphonie Nr. 2 C-Dur op. 61
  • Konzert für Violoncello und Orchester a-Moll, op. 129
  • Messe in Es op. 155
  • Concerto in A minor (Wq 166, H 431) for flute, strings and basso continuo
  • Sonata per cembalo in sol maggiore
  • Koncert C dur2 pro fagot a smycce

The LC Music Division's Bibliographic Access Section's policy regarding transcription and recording of statements of key that are in German:

  • The words "Dur" and "Moll" will always be capitalized.
  • Letters and initial letters with suffixes indicating flats and sharps (-is, -es) will be in upper case when preceding "Dur" and in lower case when preceding "Moll".

Source: e-mail on NMP-L from Damian Iseminger, Head, Bibliographic Access Section, Music Division, Library of Congress, dated 10/11/2018

1This policy is based on a 1977 LC memo stating that, regardless of how a word appears on the publication, for German capitalization, follow Duden Rechtschreibung der deutschen Sprache und der Fremdwörter (Mannheim : Bibliographisches Institut, c1986) It is unknown if LC is applying this policy in RDA
2D in dur is not capitalized here because it is not in German.

Opus:

  • In German1, opus is capitalized when spelled out, but not when abbreviated: Opus, op.
  • In other languages, neither is capitalized.
  • Vier Fugen Opus 72
  • String trio opus 45
  • Symphonies Nr. 2 C-Dur op. 61
  • Quartet op. 73 for 2 violins, viola, and cello

Numbers:

See also The names of numbers in French, German, Italian, and Spanish [5]

  • In German1, number and its abbreviations are capitalized: Number, Nr., No.
  • In other languages, it is not: number, no., nr.
  • Duo concertant für zwei Klarinetten op. 3, Nr. 1
  • Fantasie für Klavier ohne D-Nummer = Fantasy for piano without "D" number
  • Quartet No. IV für 2 Violinen, Viola & Violoncello, op. 40
  • Sonata in D major op. 2 no. 2
Source URL:https://web.library.yale.edu/cataloging/music/capitalization-of-key-opus-and-number

Links
[1] http://web.library.yale.edu/cataloging/music [2] http://web.library.yale.edu/cataloging/music/language-tools [3] http://www.musicoclcusers.org/NMP/nmphdbk.htm#citingtitle [4] http://web.library.yale.edu/cataloging/music/names-keys-french-german-italian-and-spanish [5] http://web.library.yale.edu/cataloging/music/foreign