Opus number question

[Bob]

Is an opus number equal to a "project" number?

What determines whether it's "Op. 2" vs. "Op. 1 No.  2?"

Is the composer or cataloger just saying, "Well, this is a group of works so it's all under one work number." 

And what's the cutoff?  If the project spans years... or one piece was composed later but really goes with the set? 

[senanserat]

I am pretty sure it is up to the artist. I mean look at Czerny's Opus, he divided it by "blocks" not length, (referring for the etudes mostly) so if you're wirrting something you get to decide t'was artistic freedom.

[quantum]

Publishing order may also play a role.  Publication does not always follow the same chronological order the music was composed in.

[senanserat]

Publishing order may also play a role.  Publication does not always follow the same chronological order the music was composed in.

Love that signature.

[kakeithewolf]

Personally, I consider opus numbers to be used for projects where the parts form an integrated whole. The one piece I've applied an opus number to, for example, has three parts to one work: An adagio, a passacaglia, and a sinfonietta. Originally, I wrote them to be played together, but they can also stand on their own.

[j_menz]

Opus numbers are really only meaningful in a surprisingly small number of instances. Beethoven and Czerny and... um....Alkan and.... 

Great news for the Koechels, Deutzes Searles and so forth among us, though.

[senanserat]

Opus numbers are really only meaningful in a surprisingly small number of instances. Beethoven and Czerny and... um....Alkan and.... 

Great news for the Koechels, Deutzes Searles and so forth among us, though.

j-menz we missed you. A LOT