Op.

Meaning of Op. in Music

In music, the abbreviation "Op." stands for "Opus," which means "work" in Latin. It is used to number a composer's works in chronological order. The Opus number is paired with a cardinal number to indicate the specific place of a given work within a music catalogue. For example, Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor is "Opus 27, No. 2," which identifies it as the composer's 27th work and the second piece within that opus number .

The Opus number may also include additional numbers if there are companion pieces created together. For instance, Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata (Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor) is Opus 27, No. 2, which is a companion piece to Opus 27, No. 1 (Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-flat major).

The use of Opus numbers helps organize and catalog a composer's works, making it easier to identify and reference specific compositions.