When a composer gives a composition a title that is not the name of a musical form, that non-form, or distinctive title, in its original language, is used as the preferred title. Works that have distinctive titles include operas, oratorios, ballets, and many other types of vocal and stage works. Here are some well-known examples from the dramatic repertoire:
| Name | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, 1756-1791. | ||
| Preferred Title | Zauberflöte | ||
| Publisher’sTitle | The Magic flute : an opera … | ||
| Name | Stravinsky, Igor, 1882-1971. | ||
| Preferred Title | Zhar-ptitsa | ||
| Publisher’s Title | The Firebird (l'Oiseau de feu) : a ballet … | ||
| Name | Berlioz, Hector, 1803-1869. | ||
| Preferred Title | Symphonie fantastique | ||
| Publisher’s Title | Phantastische Symphonie : (in 5 Sätzen)... |
(Note that for practical reasons--we do not have Cyrillic keyboards--in the Stravinsky example the Cyrillic alphabet has been transcribed into the Latin one.)
Many instrumental compositions also have titles. For example:
| Name | Bach, Johann Sebastian, 1685-1750. | ||
| Preferred Title | Brandenburgische Konzerte | ||
| Publisher’s Title | The six Brandenburg concertos … | ||
| Name | Bach, Johann Sebastian, 1685-1750. | ||
| Preferred Title | Wohltemperierte Klavier | ||
| Publisher’s Title | 48 preludes and fugues (The Well-tempered Clavier) … | ||
| Name | Brahms, Johannes, 1833-1897. | ||
| Preferred Title | Ungarische Tänze | ||
| Publisher’s Title | Hungarian dances : for orchestra … | ||
| Name | Stravinsky, Igor, 1882-1971. | ||
| Preferred Title | Symphonies d'instruments à vent | ||
| Publisher’s Title | Symphonies for wind instruments … |
Note that although the Bach Brandenburgische Konzerte are "concertos," and Stravinsky's Symphonies d'instruments à vent are "symphonies," these titles were originally used by the composers as distinctive titles. These titles, therefore, are used in their original languages as the preferred titles.
You can see that it is helpful to know something about the original language of a work. But don't worry! Cross references will frequently be found in the catalog, leading you from commonly known nicknames, or titles in other languages (including English), to the "correct" title in its original language as we have established it in the catalog. For example:
| Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, 1756-1791. | |
| Magic flute -- See Zauberflöte | |
| Stravinsky, Igor, 1882-1971. | |
| Firebird -- See Zhar-ptitsa |