Music Library Association Best Practices for authorized access point for musical work
Prerecording
Prerecording
Before constructing an authorized access point representing a musical work, first determine the creators of the musical work, if any. For guidance in determining the creators for a musical work, see Work: creator agent of work.
If no creator can be determined (for example, in the case of an anonymous work) and instructions state to construct an access point by adding an agent access point to the preferred title of the work, instead record only the preferred title of the work. Make any additions to the title as instructed if necessary to avoid conflict.
Recording
Recording
Record as a structured description.
Recording an unstructured description
Recording a structured description
Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option by using an access point established in the LC/NACO Authority file. If no authorized form has been established in the LC/NACO Authority file, apply the option by (1) establishing a value of Work: access point for work as the authorized form in the LC/NACO Name Authority file, and/or (2) Recording a value of Work: access point for work on a bibliographic record.
Option
LC/PCC practice: Do not apply the option
Option
Apply the LC-PCC PS string encoding schemes.
Basis of authorized access point for musical works
Option
LC/PCC practice: Form an authorized access point for a musical work using an appropriate string encoding scheme.
For a single part of a work, the base authorized access point is the preferred title of musical work for the whole work, followed by the preferred title of musical work of the part.
For a work that plans to aggregate multiple parts of a musical work, the base authorized access point is the preferred title of the musical work for the whole work, followed by the term Selections.
Including a value for medium of performance in an authorized access point for a musical work
Option
LC/PCC practice: Include values of Work: medium of performance of musical content of representative expression if a preferred title of musical work consists solely of one or more types of composition or if values of Work: medium of performance of musical content of representative expression are needed to distinguish an access point from another access point.
Use LCMPT terms in an authorized access point, adjusting the form to plural if needed according to Exceptions to including a value for medium of performance in an authorized access point for musical work .
Record terms in this order:
- voices
- keyboard instrument if there is more than one non-keyboard instrument
- the other instruments in score order
- continuo.
For a work for solo instrument or instruments and accompanying ensemble or ensembles, add the terms for the solo instrument or instruments followed by the term for the accompanying ensemble or ensembles.
For a work with a Work: preferred title of musical work that is the English word "Melody" or "Melodies" or their cognates in another language (including French) and a value of Work: medium of performance of musical content of representative expression is not for solo voice and keyboard stringed instrument, add the Work: medium of performance of musical content of representative expression, following the options at Exceptions to including a value for medium of performance in an authorized access point for musical work .
Apply the options and policy statements for adding values of Work: medium of performance of musical content of representative expression to an authorized access point at Exceptions to including a value for medium of performance in an authorized access point for musical work .
Exceptions to including a value for medium of performance in an authorized access point for musical work
Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
If there are two or more works by the same composer with the same preferred title and the medium of performance is unknown but the number of parts is known, record the number of parts following the term performers in an authorized access point.
For a work with a Work: preferred title of musical work: Anglo-American legacy instructions that is a Latin liturgical word or phrase (e.g., "Gloria," "Salve Regina," "Te Deum") in most cases do not add a value of Work: medium of performance of musical content of representative expression to a base authorized access point.
If a composer wrote more than one work of a particular type of composition that is for or includes various keyboard stringed instruments, use the one that predominates in the works of that type when adding the medium of performance. If no predominant instrument is apparent, use the term keyboard instrument.
For a work with a Work: preferred title of musical work: Anglo-American legacy instructions that is the French "Mélodie" or "Mélodies" and a value of Work: medium of performance of musical content of representative expression is for solo voice and keyboard stringed instrument, consider Work: medium of performance of musical content of representative expression to be implied and do not add it to a base authorized access point.
Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option to record the term in the plural. Always supply the number of parts if more than one for a particular instrument or voice, even if the number is implicit in the preferred title.
Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Option
LC/PCC practice: Refer to the individual options for policy decisions.
Pasticcios, ballad operas, etc.
Pasticcios, ballad operas, etc.
LC/PCC practice: For music especially composed for a pasticcio, ballad opera, etc. or for a single excerpt from a pasticcio, ballad opera, etc., form a base authorized access point by using an appropriate string encoding scheme. Apply the options and policy statements in this section for other categories of pasticcios, ballad operas, etc.
Previously existing compositions
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Do not include a value of Agent: access point for agent for any of the composers.
Compilations of excerpts
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Do not add Selections for a compilation of excerpts from a single pasticcio, ballad opera, etc.
Single excerpt
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Adaptations of musical works
Adaptations of musical works
The fact that a performer is prominently named in a resource is not in itself sufficient justification for deeming that their performance involves substantial creativity for adaptation, improvisation, etc.
LC/PCC practice: For adaptations of musical works, form a base authorized access point by using an appropriate string encoding scheme. Apply the guidance and options in this section as applicable.
Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Cadenzas
Cadenzas
LC/PCC practice: For cadenzas, form a base authorized access point by using an appropriate string encoding scheme. Apply the guidance and options in this section as applicable.
Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Additional elements and designations in authorized access points for musical works
Additional elements and designations in authorized access points for musical works
LC/PCC practice: Apply the guidance and options for making additions in this section.
Do not make further additions to an authorized access point when one or more instrumental parts for a work or a compilation of works by one composer are published separately. Use the same authorized access point that would be used for a score or a complete set of parts.
If a composer also created the libretto for a dramatic musical work and the libretto is manifested separately as a literary work, distinguish the literary work from the musical work with (Libretto), but do not make an addition to the access point for the musical work.
Preferred title of musical work
Record a value that includes, in this order:
- a value of Work: medium of performance of musical content of representative expression
- a value of Work: numeric designation of musical work
- a value of Work: key of representative expression
Make other additions if needed to distinguish the access point from another access point.
Use cataloger's judgment in choosing the most appropriate values of elements listed at the options here or at Work:access point for work. Additional elements and designations in access points for work to include in an authorized access point for a musical work unless other policy statements apply.
Authorized access points for parts
Make additions as instructed here.
Authorized access points for aggregating works that include a collective title and the term Selections
Make additions as instructed here.
Option
Apply the option only if, after making any appropriate additions specified here, additional distinguishing characteristics are still required to prevent conflict.
Option
Consult Thematic Indexes Used in Library of Congress NACO Authority Files and the LC Name Authority File record for the composer to determine which numbering scheme is preferred for use in authorized access points. Prefer thematic index numbers to opus and serial numbers when an entry for the composer in this list indicates that the thematic index number is for use in authorized access points; do not add a serial number and/or opus number if a thematic index number is added.
If neither this list nor the authority record for the composer gives sufficient guidance, consult the LC Name Authority File and bibliographic file (in that order of preference) to determine if a pattern exists for authorized access points for works by that composer. In cases of doubt or conflict, prefer information in the NAR. If no guidance or pattern is available, use whichever numeric designation is readily ascertainable.
LC/PCC practice: Record a value of Work: serial number of musical work in an authorized access point if works with the same title and the same medium of performance are consecutively numbered in music reference sources.
Record a serial number if works with the same title for different media are consecutively numbered in music reference sources if the medium of performance is omitted from the authorized access point per Exceptions to including a value for medium of performance in an authorized access point for musical work .
Condition Option
Apply the option. Follow LC-PCC practice for additional elements in access points.
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option only if all other alternatives for additions have been exhausted.
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Include a value of Work: medium of performance of musical content of representative expression if an authorized access point is for an aggregating work that is an incomplete compilation of works for a single type of composition for a specific medium of performance. Include the other listed values if required to distinguish the access point from other access points.
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Condition Option
Apply the option. Note that it is unlikely that a date or place of origin will serve to distinguish one part of a work from another part of the same work.
Recording an identifier
Recording an IRI
Document Date: 2025/07/12
Document: https://access.rdatoolkit.org/en-US_ala-e0fde746-2972-3cec-a907-a4083339f887