Re: [ARSCLIST] Cataloging sound recordings

[Matt Snyder <msnyder@xxxxxxxx>]

 Karl Miller <lyaa071@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Subject:
Re: Cataloging sound recordings
On Wed, 4 May 2005, Matt Snyder wrote:

>What do you see as being the function of the MARC record?

Whether the repository in question has a particular item, and, via the
rules of descriptive cataloging, what that item says about itself. If the
record sleeve or cd insert doesn't say who was conducting the Beethoven
piano concerto, or was on drums for this Henry Mancini recording session,
or whatever other particular information you're looking for, the MARC
record will not contain it. But, if such information is available to
someone doing discographical research, that data will go into a
discography. Catalogs contain info about sound containers, and can have no
information other than what is on those containers. Discographies (and I'm
speaking of session-based discography), suck up as much information as is
available to the discographer.

Matt Snyder
Music Archivist
Wilson Processing Project
The New York Public Library