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Opus is a Latin word which means "work" (in the sense of "a work of art").Some composers' musical pieces are identified by opus numbers which generally run either in order of composition or in order of publication. The usual abbreviation is "Op.". " WoO" stands for "Werk ohne Opus" or "work without an opus number" (particularly in the music of Beethoven). "Op. posth." means "opus posthumus" or "work [published] posthumously".
Certain composers' works (particularly from the baroque and classicist era, when compositions were not routinely published) have been definitively cataloged by a given scholar, and in such instances these works can be unambiguously referred to by their thematic catalog abbreviations.
- Johann Sebastian Bach works are referred to by their BWV or Bach Werke Verzeichnis numbers after the catalogue by Wolfgang Schmieder.
- Marc Antoine Charpentier's works are referred to by the H or Hitchcock numbers after Hugh Wiley Hitchcock .
- Joseph Haydn's works are referred to by their Hob or Hoboken numbers after Anthony van Hoboken's 1957 classification.
- Franz Liszt's works are referred to by their S or Searle numbers after Humphrey Searle's 1960s classification.
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart works are referred to by their K or Köchel numbers, after Ludwig von Köchel. In continental Europe, the German acronym "KV" for Köchel Verzeichnis is more common. See also: List of compositions by Mozart
- Franz Schubert works are referred to by their D or Deutsch numbers after Otto Erich DeutschOtto Erich Deutsch ( September 5, 1883 November 23, 1967) was an Austrian musicologist. He is best known for his catalogue of the works of Franz Schubert (1951) it is from this that the D numbers used to identify Schubert's pieces are drawn. He also wrote's catalogue.
- Antonio VivaldiAntonio Vivaldi ( March 4, 1678, Venice July 28, 1741, Vienna), nicknamed Il Prete Rosso meaning "The Red Priest," was an Italian priest and baroque music composer. His father, a barber and a talented violinist himself (some have said he was a virtuoso , works are referred to by their RV or Ryom Verzeichnis numbers after Peter Ryom 's catalogue.
- Richard WagnerWilhelm Richard Wagner ( May 22, 1813 February 13, 1883) was an influential German composer, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas. His music is still widely performed, the best known pieces being the "Ride of the Valkyries" from Di works are referred to by their WWV or Wagner Werke Verzeichnis, which also include his non-musical work.
- Two numberings systems are extant for the harpsichordA harpsichord is the general term for a family of European keyboard instruments, including the large instrument nowadays called a harpsichord, but also the smaller virginals the muselar virginals and the spinet . All these instruments generate sound by pl works of Domenico ScarlattiDomenico Scarlatti ( October 26, 1685 July 23, 1757) was an Italian composer of the Baroque era. He was extremely influential in the development of keyboard music, especially in Spain, Portugal and England, through his highly idiosyncratic and individual: the L or Longo numbers after Alessandro Longo 's edition for pianoPiano is a common abbreviation for pianoforte a large musical instrument with a keyboard (see keyboard instrument). Its sound is produced by strings stretched on a rigid frame. These vibrate when struck by felt-covered hammers, which are activated by the, and the K or Kirkpatrick numbers after Ralph KirkpatrickRalph Kirkpatrick ( June 10, 1911 in Leominster, Massachusetts April 13, 1984 in Guilford, Connecticut) was a musician, musicologist and harpsichordist. He studied music notation and piano at the Harvard University and went on to further studies by Nadia's facsimile edition.
