Using Uniform Titles: Collective Titles

If you don't find the piece you are seeking using a form title or distinctive title, there may be another option.

The library owns many editions and recordings that contain multiple compositions by the same composer. Often, a particular composition will be available only in such a collection. For example, several of the Beethoven's piano sonatas will be found only in collections containing all thirty-two of his sonatas. In this and similar instances, the catalog often will not list individual pieces, and no cross reference will show you the proper uniform title to search. You must use a bit of imagination to find a collection that contains the piece you want, because, for the collection of any one composer, the uniform title may be:

1. a form collective title--for collections containing works of the same form
2. a performance medium collective title--for collections with the same performance medium
3. a general collective title--for collections with various forms and media

If you have not found your piece under its individual uniform title, ask yourself what the form of the composition is, and see if there is a collection of pieces by this composer with the same form.

1. Form collective titles consist of the form name, and--if necessary--the medium of performance.

Examples:

• Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, 1756-1791.
  Sonatas, violin, piano
  Eighteen sonatas for pianoforte and violin...
  (including works all in the same form [sonata] and performance medium [violin and piano])
  
  
• Schubert, Franz, 1797-1828.
  Songs
  Gesange: fur Singstimme mit Klavier = Songs: for voice and piano...
  (including works all of one type [song] and performance medium [voice and piano])
  
  
• Brahms, Johannes, 1833-1897.
  Concertos
  Complete concerti in full score...
  (including works all of one form [concerto], but with different solo instruments)
  

If your previous search by form was not successful, ask yourself what the medium of performance is, and see if there is a collection of pieces by the composer with the same medium of performance.

2. Performance medium collective titles consist of the name of the performance medium (instrument, voice, or instrumental group), followed by "music." The performance medium can be specific ("Piano music," "Orchestra music," etc.), or broad ("Keyboard music" if the collection includes both harpsichord and piano music, "Vocal music" if the collection includes both songs and duets,etc.).

Examples:

• Beethoven, Ludwig van, 1770-1827.
  Violin, piano music
  Complete works for violin and piano...
  (includes multiple forms [sonatas, variations, etc.] in a single performance medium [violin and piano])
  
  
• Bach, Johann Sebastian, 1685-1750.
  Organ music
  Complete organ music : a critical edition in eight volumes...
  (includes multiple forms [fugues, chorales, etc.] in a single performance medium)
  
  
• Brahms, Johannes, 1833-1897.
  Chamber music
  Complete chamber music ...
  (includes multiple forms [sonatas, variations, etc.] and multiple types of chamber groups [string quartets, sextets, etc.])
  

For collective uniform titles, form always takes precedence over performance medium. That is, if a collection contains works all of the same form, and also all of the same performance medium, the uniform title will always be based on the form.

Finally, if you haven't yet found your piece, try using a general collective title.

3. General collective titles: Some collections of a composer's works contain both instrumental and vocal music in various forms. Most often such a collection will contain all of the composer's works, will consist of several volumes, and will be intended primarily for scholarly study rather than for use in performance. It sometimes happens that the composition you want is available only in such a collection. The collective uniform title for collections of a composer's complete works consists of the single word "Works."

Two examples:

1. Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, 1756-1791.
   Works
   Neue Ausgabe samtlicher Werke = New edition of the complete works...
   (includes operas, symphonies, songs, sonatas, etc.)
   
   
2. Joplin, Scott, 1868-1917.
   Works
   The complete works of Scott Joplin...
   (includes operas, piano rags, etc.)
   

The collection of a composer's complete works usually consists of many volumes, and the title pages and contents pages often are in a foreign language. If you suspect that the composition you want can be found only in such a collection, you may want to ask a library staff member to help you locate the particular volume and pages that you need.

Practice what you have learned