What is a Uniform Title? In library terminology, a Uniform Title brings like-items together in the catalog and on the shelf. In music, this is especially important as the same musical score or recording can have very different titles. For example, look at the following titles from COAST for the same Tchaikovsky symphony:
How would you find all forms of the Tchaikovsky 6th symphony when the titles are so different? By use of the Uniform Title. The Uniform Title is included in such works so the user can find all versions of that work. The titles above represent what is printed on either the score or recording which can vary depending on where it is published. Now look at the same entries with the Uniform Title included:
Each individual title has the same Uniform Title which identifies each entry as being the same work. In addition, the Uniform Title in the COAST catalog is a clickable link which will bring you to all of the versions of that work that the library owns.
Uniform Titles are used for musical forms (concerto, symphony, etc.), genres (mazurka, ballade, fantasia, etc.), and chamber music (trio, sextet, etc.). They are also used for distinctive titles such as a composition titled by the composer: Messiah, Galántai táncok (Dances of Galanta), etc. The distinctive title used in a Uniform Title is always given in the original language.
They are also used for collective titles. In this case, the Uniform Title would identify the form of the music in this way:
Uniform titles are used for most musical scores and recordings. Most music books have unique titles and therefore have no need of the uniform title.
Searching COAST for music using Uniform Titles
First, do a Keywords/Words search using the composer's name and a distinctive word from the title, i.e., BWV 589, Figaro, "Surprise", "Jupiter", etc. If you are searching for a common form such as symphony, concerto, etc., truncate the word by adding an asterisk (*) after the beginning of the word (symphon*, concert*). This will retrieve both the singular and plural of the word. If you want only scores or only recordings, limit your search by choosing a Material Type (MUSIC SCORES or SOUND RECORD):
Choose one of the entries that seems to match what you are looking for:
Next, click on the Uniform Title in that record:
/p>
The resulting screen will contain an highlighted entry which you can then click to bring you a list of everything in the catalog matching that Uniform Title:
WARNING: Uniform Titles are not perfect but they are the best method we have to try and bring together like-items with differing titles.
For more information on Uniform Titles see:
Principles of Music Uniform Titles
Making the Most of the Music Library: Using Uniform Titles
Content maintained by Leslie Andersen, Arts Librarian
