Music Cataloging at Yale Uniform titles

Serial and work numbers

Add serial and/or work (or thematic index) numbers numbers to a generic uniform title (or to a distinctive title to break a conflict) when they appear on the item or can be found in standard reference works, such as the New Grove Dictionary of Music or a composer's thematic catalog. Numbers are given in subfield "n", with the serial number given before the opus number, when both are used.

Serial numbers (LCRI 20.30C2):

A serial number can be a number, such as "no. 2," or a term, such as "book 7."

Use the English form of the term or abbreviation when:
The term used is "number" or its abbreviation, or the equivalent term or abbreviation in another language, whether or not the initial title element is in English because of the rule concerning cognates:
On item:	Uniform title:
Sonate für Flöte und Klavier Nr. 2	Sonata, m flute, piano, n no. 2
Since "Nr." is the German abbreviation for the equivalent English term number, use the English abbreviation.
The term is a non-English word not meaning "number" and the initial title element is translated into English following (25.29A1), the English form of the word is also used:
On item:	Uniform title:
Primo libro di madrigali, quattro voci	Madrigals, m voices (4), n book 1
Neuvième libro de duos pour deux flûtes	Duets, m flutes, n 9th book
Use the original form of the term or abbreviation when:
The term is a non-English word not meaning "number" and the initial title element is not translated into English following (25.29A1), the original form of the word is retained:
On item:	Uniform title:
Il primo libro delle canzoni	Canzoni, n 1. libro
5te. Sammlung der Lieder	Lieder, n 5. Sammlung
When "livre" or its equivalent is not associated with a number, it cannot be omitted from the initial title element under AACR2 25.28A.
On item:	Uniform title:
Livre de sonates a violon seul second oeuvre with continuo	Livre de sonates
Booke of ayres with a triplicite of musicke	Booke of ayres
Use the original language of the term or abbreviation in all other cases.
On item:	Uniform title:
5 études pour piano et orchestre, IIème série	Études, m piano, orchestra, n 2. série
Since the initial title element "études" is not translated into English following rule 25.29A1, the word "série" is not also translated in to English.
For terms other than "number" in any language, abbreviate them only when they appear on the source in that form, even if there is an abbreviation given in Appendix B of AACR2.

Summary: Language of terms used in n in generic uniform titles
Initial title element is in English
The term used means "number":	The term used does not mean "number":
Translate into English	Translate into English
Initial title element is not in English
The term used means "number":	The term used does not mean "number":
Translate into English	Retain original language

Uniform title for the first sonata from op. 1. All works in op. 1 are sonatas for violin. Do not include key:	Sonatas, m violin, n op. 1. n No. 1
Uniform title for the first sonata from op. 1. All works in opus 1 are sonatas, but not all are for the same instrument. (Omit the medium of performance as per 2530.B1b.) Do not include key:	Sonatas, n op. 1. n No. 1
Uniform title for a work with two numbers associated with it: it is both the first sonata for violin and op. 1. Include key if 25.30D2 applies:	Sonatas, m violin, n no. 1, op. 1
Uniform title for the first work in op. 1. Only no. 1 in op. 1 is a sonata and the composer did not intend for all of the works in op. 1 to be a set. Include key if 25.30D2 applies:	Sonatas, m violin, n op. 1, no. 1
Uniform title for the first violin sonata, which is also no. 1 in opus 1. Include key if 25.30D2 applies:	Sonatas, m violin, n no. 1, op. 1, no. 1
Uniform title for the first and second violin sonatas, both of which are in opus 1:	Sonatas, m violin, n no. 1-2, op. 1

The language of a term associated with a serial number (LCRI 25.30C2) This applies to a work as a whole, not to a numbered part of a larger work
LCRI 25.30C2	Initial title element is in English		Initial title element is not in English
	term means "number"	term does not mean "number"	term means "number"	term does not mean "number"
Use the English term?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Abbreviate the term?	Yes	Only when it is abbreviated in the source on which the uniform title is based.	Yes	Only when it is abbreviated in the source on which the uniform title is based.

The language of a term associated with a serial number of a part of a work (LCRI 25.32A1) This applies to a numbered part of a larger work, not to the work as a whole
No term is used	The term means "number"	The term does not mean "number"
Use the abbreviation "No." or its equivalent in the language of the initial title element.	Use the abbreviation for "number," in the language of the source, even of the term is spelled out in the source on which the uniform title is based.	Use the term as it appears in the source, abbreviating only when it appears in that form in the source on which the uniform title is based.
For a part with neither title nor number, see Parts with neither titles nor numbers, from Updates, additions, changes, etc., for the book Uniform Titles for Music

Comments to Mickey Koth Yale University Music Library
©Yale University Library Last revised May 9, 2012.