Why not MARC?

Traditional library cataloging records in the United States, based on AACR2R cataloging rules and MARC standards, constitute a solid foundation for many of the descriptive metadata elements needed for searching and retrieving works of music. However, there are significant weaknesses associated with these records and the online environment in which they live as users seek access to digitized representations of music. While music metadata in the library catalog records offer less than a perfect solution, they can and should have an important role in the total solution. Variations2, the Indiana University Digital Music Library, builds on the advantages of AACR2R and MARC and offers a domainspecific data model and search environment that address many of the identified problems. Figure 1. US MARC Bibliographic Record 1. MUSIC METADATA IN MARC Traditional library cataloging records in the United States are based on Anglo-American Cataloging Rules (AACR2R) and the standardized MARC formats for transmitting machine readable data. Together, AACR2R and MARC offer a solid foundation for many of the descriptive metadata elements that are needed by music consumers as they endeavor to discover, identify, and retrieve works of music [1], [2]. Figures 1-3 are examples of typical MARC bibliographic and authority records found in library online catalogs. ARN: 858600 Fixed fields: Rec stat: c Entered: 19830316 Coded descriptive and Type: z Upd status: a Enc lvl: n Source: administrative elements Roman: Ref status: a Mod rec: Name use: a Govt agn: Auth status: a Subj: a Subj use: a Series: n Auth/ref: a Geo subd: n Ser use: b Ser num: n Name: a Subdiv tp: n Rules: c LC control number 010 n 82162690 Cataloging agency 040 DLC ‡c DLC ‡d DLC ‡d CtY-Mus Administrative 005 20010913114354.0 Authoritative form 100 1 Lalo, Edouard, ‡d 1823-1892. ‡t Symphonie espagnole Alternate form 400 1 Lalo, Edouard, ‡d 1823-1892. ‡t Ispanska ́i`a simfoni ́i`a 400 1 Lalo, ́Edouard Victor Antoine, ‡d 1823-1892. ‡t Symphonie espagnole, ‡m violin & orchestra, ‡n op. 21 ‡w nnaa 400 1 Lalo, Edouard, ‡d 1823-1892. ‡t Symphony espagnol Source note 21 (1874)) 670 New Grove ‡b (Symphonie espagnole; vn, orch., op. Figure 2. US MARC Name/Title Authority Record OCLC: xxxxxxxx Rec stat: c Fixed fields: Entered: 19940309 Replaced: 19950709 Used: Coded descriptive and 20010906 Administrative elements Type: j ELvl: I Srce: d Audn: Ctrl: Lang: N/A BLvl: m Form: Comp: mu AccM: i MRec: Ctry: nyu Desc: a FMus: n LTxt: DtSt: s Dates: 1961, LC number 010 ‡z r60-1367 ‡z r60-1368 Cataloging agency 040 FNP ‡c FNP Coded descriptive elements 007 s ‡b d ‡d b ‡e s ‡f m ‡g e ‡h n ‡i n ‡m u ‡n e Label number 028 02 MS 6201 ‡b Columbia Form of composition 047 co ‡a sy Classification number 090 M1012 ‡b .W241 1961 Holding library 049 IULA Main entry 100 1 Walton, William, ‡d 1902Uniform title 240 10 Concertos, ‡m violin, orchestra Title proper 245 00 Concerto for violin and orchestra / ‡c Walton. Symphonie espagnole / Lalo ‡h [sound recording]. Publication information 260 [New York?] : ‡b Columbia, ‡c [1961?] Physical description 300 1 sound disc : ‡b analog, 33 1/3 rpm, stereo. ; ‡c 12 in. Durations 306 002835 ‡a 002645 Series title 490 0 Columbia masterworks Performers 511 0 Zino Francescatti, violin ; Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy, conductor (1st work) ; New York Philharmonic, Dimitri Mitropoulos, conductor (2nd work). Notes 500 Durations: 28:35; 26:45. 500 Program notes on container. Subject heading 650 0 Concertos (Violin) 650 0 Symphonies (Violin with orchestra) Added personal name 700 1 Francescatti, Zino, ‡d 1902‡4 prf 700 1 Ormandy, Eugene, ‡d 1899-1985. ‡4 cnd 700 1 Mitropoulos, Dimitri, ‡d 1896-1960. ‡4 cnd Added author/title 700 12 Lalo, Edouard, ‡d 1823-1892. ‡t Symphonie espagnole. Added corporate name 710 2 Philadelphia Orchestra. ‡4 prf 710 2 New York Philharmonic. ‡4 prf Added title 740 01 Symphonie espagnole. URL 856 0 ‡uhttp://purl.dlib.Indiana.edu/iudl/variations/sound/ ABD9455 Each field and subfield of the bibliographic record is defined and framed by a strict syntax. Semantic control is imposed on codes found in both the fixed and variable fields (010, 040, etc.) and standardized forms of entry are used for names, titles, series, and subject headings. Authoritative lists for names, titles, and subject headings are available from the Library of Congress and other authorized agencies [3]. Similar to bibliographic records, name and subject authority records also have a prescribed format and