OPUS NUMBER Meaning and
Definition
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Opus number, often abbreviated as Op., is a term used in classical music to identify a specific work within a composer's catalog. It is a numbering system that assigns a unique identifier to each of an artist's compositions. Primarily used in the Western classical tradition, the opus number serves as a way to organize and catalog a composer's body of work.
The opus number is typically assigned chronologically, starting from the composer's earliest works. It enables musicians, scholars, and music enthusiasts to easily reference and identify a specific composition. The opus number can include various types of musical works, such as symphonies, concertos, sonatas, operas, string quartets, or solo pieces.
While opus numbers are often followed by a number (e.g., Op. 27, Op. 46), they can also include additional letters or words to provide further information, such as Op. 14bis or Op. posth. (posthumous). The Op. preface is usually followed by a number, which indicates the order of composition within a particular genre.
Opus numbers are assigned by composers themselves or by publishers and can sometimes differ between editions or arrangements of a piece. However, they generally remain consistent within a composer's own published works. Opus numbers allow for efficient reference and study of a composer's output, offering a comprehensive system for cataloging and discussing classical compositions across different musical genres and eras.
Etymology of OPUS NUMBER
The word "opus" is Latin, meaning "work" or "composition". It is derived from the Latin verb "opera" which means "to work". The word "number" is derived from the Latin word "numerus" meaning "a number". "Opus number" is a term commonly used in music to identify and chronologically order compositions by a specific composer.
