The New York Public Library for the Performing
Arts > Collections >
Circulating Collections > Recorded
Sound
Recorded Sound and Moving Image Finding Aid:
CD CLASSIFICATION SCHEME
A typical CD call number looks like this: C-B41s.The first letter, "C," is
a specific category of music (in this case, orchestral) and is represented
on the spine of the CD by a color code.
The appropriate color for each letter can be found in the chart below.
A first letter of C = red tape.
The second letter, "B," usually represents the composer's
last name (or performer or country, depending on the type of CD). You will
see this second letter on the spine below the colored tape.
C-B41s = Red tape, letter "B"
The number that follows the first 2 letters represents a specific number
given to the composer, performer or country. It will be the same in all
categories. For instance: C-B41s is Beethoven's orchestral music;
D-B41s is Beethoven's chamber music; etc.
|
Call number starts with:
|
DESCRIPTION / CATEGORY
|
COLOR
|
SHELF RANGE
|
|
C
|
Orchestral music
|
RED
|
102-103
|
|
D
|
Chamber music (including Chamber Orchestra)
|
ORANGE
|
103
|
|
E
|
Solo instrumental music (& piano accompaniment)
|
YELLOW
|
104
|
|
F
|
Vocal music, non operatic (both choral & solo)
|
GREEN
|
104-105
|
|
G
|
Opera and Operetta
|
BLUE
|
106
|
|
H
|
Musical comedy, Film Music, Zarzuelas, etc
|
PINK
|
107
|
|
J
|
Jazz and Popular music (rap, rock, country, etc.)
|
BLACK
|
107-108
|
|
K
|
Folk, Ethnic, World music
|
PURPLE
|
108
|
|
L
|
Miscellaneous (incl. histories of music, works, electronic music
etc.)
|
SILVER
|
108
|
|
Number (no letter)
|
(a CD that does not start with a letter: e.g. 792.9, sound effects,
spoken word, and instruction, etc.)
|
BROWN
|
108
|
FURTHER EXAMPLES OF CD CALL NUMBERS:
|
C - B41s
|
Beethoven
|
Symphonies (red tape, letter "B")
|
|
D - B41q
|
Beethoven
|
Quartets (Orange tape, letter "B")
|
|
E - S47s
|
Segovia
|
Solo guitar (Yellow tape, letter "S")
|
|
G - W13f
|
Wagner
|
Opera (Blue tape, letter "W")
|
|
F - H23m
|
Handel
|
Vocal, nonoperatic (Green tape, letter "H")
|
VIDEO & DVD
|
006.6 to 784.47
|
109
|
|
784.48 to 793.8 S
|
110
|
|
796 to 999.9 Z
792.9 A to 792.9 D
|
111
|
|
792.9 D to 792.9 M
|
112
|
|
792.9 M to 792.9 Z
|
113
|
|
792.9 = FEATURE FILMS FILED AFTER THE END OF ALL DEWEY NUMBERS
|
|
Biographies (beginning of alphabet)*
|
A
|
|
Biographies (end of alphabet) *
|
B
|
*A & B are low shelves between the reading tables and the listening
stations in the middle of the room.
|
Audio Cassettes
(Accent tapes, Dramatic plays on cassette)
|
114
|
If you do not find what looking for please see the Librarian at the Recordings
