User:DavitoF/How To Link Works Together

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There are several relations you can enter between works. It is sometimes difficult to choose the correct one. Here are a few hints.

  • for new versions of the work by the same author (similar instrumentation), use Revision
  • for arrangements (modifications in the music such as adding or removing sections, ) use Arrangement. Some orchestrations fall into this category
  • for transcriptions (same music but different instrument(s)) use Transcription (example: Bach's choral/Busoni's transcription). Some orchestrations fall into this category.
  • for new versions of the work by a different author, use Other version
  • for translations, use Other version too
  • when works are too different to use the relations above, use Based on (example: Bach's partita/Gounod's Ave maria)
  • when several works are assembled into one, use Medley
  • to describe how a work is made of sub-parts, use Parts

It is often difficult to choose between transcription and arrangement. For anyone interested, here are links explaining with more details transcriptions and arrangements, but Musicbrainz' definition of these terms may be slightly different from Wikipedia's. But this quote from Wikipedia explains the difference between transcription and arrangement: "Transcription may also mean rewriting a piece of music, either solo or ensemble, for another instrument or other instruments than which it was originally intended. The Beethoven Symphonies by Franz Liszt are a good example. Transcription in this sense is sometimes called arrangement, although strictly speaking transcriptions are faithful adaptations, whereas arrangements change significant aspects of the original piece."

Prefer common usage: if a work is generally called the transcription of another, even if you think that it is actually an arrangement, use transcription.

See also Orchestration

TODO:include translations.