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The principle of subject analysis using LCSH is to assign the most specific heading (or headings) that say(s) what this thing is. Most scores will have one or two subject headings, though they may have more if the item is made up of several different types of pieces. Recordings will tend to have many subject headings, particularly for anthologies of music of varying instrumentation and/or genre.

There are 2 main concepts expressed in subject headings for individual scores:

1. Musical form, genre, type,etc.

Symphonies.
Fox trots.
Villancicos (Music).
Sonatas.

2. Medium of performance.

Orchestral music.
Trios (Piano, flute, violin)
Songs (High voice) with piano.
Octets (Piano, clarinet, flute, guitar, mandolin, accordion, percussion, double bass)
Horns (3), violin with chamber orchestra.
Flute music (Flutes (2))
Violin and piano music.

These concepts may be combined into one heading:

Sonatas (Violin and piano)
Songs (High voice) with piano.
Concertos (Bass clarinet with string orchestra)
Concertos (Bass clarinet) [accompaniment of full orchestra is assumed unless stated otherwise for Concertos]
Choruses, Sacred (Mixed voices) with band.
Choruses, Sacred (Mixed voices, 4 parts) with piano.
Suites (Violin and piano)
Symphonies (Chorus and viola with chamber orchestra)

Headings that include the medium of performance may include the qualifier " , Arranged" to indicate that the medium of performance specified represents an arrangement and not the original instrumentation

Piano music, Arranged.

Other concepts you'll see occasionally:

3. Music for occasions, such as religious seasons, holidays, festivals. "Christmas music."

4. Music about a topic or a person or other named entity. "Dogs $v Songs and music."

5. Language of vocal text. "Ballads, English."

6. Musical style. "Rock music."

7. Music of ethnic, national, and religious groups. "Quechua Indians $v Music."

8. You may also see headings of the type [Author of text's name $v Musical settings]

600 10 Dickinson, Emily, 1830-1886 $v Musical settings.

Subject subdivisions

Sometimes subdivisions ($v) are added to a heading to indicate musical presentation (e.g. "$v Scores") and/or medium of performance ($v Solos with piano)

Form subdivisions in the may be added to almost any music heading for scores, with a few exceptions. Form subdivisions are not used for recordings.

Order of instruments:

When instruments of an ensemble are listed out in a subject heading, they should appear in this order:

(1) keyboard instruments
(2) wind instruments
(3) plucked instruments
(4) percussion, electronic, and other instruments
(5) bowed stringed instruments
(6) unspecified instruments
(7) continuo.

Within each numbered category, give the instruments in alphabetical order with the exception of bowed stringed instruments: give these in score order, high to low.

When there are only two instruments, if one of the instruments is chordal (keyboard or plucked instruments, on which chords are easily played), or if one serves as an accompaniment to the other, give the chordal or accompanying instrument in the second position.

Trombone and piano music
Mandolin and piano music [piano serves as accompaniment]

pmd 8/31/04, rev. nln 8/17/2005

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