Classification for Sound Recordings

The classification for sound recordings in the George and Helen Ladd
Library at Bates College, devised by Joseph Derbyshire, College Librarian
Emeritus. COM precedes call numbers for compact discs; CAS precedes call numbers for cassettes. For all call numbers, use date of the recording as the last element of the classification number.

When cataloging in RDA, follow the RDA rules for description and access points.  Once cataloging is complete, formulate what would have been the main entry under AACR2 and classify using the AACR2 heading.

XL Literary recordings

General

  • 50   Collections, anthologies, etc. of general literature By main entry, A-Z
  • 75   Soundtracks of films; Radio plays and programs, etc. By main entry, A-Z

English literature

  • 100   Collections, anthologies, etc. of various authors By main entry, A-Z
  • Note: Class here collections of English and American literature
  • 110   Works of individual authors By main entry, A-Z By title of recording, A-Z

American literature

  • 120   Collections, anthologies, etc. of various authors By main entry, A-Z
  • Note: Class collections of English and American literature in XL 100
  • 130   Works of individual authors By main entry, A-Z By title of recording, A-Z

Other literatures of English (Australian, Black African, Canadian, etc.)

  • 140   Collections, anthologies, etc. various authors By main entry, A-Z
  • 150   Works of individual authors By main entry, A-Z By title of recording, A-Z

German literature

  • 160   Collections, anthologies, etc. of various authors By main entry, A-Z
  • 170   Works of individual authors By main entry, A-Z By title of recording, A-Z

Other Germanic literatures (Danish, Dutch, Swedish, etc.)

  • 180   Collections, anthologies, etc. of various authors By main entry, A-Z
  • 190   Works of individual authors By main entry, A-Z By title of recording, A-Z

French literature

  • 200   Collections, anthologies, etc. of various authors By main entry, A-Z
  • Note: Class here collections of literature in French whatever the origin
  • 205   Works of individual authors By main entry, A-Z By title of recording, A-Z

Other literatures of French (Black African, Canadian, etc.)

  • 210   Collections, anthologies, etc. of various authors By main entry, A-Z
  • 215   Works of individual author By main entry, A-Z By title of recording, A-Z

Spanish literature

  • 220   Collections, anthologies, etc. of various authors By main entry, A-Z
  • Note: Class here collections of literature in Spanish whatever the origin
  • 225   Works of individual authors By main entry, A-Z By title of recording, A-Z

Other literatures in Spanish (i.e. Spanish American, etc.)

  • 230   Collections, anthologies, etc. of various authors By main entry, A-Z
  • 235   Works of individual author By main entry, A-Z By title of recording, A-Z

Portuguese literature

  • 240   Collections, anthologies, etc. of various authors By main entry, A-Z
  • Note: Class here collections of literature in Portuguese whatever the origin
  • 245   Works of individual authors By main entry, A-Z By title of recording, A-Z

Other literatures of Portuguese (i.e. Brazilian, etc.)

  • 250   Collections, anthologies, etc. of various authors By main entry, A-Z
  • 255   Works of individual authors By main entry, A-Z By title of recording, A-Z

Italian literature

  • 260   Collections, anthologies, etc. of various authors By main entry, A-Z
  • 265   Works of individual author By main entry, A-Z By title of recording, A-Z

Latin literature

  • 270   Collections, anthologies, etc. of various authors By main entry, A-Z
  • 275   Works of individual authors By main entry, A-Z By title of recording, A-Z

Other Romance literatures

  • 280   Collections, anthologies, etc. of various authors By main entry, A-Z
  • 285   Works of individual authors By main entry, A-Z By title of recording, A-Z

Greek literature

  • 290   Collections, anthologies, etc. of various authors By main entry, A-Z
  • 295   Works of individual authors By main entry, A-Z By title of recording, A-Z

Russian literature

  • 300   Collections, anthologies, etc. of various authors By main entry, A-Z
  • 310   Works of individual authors By main entry, A-Z By title of recording, A-Z

Other Slavic literatures (Bulgarian, Szech, Polish, Ukrainian, etc.)

  • 320   Collections, anthologies, etc. of various authors By main entry, A-Z
  • 330   Works of individual authors By main entry, A-Z By title of recording, A-Z

Literatures of other languages

  • 380   Collections, anthologies, etc. of various authors By main entry, A-Z
  • 390   Works of individual author By main entry, A-Z By title of recording, A-Z

For literary recordings: Z1   Critical works about

Example:

XL
Class number
Author number
Z1
Date

For collections: .A2   Critical works about

Example:

XL
Class number
.A2
Main entry
Date

Other spoken recordings

  • 400   Documentary recordings (Primary sources, such as speeches that are important rhetorically as speeches; speeches about a particular subject, e.g., Abortion can go in XP) By main entry, A-Z
  • 425   Humorous recordings (with or without music) By main entry, A-Z

Religious texts: Biblical recordings

  • 450   Complete texts of the Bible By title of recording, A-Z
  • 455   Complete texts of the Old Testament By title of recording, A-Z
  • 456   Selections from the Old Testament By title of recording, A-Z
  • 460   Books of the Old Testament (complete or selections) By title of book, A-Z By title of recording, A-Z
  • 465   Complete texts of the New Testament By title of recording, A-Z
  • 466   Selections from the New Testament
  • 470   Books of the New Testament (complete or selections) By title of book, A-Z By title of recording, A-Z
  • 480   Other religious texts By main entry, A-Z By title of recording, A-Z

For lectures about subjects, see XP’s

XM   Musical recordings

General

50   Collections, anthologies, etc. of general music By main entry, A-Z .If main entry is title, use three-number cutter. If main entry is author, use additional cutter for title.

Classical music

100   Collections, anthologies, etc. of classical music (several periods) By main entry, A-Z

115   Early and Medieval music through the 15th century
.A1 Collections, anthologies, etc. of early and Medieval music (includes Medieval in title) By main entry, A-Z
.A2-Z   By composer By uniform title of recording, A-Z

116   Music of the 16th and 17th centuries
.A1   Collections, anthologies, etc. of 16th and/or 17th century music (includes Renaissance in title) By main entry, A-Z
.A2-Z   By composer By uniform title of recording, A-Z

117   Music of the 18th century
.A1 Collections, anthologies, etc. of 18th century music (includes Baroque in title) By main entry, A-Z
.A2-Z   By composer By uniform title of recording, A-Z

118   Music of the 19th century
.A1 Collections, anthologies, etc. of 19th century music By main entry, A-Z
.A2-Z   By composer By uniform title of recording, A-Z

119   Music of the early 20th century (composers flourishing before 1950)
.A1   Collections, anthologies, etc. of early 20th century music By main entry, A-Z
Note: Include here collections of 20th century music whether of the early or late period.
.A2-Z   By composer By uniform title of recording, A-Z

120   Music of the late 20th century (composers flourishing after 1950)
.A2-Z   By composer By uniform title of recording, A-Z

121   Music of the 21st century
.A1 Collections, anthologies, etc. of 21st century music By main entry, A-Z
.A2-Z   By composer By uniform title of recording, A-Z

Table I: Arrangement of titles following notation for composer’s name (Use uniform title)

A1   Collected works (i.e., Works)

A16   Selections (i.e., Selections) Generic titles of musical forms. Under each:
(0)   Complete works in any one musical form
(1)   Selected works in any one musical form
(2)   Individual works in any one musical form

Complete symphonies   S9
Selected symphonies   S91
Individual symphonies   S92

For individual works with generic titles, an opus number or other distinctive numbering system should be applied to make each title distinct.

Brahms, Johannes, 1833-1897. Symphonies, no.4, op.98, E minor

XM
118
.B7
S92
op.98
1984

Notation for works with distinct titles should be fit into the scheme for works with generic titles.

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, 1756-1791. Concertos, violin, orchestra, K.219, A major
XM
117
.M7
C62
K.219

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, 1756-1791. Cosi fan tutte

XM
117
.M7
C67

Table II: Generic titles of musical and literary forms

  • A3-A32   Adagio
  • A4-A42   Allegro
  • A5-A52   Andante
  • B2-B22   Bagatelle
  • B3-B32   Ballade
  • B35-B352   Ballate
  • B4-B42   Ballets
  • B4-B42   Band music
  • C2-C22   Canon
  • C3-C32   Cantata
  • C35-C352   Capriccio
  • C37-C372   Cassation
  • C43-C432   Chaconne
  • C45-C452   Chamber music
  • C47-C472   Chansons
  • C49-C492   Choral music
  • C5-C52   Chorale
  • C53-C532  Chorale preludes
  • C55-C552   Computer music
  • C6-C62   Concerto, Concerto grosso
  • D3-D32   Dance
  • D5-D52   Divertimento, Divertissement
  • D8-D82   Duet, Duo
  • E4-E42 Electronic music
  • E8-E82   Etude
  • E9-E92   Exercise
  • F3-F32   Fantasia, Fantasy
  • F6-F62   Flute music
  • F63-F632   Flute, piano music
  • F8-F82   Fugue
  • G4-G42   Gloria
  • G8-G82   Guitar music
  • H3-H32   Harpsichord music
  • H6-H62   Horn music
  • H63-H632   Horn, orchestra music
  • H8-H82   Humoresque
  • H9-H92   Hymns
  • I4-I42   Impromptu
  • I43-I432   Improvisation
  • I44-I442 Incidental music
  • I45-I452   Instrumental music
  • I5-I52   Invention
  • K4-K42   Keyboard music
  • L87-L872   Lute music
  • M2-M22   Madrigal
  • M25-M252   Magnificat
  • M28-M282   March
  • M3-M32   Mass
  • M5-M52   Minuet
  • M55-M552   Missa (add cutter based on 2nd part of title)
  • M6-M62   Motet
  • M68-M682   Motion picture music
  • M87   Musicals, Selctions
  • N6-N62   Nocturne (Notturno)
  • N65-N652   Nonet
  • O3-O32   Octet
  • O6-O62   Opera
  • O63-O632   Oratorios
  • O65-O652   Orchestra music
  • O7-O72   Organ music
  • O9-O92   Overture
  • P3-P32   Partita
  • P37-P372   Passacaglia
  • P38-P382   Pastorale
  • P47-P472   Percussion music
  • P5-P52   Piano music
  • P53-P532   Piano, orchestra music
  • P55-P552   Piano, string music
  • P57-P572   Piano trio music
  • P6-P62   Plays
  • P63-P632   Poems
  • P65-P652   Polkas
  • P67-P672   Polonaise
  • P7-P72   Prelude
  • Q4-Q42   Quartet
  • Q5-Q52   Quintet
  • R4-R42   Requiem
  • R5-R52   Rhapsody
  • R6-R62   Romance
  • R65-R652   Rondo
  • S3-S32   Scherzo
  • S4-S42   Septet
  • S45-S452   Serenade
  • S48-S482   Sextet
  • S49-S492   Short stories
  • S5-S52   Sinfonia
  • S6-S62   Sonata, Sonatina
  • S65-S652   Songs
  • S72-S722   String orchestra music
  • S73-S732   String quartet music
  • S75-S752   Strings
  • S77-S772   Studies, studien
  • S8-S82   Suite
  • S89-S892   Symphonic poems
  • S9-S92   Symphony
  • T6-T62   Toccata
  • T7-T72   Trio, Trio-sonata
  • T8-T82 Trombone music
  • V3-V32   Variation
  • V47-V472   Violin, continuo music
  • V5-V52   Violin music (includes Violin, orhcestra music)
  • V53-V532   Violin, piano music
  • V55-V552   Violoncello music
  • V57-V572   Violoncello, piano music
  • V6-V62   Vocal music
  • W3-W32   Waltz
  • W5-W52   Wind music

Table III: Creating the cutter. (LC Subject Cataloging Manual: Shelflisting, Oct. 1994, G60, p.14)

After initial vowels for the second letter: b d l-m n p r s-t u-y
use number: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
After initial letter S for the second
letter:
a ch e h-i m-p t u w-z
use number: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
After initial letters Qu for the second
letter:
a e i o r t y
use number: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
For initial letters Qa-Qt use numbers: 2-29
After other initial consonants for the second
letter:
a e i o r u y
use number: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
For expansion for the
letter:
a-d e-h i-l m-o p-s t-v w-z
use number: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Assigning numbers for titles that start with the word “Music.”

Music at M86
Music for M87
Music from M874
Music in M875
Music of the M88
Musical M89

Musical shows, Cinema music, Television music, Operettas

200   Collections, anthologies, etc. of show music By main entry, A-Z

250   Individual shows By main entry (usually composer), A-Z By title of recording, A-Z

Popular music (including non-classical music not covered in 2xx, other 3xx, 4xx, 5xx or 6xx categories)

300   Collections, anthologies, etc. of popular music By main entry, A-Z

310   Individual recordings of performers or performing groups By main entry (usually perfomer), A-Z By title of recording, A-Z

Rock ‘n’ roll, country, soul

340   Collections, anthologies, etc.By main entry, A-Z

350   Individual recordings of performers or performing groups By main entry (usually perfomer), A-Z By title of recording, A-Z

Blues

370   Collections, anthologies, etc. of blues music By main entry, A-Z

380   Individual recordings of performers or performing groups By main entry (usually perfomer), A-Z By title of recording, A-Z

Jazz and Ragtime

400   Collections, anthologies, etc. of jazz music By main entry, A-Z

450   Individual recordings of performers or performing groups By main entry (usually perfomer), A-Z By title of recording, A-Z

Religious music (that is not classified by composer in classical music)

500   Collections, anthologies, etc. of religious music by various performers By main entry, A-Z

505   Individual recordings of performers or performing groups By main entry (usually perfomer), A-Z By title of recording, A-Z

Note: classify Christmas music in .C47

Military music and Marches (that are not classified by composer in classical music)

550   Collections, anthologies, etc. of military music by various performers By main entry, A-Z

555   Individual recordings of performers or performing groups By main entry (usually perfomer), A-Z By title of recording, A-Z

Music of the American Indian

580   Collections, anthologies, etc. By main entry, A-Z

585   Individual recordings of performers or performing groups By main entry (usually perfomer), A-Z By title of recording, A-Z

Folk and ethnic music of different countries (and popular music for non-anglo countries; “non-anglo” jazz remains in 450)

600

.A1 Collections, anthologies, etc.

.A3 Africa

.A8 Asia (China, Tibet, Taiwan, Japan, Korea) Southeast Asia (Bangladesh,
Burma, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia), Central Asia
(Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,
Mongolia)

.B3 Balkan states (Romania, Serbia, Zagreb, Bosnia-H., Montenegro,
Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Yugoslavia)

.E5 England (also general collections of British, including Welsh) Ireland
and Scotland are separate

.E9 Europe (excluding Great Britain, France, Germany, Scandanavia, and
Spain) separate countries as well as general collections (including
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belorussa, Ukraine, Moldavia)

.F7 France

.G4 Germany

.I5 India and Pakistan, including Nepal and Sri Lanka

.I7 Ireland

.I8 Israel (includes Klezmer music from different countries)

.L3 Latin America (including Mexico, the Carribean, and South America)

.M5 Middle East (Turkey, Persia, Iran, Arab States, Egypt, Afghanistan,
Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan)(Arab States include: Algeria, Bahrain,
Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya,
Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan,
Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen)

.N6 North America (includes Canadian and French Canadian)

Maine cuttered .M3 (for example, XM 600 .N6 M3 L5 1998)

Native American music goes in XM 580 or XM 585

.P3 Pacific Islands

.R8 Russia

.S3 Scandanavia (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland)

.S32 Scotland

.S6 Spain

By main entry, A-Z. If main entry is title, use two expansion numbers. If main entry is performer, use an additional cutter for title (can be two characters).

XP Programmed instruction/Lectures about subjects

Language recordings

100   Recordings for instruction in languages By language, A-Z By main entry, A-Z

Subject fields. For each subject: By main entry, A-Z

Humanities

200   General

205   Art

210   Dance

215   Literature and theater (not literary works or criticism of literary works, see XL)

225   Music (not musical works, see XM)

235   Philosophy (not literary works, see XL)

245   Religion (not religious texts, see XL 450-480)

Social Sciences (not documentary recordings, see XL 400)

300   General

305   Anthropology

315   Economics

325   Government and Political Science

.A75 Arms control, Disarmament

.B53 Blacks in South Africa, Apartheid

.C58 Civil rights

.C65 Constitution

.F74 First amendment, Freedom of information, Censorship, Media

.K8 Ku Klux Klan

.L3 Latin America (including Mexico and Central America)

.M4 Medicare, Medicaid

.M5 Military policy, Missiles, Star wars

.N83 Nuclear war

.T4 Terrorism

Note: Interfile author/title cutters not covered by these subjects.

335   History

.H6 Holocaust

.P4 Persian Gulf crisis, Persian Gulf war

.V5 Vietnam Conflict

Note: Interfile author/title cutters not covered by these subjects.

340   Psychology

345   Sociology

.A2 Abortion

.A4 Aged

.B5 Birth control

.C4 Children, Child abuse

.C6 Communities, Urban sociology, Rural sociology

.C7 Criminology, Rape

.F3 Family, Marriage

.F4 Feminism, Women’s rights

.M3 Masculinity

.R32 Races, Race as a social group, Race relations

.S4 Sexual issues, Sexism, Sexual ethics, Sexual harrassment

.W6 Women, Women’s employment

Note: Interfile author/title cutters not covered by these subjects.

350   Education

Sciences (not documentary recordings, see XL 400)

400   General

405   Astronomy

415   Biology

425   Chemistry

435   Ecology and wildlife (classify here recordings of bird and
animal calls)

440   Mathematics

445   Physics (classify here recordings of sound effects)

Other subject fields

500   Recordings for instruction in other subject fields