MLA BP
Music Library Association Best Practices for Music Cataloging Using RDA and MARC 21 for Chapter 7: Describing Content
MLA BP for 7.2![](images/rdalink.png)
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NATURE OF THE CONTENT
MLA recommendation: Make a note describing the genre/form of one or more of the works or expressions embodied in the resource if deemed useful for identification or selection (i.e., if the work or expression is not adequately described by the title or by using appropriate genre/form or subject headings).
Notes may be constructed stating both genre/form and medium of performance (see 7.21
), especially if compilations of diverse works can be thus described more concisely than by giving the elements separately.
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EXAMPLE
500 | Comic intermezzo in 2 acts. |
500 | Motet for soprano solo and orchestra. |
500 | The 1st work a pantomime with music, for solo voices (ST), chorus (SATB), 4 pianos, and percussion; the 2nd work a concerto scenica for solo voices, chorus and orchestra. |
MLA BP for 7.7![](images/rdalink.png)
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INTENDED AUDIENCE
MLA recommendation: Follow
. If applying this element, routinely encode 008/22. Additionally, make a note in a 521 field if deemed useful for identification or selection.
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EXAMPLE
008/22 | j |
521 1_ | 2-9. |
521 8_ | Parental advisory, explicit content. |
MLA BP for 7.9![](images/rdalink.png)
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DISSERTATION OR THESIS INFORMATION
MLA BP for 7.9.1.3![](images/rdalink.png)
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RECORDING DISSERTATION OR THESIS INFORMATION
MLA BP for 7.11![](images/rdalink.png)
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PLACE AND DATE OF CAPTURE
MLA recommendation: For audio and video recordings, routinely record place and date of capture if readily ascertainable, in a 518 field. If feasible, also record place and/or date of capture in a 033 field.
EXAMPLE
033 00 | 19640920 $b 4364 $c L8 |
518 __ | $o Recorded in concert $p Shrine Civic Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA $d 1964 September 20. |
033 10 | 20100822 $a 20100828 $b 7064 $c M7 |
033 00 | 20110423 $b 7064 $c M7 |
518 __ | $o Recorded $d 2010 August 22-28 $d 2011 April 23 $p 5th Studio of the Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, Moscow, Russia. |
If recording multiple places of capture in 033, encode a separate field for each place (along with associated dates). Encode multiple dates within one 033 field as either a range or, if feasible, separately.1
If an audio recording contains more than one work, and the individual works were captured on different dates and/or in different locations, record the information for each work or group of works in a separate 518.
EXAMPLE
033 10 | 19921201 $a 19921202 $b 5754 $c L7 |
033 00 | 19640706 $b 4364 $c L8:2H5 |
033 00 | 19540614 |
033 00 | 1954---- $b 4364 $c L8:2H5 |
518 __ | $3 1st-5th works $o recorded $d 1992 December 1-2 $p St. Mary's Church, Petersham, London. |
518 __ | $3 7th work $o recorded $d 1964 July 6 $p Hollywood, California. |
518 __ | $3 9th-10th works $o recorded $d 1954 June 14. |
518 __ | $3 11th work $o recorded $d 1954 $p Paramount Studios, Hollywood, California. |
See http://www.oclc.org/bibformats/en/0xx/033.html for guidance in encoding the 033 field.
MLA BP for 7.12![](images/rdalink.png)
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LANGUAGE OF THE CONTENT
MLA recommendation: Follow
, that is, routinely record language for the following linguistic content:
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a.
Text underlying printed music (scores) (008/35-37, 041 $a, 546)
b.
Sung or spoken text (audio recordings) (008/35-37, 041 $d, 546)
c.
Text presented separately (e.g., librettos) (041 $e, 500 or 546)
d.
Subtitles (041 $j, 546)
e.
Language of accompanying text (e.g., critical commentary, program notes) (041 $g, 500 or 546)
If readily ascertainable, also record:
a.
Original language of printed, sung or spoken text (041 $h, 500)
b.
Original language of printed, sung or spoken text (041 $h, 500)
c.
Original language of accompanying text (041 $m)
Routinely encode language in 008/35-37 and 041 as applicable. Optionally, explain the language content in a 546 and/or 500 field as appropriate (see mappings given in the list above), if deemed useful for identification or selection.
EXAMPLE
041 0_ | $d arm $d cau $d geo $ d tur $ e arm $e cau $e geo $e tur $g cau $g eng $g geo $g ger $g tur |
546 __ | Sung in Turkish, Georgian, Laz, Hemshin, and Mingrelian. |
500 __ | Turkish, Georgian, Laz, Hemshin and Mingrelian lyrics and notes in Turkish, English, German, Laz, and Georgian inserted in container. |
041 0_ | $d frm $d ita $d lat $e dut $e eng $e fre $e frm $e lat $e ita $n frm $n ita $n lat $g dut $g eng $g fre $g ger |
546 __ | Sung in Italian, Middle French and Latin. |
500 __ | Italian, Middle French, and Latin lyrics with French, Dutch and English translations and program notes in French, Dutch, English and German inserted in container. |
041 1_ | swe $a ger $h ice $g swe $g ger |
546 __ | Swedish and German words. |
500 __ | Text originally in Icelandic. Performance notes in Swedish and German; German translation of the text by Fritz Tutenberg. |
MLA BP for 7.12.1.3![](images/rdalink.png)
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RECORDING LANGUAGE OF THE CONTENT
MLA BP for 7.13.3![](images/rdalink.png)
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FORM OF MUSICAL NOTATION
MLA recommendation: Follow
, that is, routinely record form of musical notation and/or details of form of musical notation. Capitalize the first word of each designation of form of musical notation and/or details of form of musical notation. Encode multiple designations of form of musical notation and/or statements of details of form of musical notation in a single 546 field, in separate occurrences of $b. Encode form of musical notation and/or details of form of musical notation in a separate 546 field from language and script.
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EXAMPLE
546 | $b Tablature. |
546 | $b Staff notation; $b Tablature. |
546 | $b Verbal instructions. |
546 | $b Staff notation; $b Chord symbols; $b Guitar chord diagrams. |
Resource is a "piano-vocal-guitar" score.
546 | English, French, Italian and Azerbaijani words. |
546 | $b Staff notation. |
MLA BP for 7.13.4![](images/rdalink.png)
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FORM OF TACTILE NOTATION
MLA recommendation: Routinely record for tactile musical notation. In other cases, record form of tactile notation if deemed useful for identification or selection.
MLA BP for 7.15![](images/rdalink.png)
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ILLUSTRATIVE CONTENT
MLA BP for 7.16![](images/rdalink.png)
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SUPPLEMENTARY CONTENT
MLA BP for 7.16.1.3![](images/rdalink.png)
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RECORDING SUPPLEMENTARY CONTENT
MLA BP for 7.20![](images/rdalink.png)
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FORMAT OF NOTATED MUSIC
EXAMPLE
348 | vocal score $a piano conductor part $a part $2 rda |
In addition, encode this element in 008/20 or 006/03 ("Format of music") and 008/21 or 006/04 ("Music parts") as appropriate.
For notated music, only use the following values:
b - Full score, miniature or study size
c - Accompaniment reduced for keyboard [Use h for chorus scores and 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 h for chorus scores]
l - Score
m - Multiple score formats
u - Unknown
z - Other [Use this value for choir books, parts, piano scores, and table books]
A composer's sketches may be found in any of a number of formats; encode as appropriate.
See also extent of notated music 3.4.3
.
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MLA BP for 7.21![](images/rdalink.png)
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MEDIUM OF PERFORMANCE OF MUSICAL CONTENT
MLA recommendation: Apply this element when the medium of performance is not adequately described by the title or by using controlled vocabularies. Potential applications include, but are not limited to:
Specific choral parts (e.g., SATB)
Key and/or range of specific instruments
Original medium of work of which an arrangement is being cataloged
Alternative medium specified in the resource
Presence/absence of figured bass and realization of a continuo part
“Hybrid” notes may be constructed stating both genre/form (see 7.2
) and medium of performance, especially if compilations of diverse works can be thus described more concisely than by giving the elements separately.
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EXAMPLE
500 | Motet for soprano solo and orchestra. |
500 | The 1st work a pantomime with music, for solo voices (ST), chorus (SATB), 4 pianos, and percussion; the 2nd work a concerto scenica for solo voices, chorus and orchestra. |
500 | 2nd work originally for voice and piano, arranged for soprano and orchestra. |
MLA BP for 7.22.1.3![](images/rdalink.png)
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RECORDING DURATION
MLA recommendation: When recording total playing time, running time, etc., encode in 300 $a and 306. If recording duration for each work/expression in a resource embodying multiple works/expressions, encode total duration in 300 $a and durations of the individual works/expressions in a 500 or 505 note, and/or a 306 field.
EXAMPLE
300 | 1 audio disc (1 hr., 30 min.) |
306 | 013000 |
MLA BP for 7.22.1.4![](images/rdalink.png)
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DURATION OF COMPONENT PARTS
MLA recommendation: Apply the alternative.
EXAMPLE
300 __ | 1 audio disc (1:15:29) |
505 0_ | Songs of life and death, op. 69 (46:55) -- The iron age suite, op. 55 (28:23). |
For audio recordings, record durations of all works/expressions embodied in the resource if feasible. Encode in a 500 or 505 note, and/or a 306 field.
EXAMPLE
306 __ | 003906 $a 002138 $a 004825 $a 002337 |
505 00 | $g Disc 1. $t Raga jhinjhoti $g (39:06) ; $t Raga khamaj $g (21:38) -- $g Disc 2. $t Raga bihag $g (48:25) ; $t Raga pancham se gara $g (23:37). |
306 __ | 000941 $a 001600 $a 002400 |
500 __ | Durations: 09:41; 16:00; 24:00. |