Music Library Association Best Practices for format of notated music
Prerecording
Prerecording
Routinely record the element.
LC/PCC Core.
LC/PCC practice: See the Metadata Guidance documentation: Expressions.
Recording
Recording
In MARC: Record as a structured description using field 348 subfield $a. Provide additional clarifying information as an unstructured description in field 500 if deemed useful for identification or selection. Record as an identifier using field 008 bytes 20-21 or 006 bytes 03-04.
Recording a structured description
Option
For scores for two pianists and/or 4 hands with primo and secondo parts appearing on facing pages, routinely record the term "score" (or a narrower term for a more specific type of score, if applicable). In MARC, record the selected term in 300 $a and 348 $a, and record the corresponding code for FMus. If useful for identification and selection, optionally include an unstructured description with details of the physical layout (i.e. MARC 500: "Primo and secondo parts on facing pages."). Apply the term "study score" if a term or phrase such as "study score" or "Studienpartitur" is present on the resource and/or if the notation is reduced in size so as to make it unlikely to be intended for use in performance. If a determination cannot be made based on the above criteria, apply the broader term "score".LC/PCC practice: Cataloger's judgment. Apply the option instead of or in addition to applying the option to record a term from another appropriate vocabulary encoding scheme.
LC/PCC practice: Record as many terms as are appropriate to the resource.
Option
LC/PCC practice: Cataloger's judgment. Apply the option instead of or in addition to applying the option to record a term from the RDA vocabulary encoding scheme.
LC/PCC practice: Record as many terms as are appropriate to the resource from the LC Linked Data Service or another appropriate vocabulary encoding scheme.
Option
In MARC: If recording a term from the recommended vocabulary encoding scheme, indicate the source of information using the $2 code rdafnm.
Condition Option
Apply the option as a last recourse.
Recording an identifier
Option
In MARC: Generally do not apply the option unless directed by local policy.
Option
In MARC: Generally do not apply the option in field 348 unless directed by local policy.
In field 008 or 006, use only the following MARC values:
- b - Full score, miniature or study size
- c - Accompaniment reduced for keyboard [instrumental music only; use value h for chorus scores, k for vocal scores]
- h - Chorus score
- i - Condensed score [use this value for close scores]
- j - Performer-conductor part [use this value for piano conductor parts, etc.]
- k - Vocal score [use value h for chorus scores]
- l - Score [also use this value for scores for piano, 4 hands with the primo and secondo parts on facing pages]
- m - Multiple score formats
- u - Unknown
- z - Other [use this value for choir books, parts, piano scores, and table books]
Option
In MARC: Generally do not apply the option unless directed by local policy.
Recording an IRI
Document Date: 2026/10/09
Document: https://stage.rdatoolkit.org/en-US_ala-74aa36da-c080-3d69-84ef-515649e50d66