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What Does “Opus” Mean in Classical Music?

What does “opus” mean when you see it in a classical music title?

In this episode of The Classical Music Minute, we explore the meaning behind this common musical term. Derived from the Latin word for “work,” opus numbers are used to catalogue and organize a composer’s compositions.

Typically assigned in order of publication rather than composition, opus numbers help distinguish one piece from another—especially when composers wrote many works in the same genre.

For example, Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata is listed as Op. 27, No. 2, indicating its place within a published set of works.

While not all composers used opus numbers consistently, the term remains a helpful way to navigate the vast world of classical music.

In just sixty seconds, discover how one simple word helps organize centuries of musical creativity.

Some composers, including Frédéric Chopin, were very selective about which works received opus numbers—often assigning them only to pieces they felt were worthy of publication, leaving many compositions unpublished or without a number.

The Classical Music Minute is a short podcast exploring fascinating stories, quirky history, and surprising facts from the world of classical music—all in about sixty seconds.

Each episode offers a quick and entertaining glimpse into composers, masterpieces, musical traditions, and the curious moments that shaped music history.

You can also read the written versions of these episodes on Substack, where they’re published as short articles delivered directly to subscribers.

Steven Hobé is a Canadian composer and actor based in Toronto and a member of the Canadian League of Composers. He is the creator and host of The Classical Music Minute, a series devoted to making classical music history engaging, surprising, and accessible.

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