Using Uniform Titles: Form Titles

Many musical works have titles that are the names of forms or types of compositions ("sonatas," "concertos," "symphonies," and so forth). In these cases, the name of the form of the work is the first word of the uniform title. In the introductory Mozart concerto examples on the previous page, you saw that each uniform title began with the word "Concertos":

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, 1756-1791.
Concertos, piano, orchestra, K. 488, A major
Concerto in A major for piano, K. 488 ....

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, 1756-1791.
Concertos, piano, orchestra, K. 488, A major
Konzert A Dur, K. 488, für Klavier...

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, 1756-1791.
Concertos, piano,orchestra, K. 488, A major
Piano concerto in A major, K. 488....

Note: The plural form (e.g., "concertos") is used if the composer wrote more than one work in the form. This will be the case for most searches you will do. Even if you are looking for a single concerto, the uniform title usually begins with the plural form.

Other form names commonly used in uniform titles are:

Duets...(or "Trios", "Quartets",etc.)
Etudes...
Fugues...
Masses...
Preludes...
Quartets...
Sonatas...
Suites...
Symphonies...
Variations...

If a work is a form of composition, the uniform title is created as follows:

Form + Instruments + Numbers + Key (F.I.N.K.)

For example:
Quartets, strings, K. 156, G major
Fugues, organ, BWV 575, C minor

The uniform title begins with the name of the form, followed by the performance medium (instruments or voices):

Form and Performance Mediums in Uniform Titles
Correct	Incorrect
Quartets, strings, no. 3	String quartets, no. 3
Sonatas, flute, piano	Flute, piano sonatas
Concertos, piano, orchestra	Piano concertos
Variations, piano	Piano variations

Sometimes the medium of performance is implied by the name of the form. For example, "Symphonies" implies performance by an orchestra; "Songs" implies performance by a solo voice with keyboard accompaniment. In such cases the names of the performing instruments or voices are omitted from the uniform title:

Implied Performance Mediums in Uniform Titles
Correct	Incorrect
Symphonies, no. 5	Symphonies, orchestra, no. 5
Songs	Songs, voice, piano
Chorale preludes	Chorale preludes, organ

After the form and the performance medium, appropriate number(s) and key (tonality) are added if required to identify the individual composition. Numbering may be sequential ("Symphonies, no. 3") or may be a number scheme associated with a particular composer's works.

Schubert, Franz, 1797-1828.
Quartets, strings, D.173, G minor

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, 1756-1791.
Concertos, piano, orchestra, K. 488, A major

Beethoven, Ludwig van, 1770-1827.
Symphonies, no. 5, op. 67, C minor

Warning! Some compositions that have form titles are also known by popular, descriptive names, like Beethoven's "Moonlight" Sonata for piano or Haydn's "Surprise" Symphony. Such a name is not used as a uniform title unless it is the composer's own, original title for the work. Don't be fooled. A cross reference in the catalog often will lead you from the popular title to the correct uniform title, as in the following examples:

Beethoven, Ludwig Van, 1770-1827
Moonlight -- see Sonatas, piano, no. 14, op. 27, no. 2, C# minor

Haydn, Joseph, 1732-1809
Surprise symphony -- see Symphonies, H. I, 94, G major

If you remember the order of the elements of a form-type uniform title, you shouldn't go wrong.

• Form name
• Instrument(s) and/or voice(s)
• Number(s) (opus or other number)
• Key

Practice what you have learned