Sound recording cataloging
Sound recording cataloging
This document is for use by participants in
the the Cataloging Historical Audio Collections project, a grant funded by
the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The project funds the cataloging of historical
78 rpm sound recordings issued singly (e.g. not in sets). Participants are
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Stanford University, and
Yale University.
General information || Library of
Congress preservation tapes || Examples of 300
fields
General information
The following information is excerpted and modified from: Mudge, Suzanne,
and D.J. Hoek. Describing Jazz, Blues, and Popular 78 RPM Sound Recordings:
Suggestions and Guidelines. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly,
vo. 29, no. 3, 2001, p. 21-48.
Online
text (requires subscription)
Relatively limited information is provided by 78 rpm discs, since most were
issued in paper sleeves with no additional accompanying materials. However,
there is a general consistency in the types of information included on 78
rpm labels and discs. The record label name (i.e., publisher’s name
or record-company name) is usually quite prominent.
The title of the sound recording is also clearly presented and the
genre or medium of performance is sometimes indicated.
Performers are often given equal or near-equal prominence to titles.
Composers, lyricists, and arrangers, if included at all, are regularly
listed by their last names only, in most cases smaller typeface than that
used for titles and performers, often separated by dashes or in parentheses,
with no indication of specific functions.
When the chief source does not include information about the performers
or provides only an abbreviated roster, and a reference source includes
a more complete listing,transcribe the statements of responsibility as they
appear on the chief source, followed by any supplementary information taken
from the reference source in brackets. Include a citation for the source
of the information
Place and date of publication are less consistently printed on the
chief source. Discographies or record-label
catalogs may be consulted. Careful consideration must be taken, however,
when a date is determined using a reference source. Usually, the dates listed
in discographies and label guides are not the actual dates of publication
but, rather, are the dates of recording sessions. While such historical
information is valuable, especially when no date of publication is available,
a recording-session date provides only an approximation of the date of
publication. (When information on the recording session is found in a discography
or other reference source, record the information in a note and code the
033 field. Provide a brief citation for the source of the information.)
The physical description of 78 rpm discs is fairly straightforward.
All are analog, monophonic recordings. Most are ten-inch discs, although
78 recordings of other dimensions, particularly twelve-inch, were issued.
Both label and
matrix
numbers can appear on a 78 rpm disc, and in a variety of ways. The
label number is a unique identifier for the entire item that is usually
printed on both sides of the label (e.g., the same number appears
on both sides of the disc). The matrix number is a unique identifier
for each side of the 78 that is generally imprinted into the shellac
or plastic of the disc, on the smooth surface area between the label and
grooves. Matrix numbers may also be printed on the label, and the number
appearing on the label may be an abbreviated version of the complete matrix
number. Matrix numbers appearing directly on the disc may provide additional
information, such as recording locations or particular take designations,
that can be used in the description.
Though LCRI 6.7B19 states that matrix numbers should be recorded "only
if they are the only numbers shown on the item," for archival and research
purposes it is desirable to record all unique identifying elements appearing
on the item.
The note "acoustic recording" should be included when describing any 78 rpm
discs that were produced using acoustic recording processes, if such information
can be ascertained from the item or a reference source.
Bibliographic records Library of Congress preservation
master reel-to-reel tapes
LC has cataloged their preservation tapes of 78 rpm recordings. The bib records
include information for the original format in the 300 field, with a 533
field for the preservation copy. Usually there are two 007 fields, one for
each format:
LCCN 97705883
007 s
b d
d d
e m
f s
g d
h n
i n
j m
k s
l l
m u
n b
007 s
b t
d p
e m
f n
g d
h m
i a
j u
k n
l n
m u
n e
300 1 sound disc :
b analog, 78
rpm, mono. ; c
10 in.
533 Preservation master.
b Washington,
D.C. : c Library
of Congress Magnetic Recording Laboratory,
d 1963.
e 1 sound tape
microfilm reel : analog, 15 ips, 1 track, mono. ; 10 in.
According to Jay Weitz, these records are for the preservation master
reel-to-reel tapes, not for the original 78s. The master records should not
be edited to change them into records for the 78s themselves. If you are
cataloging the actual 78s, separate records for them should be created if
they do not already exist.
Examples of 300 fields
300 1 sound disc :
b analog, 78
rpm, mono. ; c
10 in.
300 2 sound discs :
b 78 rpm, mono.
; c 12 in
300 on 1 side of 1 sound disc :
b analog, 78
rpm, mono. ; c
10 in. (see 6.5B3)
300 2 sound discs :
b analog, 78
rpm ; c 12 in.
300 4 sound discs :
b analog, 78
rpm ; c 10
in.
Comments to Mickey Koth Yale
University Music Library