Classical Music Fans - A Question

[Spike-X]

What does "Opus" refer to in the name of a piece?

[Jonathan Bogart]

I'm not very knowledgeable about classical music, but I do know that "opus" means "work" (the noun, not the verb) in Latin. Extrapolating from that, could, say, "Op. 32" mean it's the composer's 32nd published work?

Punchy?

[Dreadstar]

from www.classical.net:

"Opus Numbers

Opus (Latin for "work") is a term used to denote a piece or set of pieces. Usually, but certainly not always, the opus number indicates the chronological order of composition or publication. Beginning in the early 17th century, as composers began to publish sets of madrigals, instrumental sonatas, or other works printed, the publishers would often assign numbers to these sets so that they could be differentiated. The earliest application I'm aware of is the assignment of "Op. 1" to Heinrich Schütz's first set of 19 madrigals published in 1611, but there are almost certainly earlier instances.

Relying on opus numbers can be a problem for some composers. This is especially true for early composers (before the 1800s), and for composers who have not published many works. Let me give you some examples. In the 17th century, composers often went to different publishers in each country. These publishers might all assign different opus numbers to the same set of sonatas or concertos.

Some of Mozart's works were published, and thus bear opus numbers. One example is the three piano concertos #11-13, K. 413-415, composed in 1783 and published in Vienna as Op. 4. The sales of this set were successful enough for him to get his piano concerto #5, K. 175, composed in 1773, published the same year as Op. 7! Mozart's publications were rather spotty, so no one uses the opus numbers (see the next section).

A somewhat different situation exists with the composer Luigi Boccherini. Boccherini was a prolific and successful composer with many publications. Therefore most of his works carry a publisher's opus number, though these numbers may not reflect the actual composition order or chronology. However, Boccherini did keep his own chronological list of compositions to which he assigned his own opus numbers. Therefore, many of Boccherini's works carry two opus numbers. An example is his string quintet in C minor, G. 328, composed in 1780, was assigned Op. 31 #4 by Boccherini, but when it was published in 1813 it was assigned Op. 47 #10 by the publisher."

[zombie]

I'm not very knowledgeable about classical music, but I do know that "opus" means "work" (the noun, not the verb) in Latin. Extrapolating from that, could, say, "Op. 32" mean it's the composer's 32nd published work?

That's what I understood from the dictionary definition I found, that opus is a musician's composition.

[Spike-X]

from www.classical.net:

"Opus Numbers

Opus (Latin for "work") is a term used to denote a piece or set of pieces. Usually, but certainly not always, the opus number indicates the chronological order of composition or publication. Beginning in the early 17th century, as composers began to publish sets of madrigals, instrumental sonatas, or other works printed, the publishers would often assign numbers to these sets so that they could be differentiated. The earliest application I'm aware of is the assignment of "Op. 1" to Heinrich Schütz's first set of 19 madrigals published in 1611, but there are almost certainly earlier instances.

Relying on opus numbers can be a problem for some composers. This is especially true for early composers (before the 1800s), and for composers who have not published many works. Let me give you some examples. In the 17th century, composers often went to different publishers in each country. These publishers might all assign different opus numbers to the same set of sonatas or concertos.

Some of Mozart's works were published, and thus bear opus numbers. One example is the three piano concertos #11-13, K. 413-415, composed in 1783 and published in Vienna as Op. 4. The sales of this set were successful enough for him to get his piano concerto #5, K. 175, composed in 1773, published the same year as Op. 7! Mozart's publications were rather spotty, so no one uses the opus numbers (see the next section).

A somewhat different situation exists with the composer Luigi Boccherini. Boccherini was a prolific and successful composer with many publications. Therefore most of his works carry a publisher's opus number, though these numbers may not reflect the actual composition order or chronology. However, Boccherini did keep his own chronological list of compositions to which he assigned his own opus numbers. Therefore, many of Boccherini's works carry two opus numbers. An example is his string quintet in C minor, G. 328, composed in 1780, was assigned Op. 31 #4 by Boccherini, but when it was published in 1813 it was assigned Op. 47 #10 by the publisher."
Sounds complicated.

http://slonce.com/ThanksfortheInfo.jpg

[Punchy]

Opus technically means "grand work" I believe.

But it's just a way of numbering the works of a composer. ALL works are given opus numbers weather they are large-scale symphonies are small piano sonatas. Good way of keeping track of when a piece was written in regards to the rest of their works.

[Reptisaurus!]

Opus is my favorite composer.

[Slam_Bradley]

Opus is my favorite composer.


Opus is a puffin.