Default Numbers in Music

[springrite]

When someone mentions Opus 111, there is no need to mention the composer or the work. We automatically assume that it is Beethoven's Piano Sonata #32. Of course other composers have Opus 111s, but sorry!

What are some other default numbers in music for you?

[Todd]

What are some other default numbers in music for you?

I refer to all chamber and solo piano works by Beethoven by opus number.  I use Deutsch numbering for Schubert's piano sonatas and Köchel numbering for Mozart's piano sonatas.  Otherwise, I generally use plain language names - eg, so-and-so's Symphony <#>.

[Florestan]

Hob I: 88

KV 623

D850

[Brian]

What are some other default numbers in music for you?

I definitely know what people mean by Opp. 109-111 (even though I love Brahms' Op. 111 as well), as well as D. 956 and 960.

[Karl Henning]

When someone mentions Opus 111 ...

Yes the e-flat minor symphony!

[(poco) Sforzando]

But how about Beethoven's op. 100? Arguably his greatest work ever.

[Florestan]

Op. 13, Op. 23, Op. 35, Op. 64 and Op. 71 are my favorite works of their composer.

[DavidW]

Op 20, 50, 76 if you know, you know

[Karl Henning]

Op 20, 50, 76 if you know, you know

(* chortle *)

[springrite]

These musical numbers sometimes come handy when I had to remember a long number. 626-894-127-9 is piece of cake.

[DavidW]

These musical numbers sometimes come handy when I had to remember a long number. 626-894-127-9 is piece of cake.

Well now we know the code to your safe!

[Jo498]

When someone mentions Opus 111, there is no need to mention the composer or the work. We automatically assume that it is Beethoven's Piano Sonata #32. Of course other composers have Opus 111s, but sorry!

What are some other default numbers in music for you?

Default opus numbers are Beethoven's unless a number is strongly occupied by someone else, sometimes a Haydn string quartet opus (20,33,50,76,77), even opus 55 I associate more with Haydn because the Eroica is more the Eroica than op.55. op.88 is Brahms quintet not whatever Beethoven's op.88 is, fortunately op.15 fits both. op.41 is Schumann's quartets. But I don't know most other opus numbers as well as Beethoven's (and some of Brahms), so I usually remember the pieces not by them but differently.

[springrite]

Some of my default numbers:

Mostly Beethoven and mostly quartets and piano sonatas.

Mozart: 525, 626, 502

Schubert: 894, 958, 959, 960

[springrite]

Obviously, some BWV numbers as well, such as 565, 532, 645...

[DavidW]

Obviously, some BWV numbers as well, such as 565, 532, 645...

232, 1080

[Maestro267]

4. Four is used so much in music, whether the number of sections in a standard orchestra (woodwind, brass, percussion, strings), the standard instruments in each of three of those four sections, the number of beats in the majority of bars, the number of movements in the standard symphony, string quartet, sonata...the string quartet itself being the preeminent form of chamber music. I could go on.

[Jo498]

Maybe because 4 is the number of the material world: 4 classical elements, 4 compass directions, 4 seasons... 

[Florestan]

Maybe because 4 is the number of the material world: 4 classical elements, 4 compass directions, 4 seasons... 

The sign of the cross...

The four horsemen of the Apocalypse...

Wagner's Tetralogy...

Mendelssohn, Meyerbeer, Mahler, Moszkowski...

One, two, three, four,
Mozart is the great'st 'f them all!

[foxandpeng]

Nope. All such numbers mean nothing to me personally. Composer and title of the work is all I ever know.

[steve ridgway]

The four horsemen of the Apocalypse...

Oh yes, Demis Roussos sings a song about them on this...