User:BrianFreud/sandboxCSG
DRAFT
The Classical Style Guidelines
Introduction to CSG
- What is CSG?
- What is CSG not?
- Is there one particular CSG?
- Who is considered a “classical” composer?
- In what circumstances ought CSG to not be used?
- The History of CSG
The Guidelines
Introduction to CSG
What is CSG?
The "Classical Style Guidelines" (CSG) describe a structural framework which allows us to order the disparate data relating to a classical work into a structure which is consistent, logical, and comprehensible. Classical works are performed by many groups world-wide, yet often these works have no definitive title. CSG is intended to allow releases containing these works to be stored within the database and named in a clear and consistent manner.
What is CSG not?
- CSG is not intended to provide titles where they already exist.
- If a classical composer has already provided distinct titles for some or all of his works (e.g.: Steve Reich, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Benjamin Britten), ArtistIntent always is superior to the guidelines of CSG.
- CSG is not intended to cause track titles to lose their meaning where forcing any particular language into the CSG structure would cause track titles in that language to lose comprehension.
- CSG is not intended to create a title where changing a particular title used on a release would cause us to lose contextual meaning (example).
Is there one particular CSG?
CSG is a framework, but no one language is required by it; listings can use German CSG, French CSG, English CSG, etc.
Where a standardized works list for a given composer is not yet complete, any language may be used to enter releases for that composer, so long as the CSG framework is used.
However, standardized works lists for classical composers are in development. Where a standardized works list has been completed, we ask that you use the appropriate titles from these lists, without translation or alteration, other than that described within How should these titles be applied to tracks?
Who is considered a “classical” composer?
'Classical music' is a broad term that encompasses a broad period from roughly the 9th century through to the present day. Depending upon the particular culture, classical music can be ecclesiastical, instrumental, orchestral — even electronic. To then attempt to define just what classical music is, or to define a 'classical composer', would invariably include artists who ought to be excluded, and exclude artists who ought to be included.
For our purposes, however, one possible way to determine the answer for a given composition or composer is to question which artist is the principal artist for a work. People listen to The Rolling Stones without much care for who composed the songs. With classical music, though Glenn Gould or Hilary Hahn certainly is important to the performance of the work, the composer of the music being performed is of at least co-equal importance, such that the composer, and not the performer, is the principal artist. Though no list of all classical composers could ever be considered to be complete, we do maintain an incomplete list of classical composers.
Given the breadth of composers and compositions contained within the sphere of classical music, no one guideline can be said to apply equally to all works. It is quite possible that CSG 'composer as artist' style might apply, while CSG release titling or work titling guidelines do not. This is most frequently true of modern / experimental classical composers such as Steve Reich and John Cage, soundtrack and score composers such as Michael Nyman, Ennio Morricone, and John Williams, and composers of music for professional use such as Jeffrey Fayman and Yoav Goren. However, just because all aspects of CSG may not always apply to works for any given composer, there will always be those exceptions where even works by these composers are subject to all aspects of CSG.
In what circumstances ought CSG to not be used?
If a work already has been given a specific title by the composer, such as "Part 1: IBM 1401 Processing Unit", ArtistIntent is the superior guideline, and thus, the track would not be retitled using CSG. This applies even if the worktitle provided by the composer seems generic, such as "Music for 18 Musicians: Section XI", so long as it truly is an ArtistIntent worktitle, and not simply a description of the type of work ("symphony") — see ArtistIntentVsFacts for more discussion on this subject. CSG is intended to provide a framework for titling classical works which lack clearly defined titles; it is not intended to be used as a reason to retitle a work which already has a functional title. Note that there are, of course, those few composers who are considered so inherently "classical" (J.S. Bach, W.A. Mozart, etc.) that even their few works with true "official titles" still are handled under CSG. These tend to be those pre-twentieth century composers who also have comprehensive works catalogs available for all of their works.
CSG has been designed to try to provide a framework for just about any possible classical work, assuming it falls within the guidelines described above. However, there is a huge amount of music out there. Should you find a work to which CSG would apply, but some aspect of the work simply does not fit within CSG, do not ignore all rules. Instead, it is suggested that you post a message on the UsersMailingList with "CSG" contained within the subject, providing details about the work as well as why you feel it does not fit within the CSG framework. In this manner, the community of experienced classical editors at MusicBrainz can help you to find a workable solution.
In some rare cases, the nature of a release may present a case in which CSG would normally apply, but using CSG would damage the overall ArtistIntent behind the release. (Example) Please note that though ArtistIntent is always the superior principle within the MusicBrainzPhilosophy, it is not sufficient merely to claim ArtistIntent as reason to disregard CSG. Any time that ArtistIntent is claimed as reason why a particular release is exempt from CSG, please present your reasons for claiming ArtistIntent in the edit notes.
Also note that CSG does override what is written on the liner. This is not contrary to StylePrinciple, though it initially may seem that it is, as the ConsistentOriginalData for a classical release would be the original composition, not the individual release containing a later recording of the work. As CSG only applies when the original composition does not have a specific title provided by the composer, Principle 4 of StylePrinciple is the applicable principle. CSG then becomes the guideline indicated by Principle 4.
The History of CSG
The CSG artist guidelines began in a discussion on the mb-users mailing list in January of 2004. The CSG release title and track title styles began as suggestions within that discussion. CSG continued to develop through December of 2006, when the basic guidelines were locked down as official. Throughout 2007, various discussions on more obscure areas of CSG took place in all possible discussion areas of MusicBrainz. In early 2008, CSG was revamped and rewritten by mb-style with the intent of making it both easier to understand and more comprehensive in its guidance.
The Guidelines
What constitutes a distinct classical release?
- STUFF **
What about box sets?
Box sets are subject, first and foremost, to the StrongGuideline principles.
- STUFF **
Who is the artist for a classical work?
The artist for the release and the tracks should always be set to the composer(s), not the performers or the conductor. If a classical release contains works by multiple composers, the release artist ought to be set to “Various Artists”, not “composer1 & composer 2& composer 3...”.
GUIDELINE CURRENTLY UNDER DEBATE
How to title a classical release?
- STUFF **
