opuses
Major musical creations
Opuses is the plural of opus, a work of art—especially a musical composition.
Classical musicians number a composer's works: Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, Opus 67.
The term extends to any creative work, sometimes with ironic grandiosity: He's been working on his opus for three years now.
The Latin plural opera also appears, though opuses is more common in everyday English.
Extended prose fiction
- poemsLiterary works in verse
- playsStaged dramatic works
- essaysShort nonfiction prose pieces
- manuscriptsHandwritten or typed originals
treatises · volumes · tomes · chapters · verse · prose · epics · sagas
Extended composition for orchestra
- concertoSolo-and-orchestra composition
- sonataMulti-movement instrumental composition
- overtureIntroductory orchestral piece
- oratorioUnstaged sacred choral work
cantata · fugue · requiem · movement · allegro · adagio · score · orchestral
Supreme artistic achievement
- geniusPerson of rare brilliance
- visionaryImaginative planner of futures
- artistryExceptional creative skill
- craftsmanshipSkill in making objects
composition · originality · expression · inspiration · innovation · legacy · acclaimed · seminal
Pictures made with pigment
- sculpturesCarved or molded artworks
- muralsLarge wall paintings
- installationsPlaced and secured equipment
- masterworksSupreme creative achievements
portfolio · retrospective · commissions · exhibitions · canvases · sketches · etchings · series
novels
Extended prose fiction
manuscripts · treatises · volumes · tomes · chapters · verse · prose · epics · sagas · trilogies
symphony
Extended composition for orchestra
- concertoSolo-and-orchestra composition
- sonataMulti-movement instrumental composition
- overtureIntroductory orchestral piece
oratorio · cantata · fugue · requiem · movement · allegro · adagio · score · orchestral · conductor
masterpiece
Supreme artistic achievement
- geniusPerson of rare brilliance
- visionaryImaginative planner of futures
- artistryExceptional creative skill
craftsmanship · composition · originality · expression · inspiration · innovation · legacy · acclaimed · seminal · definitive
paintings
Pictures made with pigment
- sculpturesCarved or molded artworks
- muralsLarge wall paintings
- installationsPlaced and secured equipment
masterworks · portfolio · retrospective · commissions · exhibitions · canvases · sketches · etchings · series · collections
opusessketches
Rough, quick drawings
fragments · doodles · miniatures · bagatelles · trifles
opusestrivialities
Insignificant matters
minor works · hackwork · failures · duds · flops
- magnum opusCreator's supreme achievement
- opus caementicium
- opus sectile
- opus anglicanumMedieval English ecclesiastical embroidery
- Opus DeiCatholic organization meaning "God's work"