Edward Piercy

Naming Conventions in Classical Music

Monday, November 23, 2009 7:40:27 PM

Bach's Sonata for solo violin No. 1 in g minor, BWV 1001 (Adagio).

In the comments to one of Pam's posts a commentator brought up the
subject of naming conventions in classical music.

"This reminds me of something that annoys that crap out of me. The weird song titles of most Classical music ... WHY would anyone give a flip in what Key these songs are played? I certainly don't. I mean, you didn't hear the Doobie Brothers titling a song - Listen to the Music in E Major. Chicago didn't title their classic - Colour My World in F Major 7. They just stuck to the nitty gritty."

I thought I would take a little time to explain why that is, to the best
of my ability at least.

What we know today as "classical" music (as opposed to folk or popular
music) has a long history dating back to at least medieval times. Across
the years conventions arose as to naming particular works. The history
isn't exactly a linear one nor is it consistent. "It is the way it is."

Let me start out with a kind of well-known benchmark here -- the works
of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). Back in Bach's day those who wrote
music generally wrote some work or another in return for payment in the
form of cash or a gift. Some composers, if they were lucky, found positions
with wealthy aristocrats where they would be expected to produce music
for the pleasure of the aristocrat. Bach held several of these "paying jobs"
throughout his life.

In Bach's day there was only a minimal publishing industry (printing
was very expensive then) and of course no recording industry. The common
practice for a composer was to compose a work, perform it, then take the
sheet music and put it on a shelf or whatever in case it needed to be
performed later. Sometimes the composer would write some sort of title
across the top of the music to identify it. But while there was a
tendency for composers of songs to just write the song title, the bulk
of classical music in Bach's day was either instrumental or instrumental
with vocal (masses, cantatas, oratorios). So if the work was given a
title at all it was just given something like Sonata in D. The reason for
including the key being that one composer might write a whole bunch of
sonatas etc., so it was necessary to distinguish them from each other.
That was basically the first naming convention, then: The type of work
and its key. Bach tended to be very detailed about titles (if he bothered
to write them at all), perhaps because he was so prolific.

After Bach many composers started adding numbers to the work in order
to distinguish it from other works. This was mainly due to the growing
publishing industry, who needed to keep track of things more neatly for
their catalogues. Beethoven, for example wrote more than one piano
sonata in the key of B-flat -- his 11th piano sonata and his 29th. So
that was the next step really, and thus we get Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat.

Somewhere at that same time composers started distinguishing their works
be assigning so-called "Opus numbers" to them. "Opus" is just the Italian
word for "work," a composition. Music publication also figured into this.
So then we end up with something like Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat Op. 106.
It should be mentioned that the assignment of some of these didn't have
anything to do with the order of composition of the work.

Now things get even more involved. Sometimes a composer would write a
dedication line or some phrase below the title that eventually entered
into the name of the work. And sometimes the work was simply given an
"affectionate" title by the listening public or a publisher. The
"Emperor Concerto," for example, Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 in
E-flat Op. 73, was titled such by one of Beethoven's publishers. This
tradition continues today in several ways. If you say "the Emperor"
every classical music fan knows what you are talking about. So in a
sense some classical works of the past actually are known by simpler
titles such as you find in contemporary songs. But the vast majority
of the music of the past does not carry this type of title.

Now things get a bit more complicated still. As I mentioned a lot of
the music of Bach's day or earlier wasn't published. And there was a
tendency for a while for music to be forgotten about after a composer's
death. But eventually this music, such as Bach, was rediscovered and
pulled off the shelves where the sheets had been gathering dust. And
eventually the works of one composer or another were catalogued by music
historians. Bach's complete works (or at least all the ones that have
been discovered to this point) were catalogued in the mid-20th century
by Wolfgang Schmieder. Thus Bach's compositions now also have BWV
numbers, which is short for Bach Werke Verzeichnis (Bach Works Catalogue).
Mozart's works were catalogued by Ludwig Köchel; and so we now have
Piano Sonata No. 10 in C major K. 330.

I'm leaving out a few minor things in terms of clarity, but that's
basically it. Though the naming conventions of classical music may seem
kind of crazy, that is how it evolved and that is how it continues
today. Classical musicians tend to start very early, and quickly get
used to the namings. And music listeners soon grow used to it also.

And by the way, next February I will be going to see Valentina Lisitsa
play Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in c minor, Op. 18. Which is
known pretty much universally among classical music fans as "the Rack
2." Why isn't it called "the Rock 2", which would be closer to the
pronunciation of Rachmaninoff's name? Well perhaps something to do
with regional accents, but really I don't know. "It is the way it is."

My thanks to Pam and Suntana for the interesting dialogue.

Invasion of the Bee Girls 2A Wonderful Gift

Comments

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Darkogdare # Monday, November 23, 2009 7:50:38 PM

Thanks for explanation. It is weird that I never asked myself what BWV mens; I have Bach`s Concertos BWV 1052, BWV 1055 and BWV 1056 recorded on one of the tapes, but never really thought of it

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Monday, November 23, 2009 7:54:45 PM

Yeah, it's sort of takes getting used to. Vivaldi also has a catalogue, as does Schubert. And probably a few more that slip my mind. Oh -- Domenico Scarlatti.

And Haydn.

PainterWoman # Monday, November 23, 2009 8:40:23 PM

Very interesting Ed. I had no idea. I just figured they were so creative to begin with, and couldn't understand why they didn't come up with a more creative name. I'm so glad music historians have managed to gather up, save and categorize so many works. But I wonder how many classical music pieces were lost permanently in the dust. Probably thousands.

Of course, there are artists who paint many paintings of the same thing and title it say "Haystack No. 3" or something like that. Or, simply put "untitled". Now THAT drives me crazy, I guess because I can come up with a name at the drop of a hat.

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Monday, November 23, 2009 8:58:47 PM

" But I wonder how many classical music pieces were lost permanently in the dust. Probably thousands."

Yeah, totally. And even the ones we have so many of them haven't been recorded. Or at least are never playes.

"untitled"

Ha! There are some of Rothko's like that, was just looking at some of them yesterday. And he did the "No. 1" thing too. But I think I almost perfer that to him naming them after the colors involved -- "Red Brown Black", "Four Reds on Black", "Black Blue" etc. etc. etc. I get them all confused that way. If he actually just had numbered all of them, it would be a lot easier.

Maybe some art historian should catalog them -- Rothko P.52, Rothko P.129.

PainterWoman # Monday, November 23, 2009 9:11:14 PM

I'd prefer the numbering instead of "untitled".

I don't mind the color naming too much. I've done that a couple of times. I've got one in my art album called "Red Yello Black" (I left the w off of yellow purposely and I have no idea why). But then I think someone mentioned it looked like scrambled eggs so I might change the name to that.

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Monday, November 23, 2009 9:23:41 PM

"Oh yeah, Scrambled Eggs. I love that one!"

Yeah the 'untitled' gets extremely confusing.

Suntana # Monday, November 23, 2009 9:46:00 PM

:::Said in Steve Urkel voice:::
Did I do that?

Okay, it certainly makes sense what they were doing with the various elements of the titles. Still though, Wooooooo! Very inefficient titling schemes.

IMO, the constant with the various titling schemes is that they all conveyed a cold, expressionless, generic, Cookie Cutter, Robotic feel to them.

I must admit though, these titling schemes are reminiscent of some of my File Naming schemes for images and elements in my Blog Designs. When I'm on a project, I'll be coming up with various distinctly different prototypes. So, to distinguish between them all, I'll give them File Names like:
SBT 240 FFCC00 15Noise Pillow Emboss Header
SBT 240 FFCC00 15Noise Sharp Header

The SBT is of course, Suntana's Blog Trek.
The 240 is the vertical Height in pixels.
The FFCC00 is the Border's Hexadecimal Color Code.
The 15Noise is the Noise (Speckles) Setting I used.
The Pillow Emboss is the Bevel & Emboss Setting.
The Sharp designates I used a Sharp Filter.

They serve their purpose for their behind the scenes Work in Progress use. But, if they were gonna be some work for public display and necessitated a title, I'd choose more efficient, easier to remember File Names.

So yeah, something like "The Emperor" or certainly "The Rack 2" ... now THAT's what I'm talking about!

For example: Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18 sounds intimidatingly Zombiesque or Androidish. Its alternative name "The Rack 2" on the other hand ... kind of brings thoughts / visions of Kelly Monaco to mind.

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Monday, November 23, 2009 9:56:35 PM

Wow, and I thought I was a bit obsessive-compulsive about my file names!

But I know what you are talking about.

I had to look up Kelly Monaco. I had a feeling it was going to be something like that.

Suntana # Monday, November 23, 2009 9:58:41 PM

I would think that with the publishing / cataloging issues settled nowadays, modern era Classical music composers would now start using REGULAR titles. But, I guess they want to stick with tradition.

I was thinking back to my musician days. Sometimes we'd be playing a medley. Without stopping, we'd just go from one song to the next simply by shouting out the next song's title. So, we'd just shout out, "Las Nubes" or "El Tejano Enamorado" Etc. Still in beat, the Drummer or the Vocalist would count off and BAMM! We'd easily be into the next song. I think trying to do the same Improv Medley stunt with shouting out titles like - "Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat Op. 106" would be tougher and more confusing.

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Monday, November 23, 2009 10:17:41 PM

You know I've heard a lot of popular musicians talk about their 'play list'. And getting into arguments about it.

One of the "minor things" I left out was that some of the Romantic and Modern composers did give their works descriptive names. Aaron Copland, for example, with Appalachian Spring. But usually it's like you say -- they just go with the conventions of the past.

Stardancer # Monday, November 23, 2009 11:15:10 PM

Thanks for the information, Edward. Now it all really makes sense to me. I get it.

My older sister is a pianist, and can play most, if not all, the classical pieces. I'd look at the titles, and just shrug. Lost interest pretty quick. Loved the music, but never learned the titles. I would often make up lyrics in my head to the beautiful compositions she played, but would never sing them out loud. I got in trouble for "messing her up" when I did. So I would just start writing them down.

Then she found my notebook.

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Monday, November 23, 2009 11:24:52 PM

Well I'd actually like to see some of that stuff. (PS I don't think your sister, to the best of my knowledge, wanders by the blog here.

)

I was trying to be clear about it all so I'm glad you found it so.

Stardancer # Tuesday, November 24, 2009 12:10:51 AM

L2D2 # Tuesday, November 24, 2009 1:22:56 AM

Never knew any of that info, Edward. I am fairly ignorant about classical music titles. Outside Fur Elise, Moonlight Sonata, 1812 Overture, and William Tell Overture plus a few others, I have no idea of the titles of classical music pieces. I like a lot of it, but know little.

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Tuesday, November 24, 2009 2:34:04 AM

@ Linda.

All great titles. Santana's kind of titles!

You know if I remember correctly "Fur Elise" was actually called that by Beethoven himself, unlike most of those types of things which were added by other people.

Angelikiellinidata # Tuesday, November 24, 2009 3:38:22 AM

2." Why isn't it called "the Rock 2", which would be closer to the
pronunciation of Rachmaninoff's name? Well perhaps something to do
with regional accents, but really I don't know. "It is the way it is."

just got an idea for my new post

thanks!

as for your way of thinking and naming music,
I give you 1,000,000 points! it is time that somebody puts some order in this "classical mess of a music !"

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Tuesday, November 24, 2009 5:28:05 AM

Glad that I could help a bit.

I really can't take credit for the naming conventions.

But I did come up with the idea for the internet. Al Gore says it was him. But it was really me.

L2D2 # Tuesday, November 24, 2009 5:35:40 AM

Now Edward, don't tell me you haven't read my post on how the internet was started? I thought you had visited. If not better read this before you make that claim. http://my.opera.com/L2D2/blog/2009/11/01/the-rest-of-the-story-or-how-it-all-began

Angelikiellinidata # Tuesday, November 24, 2009 5:43:28 AM

Originally posted by edwardpiercy:

But I did come up with the idea for the internet. Al Gore says it was him. But it was really me.

the nerve he has to claim fame and glory!
not to mention the "global warming.." you were the first to mention it, long before he woke up sweating in his sleep!

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Tuesday, November 24, 2009 5:48:48 AM

@ Linda.

I'll be sure to check it out tomorrow. Sounds great!

@ Angeliki.

That reminds me. I also invented global warming.

I apologize for that but I was trying to get it to snow more and things just got out of hand.

L2D2 # Tuesday, November 24, 2009 6:02:42 AM

Why the heck didn't you just move to Alaska???? Seems pretty drastic measure just because you were lazy.

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Tuesday, November 24, 2009 7:17:49 AM

Lazy? Not. I was working full time while I worked on the global warming. Like they say, "don't give up your day job."

Martin K™Aqualion # Tuesday, November 24, 2009 7:52:14 AM

Every time I call my doctor I get this super annoying version of 'Für Elise' while on hold. Same sound as the sound of my first digital watch my sister gave me in 1980.

I thought BMW was a motor car...

Darkogdare # Tuesday, November 24, 2009 8:06:57 AM

Martin, it is B W V

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Tuesday, November 24, 2009 12:03:23 PM

I'd like to see old JS Bach driving around in a BMW. With his wig and all. I wonder what he would put on the sound system?

Martin K™Aqualion # Tuesday, November 24, 2009 12:40:40 PM

I'm thinking Village People.

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Tuesday, November 24, 2009 1:32:23 PM

Ha! LMAO.

The Human League, maybe? I was thinking he might like the syntheizers. ???

Darkogdare # Tuesday, November 24, 2009 1:56:34 PM

Falco, maybe

dirkthetomster # Tuesday, November 24, 2009 2:14:56 PM

Ed, that all makes perfect sense to me naming conventions, JS Bach, Für Elise (do you have any idea how often you get this to hear working for the city's administration in Beethoven's birth town :clown: ) Village People, Falco, Human League ... cabrios, global warming, inventing the Internet, Al Gore (who is Al Gore ???), full time jobs and and and oh, not to forget about little daily obsessions like private file name conventions ... yes, perfect sense

time to hear the

sing

.up:

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Tuesday, November 24, 2009 7:43:50 PM

Dirk, you live in Bonn? Wow, I never knew for some reason.

Time for me to get out of bed and have some coffee.

Suntana # Tuesday, November 24, 2009 8:49:03 PM

Originally posted by edwardpiercy:

All great titles. Santana's kind of titles!

Thigh High Boots Sonata No. 42 in B-flat Op. 14
Suntana's Hot Blondes in Bikinis Piano Concerto No. 7 in C Minor, Op. 17

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Tuesday, November 24, 2009 8:58:32 PM

Cello Sonata for Scarlett Johansson's Ass in Butt-sharp major Op. 69 No. 8.

Suntana # Tuesday, November 24, 2009 9:10:19 PM

Heyyy! This Classical music isn't so bad after all.
We seem to have similar taste in music as it turns out.

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Tuesday, November 24, 2009 9:25:28 PM

dirkthetomster # Tuesday, November 24, 2009 10:16:56 PM

not living in Bonn, but working for the city's admin there ... so, I'm partly living there and hm, I should post something about Bonn and Beethoven then ... watch out for it ...

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Tuesday, November 24, 2009 10:22:58 PM

The Beethovenhaus. I take it they still have that? Or have they replaced it with a coffee shop?

Yeah, I would be very interested in a post like that if you get the chance.

dirkthetomster # Tuesday, November 24, 2009 10:39:49 PM

though Starbucks is increasing the city with shops ... The Beethovenhaus is still there, freshly renovated and the annual Beethoven Festival and ... and ... and ...
http://my.opera.com/thetomster/blog/2009/05/06/2009-05-06-part-two

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Tuesday, November 24, 2009 10:48:45 PM

Hey thanks for the tour, Dirk. That was really informative.

Bonn was the capitol of it's own little separate State in Beethoven's day, wasn't it? I forget what it was called.

Stardancer # Tuesday, November 24, 2009 11:43:30 PM

Originally posted by thetomster:

Al Gore (who is Al Gore ???)

Oh, to be so fortunate as to never have heard of Al Gore!

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Wednesday, November 25, 2009 12:30:05 AM

Star! That's not fair!

Now I'm going to have to come back with something about Sarah Palin. Like, she's a MILF.

Stardancer # Wednesday, November 25, 2009 1:13:57 AM

Suntana # Wednesday, November 25, 2009 1:59:03 AM

I remember commenting on one of my AOL Message Boards that Sarah Palin was HOT! One of my friends there had sent me a Pic of her in a Mini Skirt from back in her college days I think.

L2D2 # Wednesday, November 25, 2009 2:22:37 AM

Sarah Palin is attractive, and I like her. So there!

L2D2 # Wednesday, November 25, 2009 2:24:04 AM

Originally posted by edwardpiercy:

I'll be sure to check it out tomorrow. Sounds great!

Did you ever get around to reading the actual version of how the internet got started Edward? Well?????

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Wednesday, November 25, 2009 2:50:03 AM

@ Suntana.

She's is.

@ Linda.

Oh, no. Sorry. I'll get there, promise.

I've just spent the past two hours on whitehouse.gov trying to find out for my mom what the State Dinner menu was.

She used to work in banqueting.

Okay, on my way now!

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Wednesday, November 25, 2009 2:51:01 AM

@ Linda.

Oh I did read that one! I just forgot.

L2D2 # Wednesday, November 25, 2009 4:56:54 AM

So stop your silly, untrue claims, Edward. No way could you have invented the internet. hahahaha

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Wednesday, November 25, 2009 4:59:45 AM

I concede.

L2D2 # Wednesday, November 25, 2009 5:01:03 AM

OK, we'll hear no more on this subject.

BTW. Do you like your new laptop?

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Wednesday, November 25, 2009 5:04:21 AM

Yeah I love it Linda.

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