History:CSGv2/Recording/Artist Proposal

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Status: This page describes an active style guideline proposal and is not official.



Proposal number: RFC-82
Champion: BrianFreud
Current status: Awaiting NGS implementation for final revision and passage.

RFC

Trac ticket # 4426

The Classical Style Guidelines:

CSG for Tracks and Recordings:

Track/Recording Artist


Official Documentation > Style Guidelines > The Classical Style Guidelines
Artist
Title: Work and Opus | Movement | Ornamentation | Special Cases


The artist should be the composer(s) of the performed work, with one exception.

The correct composer(s) to use may not be obvious:

  • A work was left unfinished by the original composer, then completed by another composer.
    Use both composers.
  • A work by one composer consists of variations on a work by a different composer.
    Use the composer of the variations.
  • A work was composed by one composer, then arranged, orchestrated, and/or instrumentated by a different artist.
    Use the composer, not the arranger, orchestrator, or instrumentator.

If it is unclear as to whether a work should be considered an arrangement or a variation, or if the composer is unclear for other reasons, then the style list should be consulted for guidance.

The sole exception to the use of the composer as the artist, for a recording or track, is when a "classical" track is performed by an artist which would not be considered to be "classical":

While some cases are clear – the New York Philharmonic would be considered a "classical" performer, while Metallica would be considered "non-classical" – it is understood that many cases will be able to be interpreted either way. Such cases should be decided by the voters, or if need be, the style council.

The consideration, for such a borderline case, should be whether the track is played in a manner which would be considered itself to be "classical": Classical music generally is performed, when performed "classically", in a manner which may involve interpretations of tempo and intensity, but which generally does not invite improvisation.

Thus, if the artist is essentially performing the work as written, then the performance (and thus, the artist) is likely "classical"; the artist then would be the composer. However, if the artist is performing the work only in a 'broad' sense – e.g. Nirvana playing a live jam including parts of the melody from La Boheme – then the artist is not performing the work "classically", and thus the artist would be the performer.