History:Classical Release Artist Style

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Revision as of 20:37, 11 October 2006 by DaveSmey (talk) (thought of an OK example for non-'cover' arrangement: JSB Cello Suites on CB (Imported from MoinMoin))

Style for determining Release Artists on *classical* Releases

The ClassicalStyleGuide states that the ReleaseArtist of a classical Release should always be either the composer or (in releases with multiple composers) VariousArtists. However, we make the following exceptions:

Mixed recitals by a performer or group

In cases where a release features a single performer or group and contains works from multiple composers, that performer or group may be designated the ReleaseArtist, with each TrackArtist assigned to the appropriate composer.

Important notes: Do not create new Artists for performer collaborations (such as "Herbert von Karajan & The Berlin Philharmonic.") Also, do not use this style for conductors who are also composers (such as Leonard Bernstein or Pierre Boulez.)

"Selections" or "Highlights"

In addition, releases which feature a single group or performer and contain "selections" or "highlights" (pieces that are not present in their complete form) from a single composer may be entered with the performer as ReleaseArtist (and the composer as the TrackArtist.)

Classical "Covers"

In releases where classical works are arranged, remixed, or otherwise substantially modified by the primary performer, that performer should be designated both as ReleaseArtist and TrackArtist. The composer(s) should be attributed only by AdvancedRelationships of the ComposerRelationshipType either to the whole album (if there is only one composer), or the individual tracks (if there are several composers).

(Classical Arrangements that are not "Covers")

In the above examples the artists consistently transform works into their own style. However, Classical performers also occasionally arrange or "transcribe" a work so that they may perform it in a straightforward manner alongside other works that have not been arranged. An example would be

  • J.S. Bach's Unaccompanied Cello Suites Performed on Double Bass (Edgar Meyer). Here Bach is credited as the Artist and Edgar Meyer's arrangements are indicated with an ArrangerRelationshipType.
    • Maybe what you are discussing here are the "transcriptions" a common classical pratice: typical some orchestral or opera work are adapted for a solo instruments like piano or violin. In your example it's not given that Joshua Bell is the "arranger", maybe he just pick from the bunch of transcriptions lying around in years. He surely is the performer. IMHO here composer should not be TrackArtist since the result is different form what he composed. -- ClutchEr2
      • Yeah, that's an excellent point. AFAIK a "transcription" would be when all of the notes are preserved and basically the instrumentation is changed, an "arrangement" when more aggressive alterations are made. However, since these are still very faithful renditions I think it is reasonable to still credit the original composer as TrackArtist. We should find some example with a decent "arranger" credit just to show it, but I think you are right that often these will be anonymous transcriptions. (J.S. Bach transcribed for Bass is inserted, for lack of a better one. An arrangement/transcription that is plopped in the middle of an otherwise straightforward recital be an even better example.) - bklynd

Also, when one composer has arranged a work by another, one would use the same plan:

More Temporary Examples

Rather than these various and somewhat difficult to interpret conditions, perhaps we would be better off illustrating the distinction with a batch of examples. With any luck looking at those would let people calibrate their intuitive notion of whether the disc is "about the composer" or "about the performer".

References

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