The Dickinson classification system for scores and printed music is based on ten broad classes. All numbers are treated as decimals (for example, 1, 11, 2, 210, 21, 21019, 22).
The top-level divisions and common classes within each are listed in the outline below.
|
0 |
Works for various mediums |
|
|
|
Historical Editions/Denkmäler |
01 |
|
|
Facsimiles |
04 |
|
|
Complete works of a composer |
05 |
|
|
Jazz (instrumental transcriptions) |
08 |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
Keyboard |
|
|
|
Piano/harpsichord |
11 |
|
|
Piano duos, trios, etc. |
12 |
|
|
Organ |
15 |
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
Bowed strings |
|
|
|
Violin & piano |
21 |
|
|
Viola & piano |
22 |
|
|
Cello & piano |
23 |
|
|
Double bass & piano |
24 |
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
Winds |
|
|
|
Flute or recorder & piano |
31 |
|
|
Oboe or English horn & piano |
32 |
|
|
Clarinet & piano |
33 |
|
|
Bassoon & piano |
34 |
|
|
Horn & piano |
35 |
|
|
Trumpet & piano |
36 |
|
|
Trombone & piano |
37 |
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
Percussion; plucked strings; miscellaneous |
|
|
|
Harp |
41 |
|
|
Guitar |
43 |
|
|
Mandolin |
44 |
|
|
Lute |
45 |
|
|
Percussion solo |
46 |
|
|
Musique concrète |
48 |
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
Chamber ensembles, fewer than 10 performers |
|
|
|
Bowed string ensembles |
52 |
|
|
Wind ensembles |
53 |
|
|
Plucked string with percussion |
54 |
|
|
Percussion ensembles |
546 |
|
|
Bowed string & wind ensembles |
55 |
|
|
Indeterminate & unspecified combinations |
58 |
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
Large instrumental ensembles |
|
|
|
Full orchestra |
61 |
|
|
String orchestra |
62 |
|
|
Band |
63 |
|
|
Chamber orchestra/large chamber ensembles |
65 |
|
|
Concertos |
661 to 6646 |
|
|
Piano concertos |
661 |
|
|
Violin concertos |
6621 |
|
|
Concerti grossi |
665 |
|
|
Double, triple, etc., concertos |
666 |
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
Solo voices; folk music |
|
|
|
Misc. collections; pop/rock piano/vocal/guitar |
7 |
|
|
Voice solo & 1 instrument, secular |
71 |
|
|
Folk music |
74 |
|
|
Voice solo & 1 instrument, sacred |
75 |
|
|
|
|
|
8 |
Choral ensembles |
|
|
|
Secular choral works |
81 |
|
|
Sacred choral works |
85 |
|
|
Sacred choral works, unaccompanied; motets |
860 |
|
|
Liturgical works; masses |
87 |
|
|
Hymns |
88 |
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
Dramatic ensembles |
|
|
|
Operas |
91 |
|
|
Opera vocal scores |
91=01 |
|
|
Musicals/Musical theater |
933 |
|
|
Ballets |
95 |
|
|
Incidental music |
97 |
The Dickinson classification system in use at UB has evolved over time to include new instruments and combinations. There are not a lot of libraries that use this system, and versions at different libraries have diverged. For a more detailed history, please see
Bradley, Carol June. The Dickinson Classification: A Cataloguing & Classification Manual for Music ; Including a Reprint of the George Sherman Dickinson CLASSIFICATION OF MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS. Carlisle, Pa.: Carlisle Books, 1968. MUSIC ML111.B78.
(Library staff or LIS students: you can access a full working copy of the schedule that UB uses for internal staff below. This is NOT a guide to the collection for UB users, but may be of historical or professional interest.)
