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Friedheim AV Call numbers

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Friedheim AV Call numbers

The Arthur Friedheim Library's Sound Recording Classification was devised by David Sommerfield, AV Librarian, 1970-1976.

Music classifications are geared to the user as performer who needs quick access to the printed music for his instrument or ensemble.  Hence, printed music is classified by medium.  In academic libraries sound recordings are used differently from printed music: the listener almost always is looking for a specific work.  Therefore, the present scheme is designed for treating the material like literature with the authors (composers) as the first classifying element.

The sub-class outlined in the following schedule is overall in the order of the Library of Congress Class M Schedule with fewer numbers.  This was accomplished by

    1. a slight broadening of the class in some areas
    2. the deletion of numbers for arrangements and piano vocal scores, and
    3. eliminating most numbers for collections.

Arrangements are handled in two ways:

    1. if composer-generated, the work is treated as original; and
    2. if not, it is shelved after the original with an "a" usually affixed to the element for the piece in the call number.

Composers are arranged alphabetically in a list from A2-Z.  Each composer is assigned a letter and a number which together work as an alphanumeric decimal number.  Thus  A44 comes before A5  but after A418.  For example

    • B4          Beethoven
    • B43        Bellini
    • B444      Benda
    • B45        Benjamin, Arthur
    • B452      Benjamin, Thomas
    • B46        Berg
    • B5          Berlioz

Numbers beginning with A1 are reserved for miscellaneous collections and anthologies of music.

The initial Letter/number combination is followed by a decimal point and a three digit extension standing for the kind of music.   Thus one way of browsing the recordings we have of Beethoven piano concertos is by scanning the AV call numbers  beginning with B4.217.  Other examples
    • B4.010     Piano music
    • B4.050     Sonatas, violin & piano
    • B4.145     String quartets
    • B4.211     Symphonies
    • B4.805     Masses

Note also that the extension at the end of an AV call number can tell what kind of material the recording is.  If there is no extension, the recording is a long playing record; VC means a video cassette recording; CD, CD-ROM, DVD are all self-explanatory.

 
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