Dickinson classification

The Dickinson classification is a library classification scheme used to catalogue and classify musical compositions. It was developed by George Sherman Dickinson (1886–1964), and published in 1938.^[1] It is used by many music libraries, primarily those at Vassar^[2] and Columbia Universities.

It is also recorded, albeit incompletely, by Carol June Bradley in The Dickinson Classification for Music, published in 1972.^[3]

Class 000 – Miscellaneous

000 Several or special classes

010 Manuscripts
020 Incunabula, rare editions
030 Facsimiles
040 Monuments (Denkmäler)
050 Collected works of one composer
- 055 Thematic catalogues
060 Partial collections, several classes, of one composer
070 Methods, tutors, etc., with some text
080 Other miscellaneous
090 Historical collections compiled to illustrate the history of music or some phase of it

Classes 100–600 – Instrumental

100 Keyboard

110 Clavier, i.e. piano, harpsichord, clavichord, and virginal
120 Clavier duos, trios, etc.
150 Organ

200 Bowed strings

210 Violin and piano
220 Viola and piano
230 Violoncello and piano
240 Double bass and piano

300 Winds

310 Flute or recorder and piano
320 Oboe or English horn and piano
330 Clarinet and piano
340 Bassoon and piano
350 Horn and piano
360 Trumpet and piano
370 Trombone and piano

400 Plucked strings, percussion, mechanical and miscellaneous instruments

Plucked strings

410 Harp
421 Guitar
431 Mandolin
450 Lute

Percussion

460 Percussion

Mechanical and miscellaneous instruments

470 Solely electronic music, musique concrète
480 Electronic music in combination with conventional instruments

500 Chamber ensembles

520 Bowed string ensembles
530 Wind ensembles^[a]
540 Plucked string with percussion
550 Bowed string and wind ensembles

600 Orchestral ensembles

610 Full orchestra
620 String orchestra
630 Band or wind orchestra
650 Chamber orchestra
680 Concerti
- 685 Double, triple, etc., concerti
- 689 Concerti grossi

Classes 700–900 – Vocal (with or without instruments)

700 Vocal solo and solo ensembles

710 Voice solo and 1 instrument, secular
750 Voice solo and 1 instrument, sacred
780 Folk music

800 Choral ensembles

810 Secular choral works
850 Sacred choral works
880 Liturgic choral works

900 Dramatic ensembles

Notes

^ Such as woodwind quartets or wind quintets; not to be confused with 630 Band or wind orchestra, which may also be referred to as wind ensembles.

References

^ Dickinson, George Sherman (1938). Classification of musical compositions; a decimal-symbol system. Poughkeepsie, NY: Vassar College.
^ Canino, Sarah. "Libraries: The George Sherman Dickinson Music Library: Musical Score call numbers". library.vassar.edu. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
^ Bradley, Carol June (1972). "The Dickinson Classification for Music". Fontes Artis Musicae. 19 (1/2): 13–22. ISSN 0015-6191.

External links

Classification of Musical Compositions: A Decimal-Symbol System

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[4] Such as woodwind quartets or wind quintets; not to be confused with 630 Band or wind orchestra, which may also be referred to as wind ensembles.

[1] Dickinson, George Sherman (1938). Classification of musical compositions; a decimal-symbol system. Poughkeepsie, NY: Vassar College.

[2] Canino, Sarah. "Libraries: The George Sherman Dickinson Music Library: Musical Score call numbers". library.vassar.edu. Retrieved 2023-08-02.

[3] Bradley, Carol June (1972). "The Dickinson Classification for Music". Fontes Artis Musicae. 19 (1/2): 13–22. ISSN 0015-6191.

[1]