More information on call numbers in the Music Library

Here are the most common call number subject letters that you will find in the Music Library:

GV = Dance

M = Music score

ML = Music Literature

MT = Music Teaching or Music Theory 

RM = Recorded Music  (i.e., audio recordings) 

Please note that although these are the primary subject letters found in the Music Library, they are not the only subject letters found in the music library.   Books with "odd" call letters are shelved alphabetically around the more common items.   

Hence, a book with the call number BL627.O43 2005 would be shelved BEFORE the books with GV call letters.  (Because B comes before G alphabetically.) 

And a book with the call number PN1992.M87 B58 2019 would be shelved AFTER the books with MT call letters.  (Because P comes after M alphabetically.) 

NOTE: Occasionally, you will encounter items whose LCC call number subject letters fall outside of the categories above and will be filed alphabetically in relation to more common subject letters.   For example, a book with the call number DG812.4.N53 would be shelved before items with GV call numbers because D comes before G alphabetically.    Similarly, a book with the call number N72.C58 T46 would be shelved after items with MT call numbers because N comes after M alphabetically. 

Here is a CD call number: 

RM                        (RM = Recorded Music)

1001                     (1001 = class number for symphonies) 

.B4                        (.B4 = cutter number for Beethoven) 

op. 125                 (opus 125 = Beethoven's 9th Symphony) 

1984                     (date = year this CD was issued) 

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Start at the top of the call number and proceed element by element.  Numbers following the decimal point ARE decimal numbers.  Add imaginary zeroes to the end of a number, for example .B14 would come BEFORE .B4 (.B40)

Opus numbers are whole numbers, not decimals. 

A date is also treated like a whole number.  

The first three elements above are pretty predictable, but element 4 can contain a variety of designations that need to be interfiled with similar call numbers.   

Always group identical opus numbers composer numbers together in date order.  For example: 

NOTHING COMES BEFORE SOMETHING: is a good rule to remember when you have a call number that does not have an opus number.  For example,  RM1001.B4 1992 would go BEFORE RM1001 op. 125 1984.   

The item without an opus number goes before something with an opus number on the shelf. 

Sometimes a call number will contain a volume number, labeled v.1, v.2, etc. 

These are shelved in whole number numerical order within a set of items.

So this score (call # M1816.K67 2017 v. 1) is shelved first: 

and this one (call # M1816.K67 2017 v.2)  is shelved second: 

A call number will contain a copy number if there are multiple copies of the same book on the shelf,  labeled c.1, c.2, etc.   These are shelved in whole number order. 

Thus, this score (call # M1619.N82 B2): 

is shelved BEFORE this one (call # M1619.N82 B2 c.2): 

Sometimes music books come with a CD containing musical samples, backing tracks to practice with, etc.  

We shelve these types of CDs in a container that is shelved next to the book that it goes with. 

These supplementary CDs will have the same call number as the book with which they are paired BUT with the designation "supp." at the bottom of the call number label, so that users know the two things go together.  

This book (call # MT239.S36 2009): 

goes with a CD supplement that has a call # of MT239.S26 2009 supp. 

Reference book call numbers work the way other call numbers do, except that they add REF. to the call number label to let you know they belong with the other reference items.  

Here's a sample of what that might look like: 

REF.

ML

100

.J29

To learn more about Reference materials, go here. 

Opus is a Latin word that means "work". It is often abbreviated as op.  

Opus numbers are frequently used for numbering a composer's works. 

This numbering can give a rough idea of the order in which works were published, but not always. 

Sometimes they are created by the composer themselves, sometimes by a publisher.  

When found in a call number, opus numbers are treated as whole numbers, not decimals.  

In addition to opus numbers,  you will sometimes see catalog numbers created by music editors that work just like opus numbers.   

The most common are: 

K.  or KV. numbers (for works by Mozart).   

The K stands for Köchel catalogue. This is a chronological catalogue of compositions by Mozart, originally published by Ludwig von Köchel in 1862. 

(Portrait of Mozart by Barbara Krafft) 

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D. numbers (for works by Schubert). 

The D stands for Deutsch catalogue, and is a numbered list of all Schubert compositions compiled by Otto Erich Deutsch, first published in 1951. 

(Portrait of Schubert by Wilhelm August Rieder)

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BWV or S. numbers (for works by J.S. Bach). 

BWV stands for the German term Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis (literally "Bach works catalogue").  It's a catalogue of compositions by Bach (notice a theme here?) and it was first published in 1950 by musicologist Wolfgang Schmeider.  Sometimes BWV numbers are also indicated as Schmeider (S.)  numbers. 

(Portrait of Bach by Elias Gottlob Haussmann) 

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A few other classical composers also have these types of letter/number combinations in their call numbers.