The Düben Collection Database Catalogue Structure and Terminology

The Düben Collection Database Catalogue is implemented in a relational data base, (MySQL) where related pieces of information are stored in separate tables, which can be connected in different ways. Some information, e.g. scanned pictures, are not stored in the database but linked from there. Today the database consists of 17 different tables. Conceptually the information is catalogued on three levels:

Work
Source (meaning the source/sources for a complete Work, normally consisting of several Parts or an organ tablature, in the Düben Collection there are often several Sources for a single Work)
Part

The structure and contents of the database reflects the different aspects of these levels. For each Work the corresponding table stores Work related information: link to Composer information, link to Source index, title, meter, key, number of measures, editions, recordings etc.

The table for Source has fields for link to Part index, dates, scoring (that can differ between different Sources for the same Work), feast, language, text source etc.

Finally for individual Parts there is mainly information about the physical properties: title, attribution, format/size, watermarks, hand, clefs, dynamics, tempi, range etc.

There is a detailed description of all tables and columns here.

The purpose behind this database structure is to be able to provide both musicologist and musicians with information in a flexible and detailed manner regarding philological, style- and genre historical as well as repertoire related issues, but the flexible design is also a guarantee for the usability of the database for a long time regarding yet unthought-of scientific questions.