Music Cataloging at Yale RDA

Recording titles (RDA 2.3)
Note: this page has been created with cataloging notated and performed music in mind.

For specific information on recording categories of titles that most commonly apply to notated and performed music, see
title proper (2.3.2) || parallel title proper (2.3.3) || other title information (2.3.4) and parallel other title information (2.3.5) || variant title (2.3.6)

(2.3.1.1) Basic instructions on recording titles
A title is a word, character, or group of words and/or characters that names a resource or a work contained in it.

More than one title may appear in the resource itself (e.g., on a title page, title frame; as a caption title, running title; on a cover, spine; on a title bar), on a jacket, sleeve, container, etc., or in material accompanying the resource.

The categories of titles that most commonly apply to scores and recordings are:
     ° title proper (2.3.2)
     ° parallel title proper (2.3.3)
     ° other title information (2.3.4)
     ° parallel other title information (2.3.5)
     ° variant title (2.3.6)
(2.3.1.1) Facsimiles and reproductions
When describing a facsimile or reproduction that has a title or titles relating to the original manifestation as well as to the facsimile or reproduction, record the title or titles relating to the facsimile or reproduction. [emphasis added]

Record any title relating to the original manifestation as a title pertaining to a related manifestation (27.1)

Exception: Apply 2.3.2.3 when the title of the original manifestation appears on the same source of information as the title of the facsimile or reproduction
(2.3.1.4) Recording titles
Transcribe a title as it appears on the source of information. Apply the general guidelines on transcription given under 1.7.

Optional omission:
   ° Abridge a long title only if it can be abridged without loss of essential information,
   ° Use a mark of omission (…) to indicate such an omission,
   ° Never omit any of the first five words.
(2.3.1.5) Names of persons, families, and corporate bodies
If a title consists solely of the name of a person, family, or corporate body, record the name as the title.

If a title includes a name that would normally be treated as part of a statement of responsibility or as the name of a publisher, distributor, etc., and the name is an integral part of the title (e.g., connected by a case ending), record it as part of the title.
(2.3.1.6) Introductory words
Do not transcribe words that serve as an introduction and are not intended to be part of the title.
      » Optional addition: Record the form in which the title appears on the source of information as a variant title if it is considered to be important for identification or access.

Examples:
2010562779 245 10 Oscar Wilde's The happy prince
                 246 30 Happy prince
(2.3.1.7) Titles of parts, sections, and supplements
The resource is a separately issued part or section of, or supplement to, another resource
and
its title as presented on the source of information consists of:
° the title common to all parts or sections (or the title of the larger resource)
as well as
° the title of the part, section, or supplement
and
° these two titles are grammatically independent of each other,
Record the common title, followed by
° the title of the part, section, or supplement:
     ° disregard the order in which the parts of the title are presented on the source of information
     ° use a full stop to separate the common title from the title of the part, etc.:
            [Common title]. [Title of part, etc.]
When the the title of the part, section, or supplement has an enumeration or alphabetic designation, Record the common title, followed by
° the enumeration or designation, followed by
° the title of the part, section, or supplement
     ° disregard the order in which the parts of the title are presented on the source of information
     ° use a full stop to separate the common title from the enumeration or alphabetic designation
     ° use a comma to separate the alpha/numeric designation from the title of the part, etc:
            [Common title]. [alpha/numeric designation], [Title of part, etc.]
When If the title of a part, section, or supplement is presented on the source of information without the title that is common to all parts or sections Record the title of the part, section, or supplement as the title
° For a part or section, record the title that is common to all parts or sections as part of the series statement (2.12)
° For a supplement, record the title of the main resource as the title of a related work (25.1)
LC-PCC PS: When the the title of the part of a monographic series or multipart monograph lacks a title other than that of the comprehensive title or has a title that is dependent on the comprehensive title, prepare a separate bibliographic record for that publication or part, regardless of whether it is numbered or not.
Best practices for music cataloging, draft: Follow LC-PCC PS

Examples:
2012563876 Buddhist songs. ‡n No. 2, ‡p With excellent raiments
2012562903 Brazilian music for piano. ‡n Part 2, ‡p Samba and bossa nova
° Transcribe the title proper of the monographic series or multipart monograph in 245/‡a
° Transcribe any numbering as enumeration in 245/‡n
° Transcribe a dependent title as a section title in 245/‡p
° Do not formulate a series statement.


Comments to Mickey Koth Yale University Music Library
©Yale University Library Last revised April 22, 2013.