Music Cataloging at Yale Preferred titles

Medium of performance is the instrument, instruments, voice, voices, etc., for which a musical work was originally conceived. Instrumental music || Vocal music || Indeterminate/unspecified medium
(6.15.1.2) Sources of information
Take information on medium of performance from any source.
(6.15.1.3) Recording medium of performance
Record medium of performance as a separate element, as part of an access point, or as both, in the following order:      ° voices      ° keyboard instrument if there is more than one non-keyboard instrument      ° the other instruments in score order Note: As in AACR2, score order is still not defined.      ° continuo           » Use continuo for a thorough bass part whether it is named as basso continuo, figured bass, thorough bass, or continuo. If there is more than one part for a particular instrument or voice, add the appropriate numeral for the number of parts in parentheses after the name of that instrument or voice unless the number is otherwise implicit in the preferred title. B6JSC/ALA/12: For guidelines on recording details related to medium of performance, see the instructions on medium of performance of musical content given under 7.21. Best practices for music cataloging, draft: If giving the medium of performance as a component of an access point, routinely also give medium of performance in a 382 field. For other works, give medium of performance in a 382 field if readily ascertainable.
Instrumental music
(6.15.1.4) Instrumental music intended for one performer to a part
Record each instrument by applying the instructions at 6.15.1.6 and 6.15.1.13 with these exceptions:      ° percussion: If there is more than one percussion instrument, and the names of the individual instruments are not specified by the composer in the original title, use percussion.      ° If the medium includes a continuo part, record the name of the part.      ° If the work is for a standard combination of instruments, apply 6.15.1.5.      ° If the medium includes instruments acting as an accompanying ensemble, record a term for the accompanying ensemble 6.15.1.7. Best practices for music cataloging, draft: There is no limit to the number of medium elements recorded, either as components of access points or in 382 fields.
(6.15.1.5) Standard combinations of instruments
For works for three to five instruments that fall into one of the standard combinations in the table, use the table to choose the terms recorded in the following situations: Record the term for a standard combination in this column when the preferred title is Trio(s), Quartet(s), or Quintet(s) Instrumentation Record the terms in this column when the preferred title is not Trio(s), Quartet(s), or Quintet(s) string trio violin, viola, violoncello strings string quartet 2 violins, viola, violoncello strings woodwind quartet flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon woodwinds wind quintet flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon winds piano trio piano, violin, violoncello piano, strings piano quartet piano, violin, viola, violoncello piano, strings piano quintet piano, 2 violins, viola, violoncello piano, strings When the preferred title is not Trio(s), Quartet(s), or Quintet(s) and the work is not for a combination listed under Instrumentation, record each instrument. The following chart is based on the examples in the LC-PCC PS Best practices for music cataloging, draft: Follow LC-PCC PS The medium of performance comprises or includes record the name(s) of a standard chamber combination and no other voices or instruments:      flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon      and      the preferred title is not Trio(s), Quartet(s), or Quintet(s)      flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon      and      the preferred title is Trio(s), Quartet(s), or Quintet(s) the standard combination      wind quintet each instrument, in the order given in 6.15.1.3:      flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon a standard chamber combination and other voices or instruments:      flute, clarinet, horn, bassoon, violin, violoncello, piano      4 violins, 2 viola, 2 cellos each instrument, in the order given in 6.15.1.3:      piano, flute, clarinet, horn, bassoon, violin, cello      not      woodwinds, horn, piano trio each instrument, in the order given in 6.15.1.3, followed by the number of instruments, if applicable:      violins, violas, cellos      not      string quartets (2) a standard chamber combination as a solo group, with an accompanying ensemble:      piano, violin, cello, and orchestra the standard combination and the name of the accompanying ensemble (6.15.1.7-6.15.1.8)      piano trio, orchestra a standard chamber combination as a solo group as well as other instruments, with an accompanying ensemble:      flute, clarinet, bassoon, string quartet, and string orchestra each instrument, in the order given in 6.15.1.3, and the name of the accompanying ensemble (6.15.1.7-6.15.1.8)      flute, clarinet, bassoon, violins (2), viola, cello, string orchestra      not      woodwinds, string quartet, string orchestra a standard chamber combination as an accompanying ensemble:      harp with accompaniment of flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon      solo voice with accompaniment of flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon      and      the preferred title is not Song(s), Lieder, etc. (6.15.1.12)      solo voice with accompaniment of flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon      and      the preferred title is Song(s), Lieder, etc. (6.15.1.12) the solo instrument(s) and the name of the instrumental family followed by "ensemble"      harp, woodwind ensemble      not      harp, woodwind quintet the solo voice and the name of the instrumental family followed by "ensemble" and the word accompaniment      soprano, woodwind ensemble accompaniment      not      soprano, woodwind quintet accompaniment the solo voice and the name of the standard combination and the word accompaniment      soprano, woodwind quintet accompaniment
(6.15.1.6) Individual instruments
When recording an individual type of instrument, use a term in a language preferred by the agency creating the data whenever possible. LC-PCC PS: Use a term in English whenever possible. Best practices for music cataloging, draft: Follow LC-PCC PS Use the following list of terms as a guide:      ° cello or violoncello (LC-PCC PS: LC practice: cello)      ° cor anglais or English horn (LC-PCC PS: LC practice: English horn)      ° double bass (not bass viol or contrabass)      ° double bassoon or contrabassoon (LC-PCC PS: LC practice: contrabassoon)      ° harpsichord (not cembalo or virginal)      ° horn (not French horn)      ° kettle drums or timpani (LC-PCC PS: LC practice: timpani)      ° viol (for sizes of viola da gamba other than bass)      ° viola da gamba (not bass viol or gamba)      ° viols (for viols of different sizes) Keyboard instruments: LC practice: If none of the terms for keyboard instruments listed in 6.15.1.6 is appropriate, record an appropriate term, such as:      ° clavichord, 3 hands      ° harpsichords (3)      ° player piano LC-PCC PS: LC practice: In applying RDA 6.15.1.6, if a composer wrote works for or including various keyboard stringed instruments such as harpsichord, piano, or clavichord, use the one that predominates in the composer's works of a given type of composition in all preferred titles for works of that type. If no predominant instrument is apparent, use the term keyboard instrument in the medium of performance element. Application of terms (6.15.1.6.1): Apply the terms listed as follows:      ° piano for one instrument, two hands.      ° pianos (2) for two instruments, four hands. Omit elements (6.15.1.6.2): Omit the following elements:      ° the designation of the key in which an instrument is pitched      ° the terms alto, tenor, bass, etc.           » Best practices for music cataloging, draft: If deemed useful for identification and access, give specific ranges of instruments, etc. in a note      ° the names of alternative instruments
(6.15.1.7) Accompanying ensembles with one performer to a part
The ensemble consists of:	Record:
the same instrument or from the same family of instruments	record the appropriate term for the instrument or family of instruments followed by the word ensemble      ° guitar ensemble, string ensemble
instruments from two or more families of instruments	instrumental ensemble when a more specific term is not available
(6.15.1.8) Instrumental music for orchestra, string orchestra, or band
Record an appropriate term from the following list:      ° orchestra (use for both full or reduced (chamber) orchestra)      ° string orchestra      ° band Don't list the individual instruments. Disregard continuo when it is part of an orchestra or string orchestra.
(6.15.1.9) One or more solo instruments and accompanying ensemble
Record the term for the solo instrument or instruments and the term for the accompanying ensemble, in that order.      ° For the solo instrument(s), follow 6.15.1.4, 6.15.1.6., and 6.15.1.13      ° For the accompanying ensemble, see 6.15.1.7-6.15.1.8 LC-PCC PS: For an accompanying ensemble that has only one performer to a part, use the word "ensemble" preceded by the appropriate qualifying term (e.g., "string ensemble," "jazz ensemble," "wind ensemble") in the part of the medium of performance element that follows the solo instruments. Best practices for music cataloging, draft: Follow LC-PCC PS.
Vocal music
(6.15.1.10) Solo voices
Record an appropriate term from the following list to identify a type of solo voice:      ° soprano      ° mezzo-soprano      ° alto      ° tenor      ° baritone      ° bass      ° other terms as appropriate (e.g., high voice, countertenor) If there is more than one part for a particular voice, add the appropriate numeral for the number of parts in parentheses after the name of that voice unless the number is otherwise implicit in the preferred title. For compositions that include solo voice(s) with chorus, record only the appropriate terms for the chorus (6.15.1.11) and the accompaniment, if any. If no specific voice types or ranges can be ascertained for two or more solo voices of different ranges, record an appropriate term from the following list:      ° mixed solo voices      ° men's solo voices      ° women's solo voices      ° other terms as appropriate (e.g., children's solo voices)
(6.15.1.11) Choruses
Record an appropriate term from the following list to identify a type of choral ensemble (two or more performers to a part):      ° mixed voices      ° women's voices      ° men's voices      ° unison voices      ° other terms as appropriate (e.g., children's voices)           » Best practices for music cataloging, draft: other commonly used terms: equal voices, treble voices
(6.15.1.12) Accompaniment for songs, Lieder, etc.
If:      ° the work is not in a "popular" idiom           and      ° the preferred title for the work consists solely of the name of a type, or of two or more types, of composition for solo voice (e.g., Lieder, Mélodie, Songs)           and      ° the voice is accompanied by anything other than a keyboard stringed instrument alone, record the name of the accompanying instrument(s) or ensemble, followed by the word accompaniment. LC-PCC PS: Use a standard combination of instruments for the solo group when it comprises the entire accompanying ensemble      ° string quartet accompaniment Best practices for music cataloging, draft: Follow LC-PCC PS. If such a work is not accompanied, record unaccompanied.
(6.15.1.13) Indeterminate medium of performance
If the specific medium of performance, or any part of it, is not stated in the resource or other source, record that part of the medium of performance as follows, in this order of priority:
RDA Medium indicated by the composer or available from any other source: Record: 6.15.1.13.1 one family of instruments or voices (6.15.1.10), or a collective term for other media the family, collective term, etc.      ° plucked instrument, chordal instrument, bass instrument, keyboard instrument 6.15.1.13.2 only the range or general type of instrument or voice the range or type      ° low instrument, treble instrument, melody instrument, male voice 6.15.1.13.3 some parts of the medium are indicated and other parts are unspecified or are indicated as unspecified or a similar term the individual parts of the medium as instructed at 6.15.1.4–6.15.1.12      ° use unspecified or a similar term, as appropriate.           ° unspecified instrument 6.15.1.13.4 no medium is indicated and two or more such works by the same composer have the same preferred title the number of parts or voices      ° use voices to indicate both instrumental and vocal parts           ° voices (3), voices (5-6) RDA Medium is not indicated by the composer and is not available from any other source: Record: 6.15.1.13.5 no medium unspecified