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.{{Cite book |last=Dickinson |first=George Sherman |title=Classification of musical compositions; a decimal-symbol system |publisher=Vassar College |year=1938 |location=Poughkeepsie, NY}} It is used by many music libraries, primarily those at Vassar{{Cite web |last=Canino |first=Sarah |title=Libraries: The George Sherman Dickinson Music Library: Musical Score call numbers |url=https://library.vassar.edu/musiclibrary/home/musical-score-call-numbers |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=library.vassar.edu |language=en}} and Columbia Universities.

It is also recorded, albeit incompletely, by Carol June Bradley in The Dickinson Classification for Music, published in 1972.{{cite journal |last1=Bradley |first1=Carol June |title=The Dickinson Classification for Music |journal=Fontes Artis Musicae |date=1972 |volume=19 |issue=1/2 |pages=13–22 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/23505207 |issn=0015-6191}}

Class 000 – Miscellaneous

=000 Several or special classes=

  • 010 Manuscripts
  • 020 Incunabula, rare editions
  • 030 Facsimiles
  • 040 Monuments ({{lang|de|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=

=200 Bowed strings=

=300 Winds=

=400 Plucked strings, percussion, mechanical and miscellaneous instruments=

==Plucked strings==

==Percussion==

==Mechanical and miscellaneous instruments==

=500 Chamber ensembles=

  • 520 Bowed string ensembles
  • 530 Wind ensembles{{efn|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.}}
  • 540 Plucked string with percussion
  • 550 Bowed string and wind ensembles

=600 Orchestral ensembles=

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

=700 Vocal solo and solo ensembles=

=800 Choral ensembles=

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

=900 Dramatic ensembles=

Notes

{{notelist}}

References