To those not familiar with the common cataloging procedures, this page may serve as a reference guide on how to interpret the various data fields on the individual records. All of the compositions' records are presented according to the modified AACR2 rules, which are also extended here to feature some details peculiar to the Viennese bass practice. Those extensions include the Title variants, Piano key, Solo Key, String Setup (Tuning variant), as well as a hefty "Notes" section describing the peculiarities of each edition along with the edition reviews where available. Moreover, in every instance where possible the original manuscript title is also cited.
What follows is a detailed "map" of all fields in a typical composition record. Although the amount of detail may appear unnecessary to those not familiar with traditional cataloging, the exactness of description actually necessitates the amount of data. Those that have already used a typical library on-line catalogue, should feel familiar with this setup.
| Composer: | This is a standard format for entering the composer's name. The order is: Last name, First name followed by dates of birth and death. The name used here is the so called "Uniform name" - which is to say the single version of name agreed by all librarians to use in cataloging. Given that through the history many composers have had many variants of their name, this unification is necessary. For example, just in case of Dittersdorf there are probably several options alone: Carlo Ditters, Karl Ditters, Karl Dittersdorf etc. |
| Title: | This is not a standard library entry but is still included here for the convenience of bassists. This is the common title by which the bassists within its own community will refer to a particular piece. A traditional library cataloging will usually not register these designations, but here it may be a help for further reference. |
| Manuscript title: | This is the exact wording of the title of a particular piece as located on the front page of the manuscript in handwriting. It is always written in "Italics" to resemble the handwriting. Sometime a slash "/" sign may be included and it indicates the new line in the text on the manuscript page. A typical example would be: "Concerto in Eb per il Contrabasso" - where "b" indicates a flat, and respectively "#" indicates a sharp. The period conventions sometime indicate the key by stating a letter of a key followed by two sharps - example "ex D##" - which indicates D major. |
| Uniform title: | The uniform title is specifically crafted string of data that helps librarians unmistakably identify and indicate just one particular piece, or a particular version of that piece. Similarly to the "Uniform name" use in the composers field, the cataloging procedures require very specific differentiation between various editions and variants of the name of the composition. Usually this title ends with a thematic catalogue number if available. Example: "Concertos, double bass, orchestra, K. 172, Eb; major; arr." |
| Edition title: | This is an exact copy of the title that stands on the top of the edition page. If you have a particular edition in your hand and you wonder if that is the one cited in this site, just compare the front page title and it should match to the letter the edition title located here. If not, you probably have a different edition in hand. Example: "Kontrabasskonzert "E-dur" (Krebs 172)" |
| Publisher, Year: | In order to cite the publisher, listed are the city where the edition is published followed by publisher name and the year of publication. Example: "München : G. Henle, c2005." |
| Publisher number: | This is a publisher's number, which the publisher by itself assigns to the edition. It is usually located on the title page or sometime inside the edition. |
| Editor: | The name of the person who edited the music and shaped the edition before it was printed. |
| Form : | The form of the piece. Example: Concertos, Sonatas, etc. |
| Edition format: | Here you will find a format of the edition, whether it be a Solo with piano, the full score, the miniature score or something else. Example: "(Double bass) -Solo with piano." |
| Piano Key - Solo Key | This is not a standard cataloging entry, but here it will be of great service to those who wish to orient themselves in variety of editions and their respective keys that are so peculiar to the Viennese tuning. The piano key indicates the key in which the pianist performs, the solo key indicates the key in which the soloist performs mentally - the sounding key will obviously be different and will have to match the piano key! |
| Notes: | This section lists every peculiarity of the edition and compares it to the other editions where necessary. In certain respects it may contain some critical or praising attributes, but it is generally designed to be neutral and crafted so that it presents as much useful data to performer as possible. |
| Edition reviews: | This is also not a standard cataloging entry, yet to the audience of this site it may be a helpful link to the other qualified opinions on a particular edition. |
"AACR2" stands for Anglo American Cataloging Rules - Version 2. This is a huge manual on how to catalogue almost anything - including the printed music. Universally used in all American libraries it is indispensable for professional cataloging.
Posted: May 24, 2009