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'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.
'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 [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/b071f9fa-14b0-4217-8e97-eb41da73f598.html The Rolling Stones] without much care for who composed the songs. With classical music, though [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/7002bf88-1269-4965-a772-4ba1e7a91eaa.html Glenn Gould] or [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/93dbb52a-3d19-4f64-adc6-524f1921765b.html 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 [http://wiki.musicbrainz.org/CSGStandard ''incomplete'' list of classical composers].
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 [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/b071f9fa-14b0-4217-8e97-eb41da73f598.html The Rolling Stones] without much care for who composed the songs. With classical music, though [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/7002bf88-1269-4965-a772-4ba1e7a91eaa.html Glenn Gould] or [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/93dbb52a-3d19-4f64-adc6-524f1921765b.html 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 a [http://wiki.musicbrainz.org/CSGStandard partial 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 [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/a3031680-c359-458f-a641-70ccbaec6a74.html Steve Reich] and [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/76325a9d-6c25-4649-96b1-84e9b99d6b4b.html John Cage], soundtrack and score composers such as [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/c3161cf7-cab1-4409-9b1f-876561dd7716.html Michael Nyman], [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/a16e47f5-aa54-47fe-87e4-bb8af91a9fdd.html Ennio Morricone], and [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/53b106e7-0cc6-42cc-ac95-ed8d30a3a98e.html John Williams], and composers of music for professional use such as [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/0dbcb631-e74a-4736-87cd-a9f2561fd4d3.html Jeffrey Fayman] and [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/7d610910-e08c-4e2a-8dc6-39ea16a02646.html Yoav Goren]. However, just because all aspects of CSG may not always apply to works for any given composer, there will always be [http://musicbrainz.org/release/abfd648f-12de-495d-a227-63bd8f50b665.html those] [http://musicbrainz.org/release/f30207f8-8313-471f-88b9-3b8f3b9a5ebb.html exceptions] where even works by these composers are subject to all aspects of CSG.
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 [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/a3031680-c359-458f-a641-70ccbaec6a74.html Steve Reich] and [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/76325a9d-6c25-4649-96b1-84e9b99d6b4b.html John Cage], soundtrack and score composers such as [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/c3161cf7-cab1-4409-9b1f-876561dd7716.html Michael Nyman], [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/a16e47f5-aa54-47fe-87e4-bb8af91a9fdd.html Ennio Morricone], and [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/53b106e7-0cc6-42cc-ac95-ed8d30a3a98e.html John Williams], and composers of music for professional use such as [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/0dbcb631-e74a-4736-87cd-a9f2561fd4d3.html Jeffrey Fayman] and [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/7d610910-e08c-4e2a-8dc6-39ea16a02646.html Yoav Goren]. However, just because all aspects of CSG may not always apply to works for any given composer, there will always be [http://musicbrainz.org/release/abfd648f-12de-495d-a227-63bd8f50b665.html those] [http://musicbrainz.org/release/f30207f8-8313-471f-88b9-3b8f3b9a5ebb.html exceptions] where even works by these composers are subject to all aspects of CSG.

Revision as of 16:09, 13 January 2009

Classical Style Guidelines

The Classical Style Guidelines

Artist for a Classical Release or Track

Follow the guidelines defined in ClassicalReleaseArtistStyle.

Title for a Classical Release

Follow the guidelines defined in ClassicalReleaseTitleStyle.

Track Title for a Classical Track

Follow the guidelines defined in http://wiki.musicbrainz.org/BrianFreud/sandbox4|ClassicalTrackTitleStyle

Composition Title for a Classical Work (currently: CSGStandard Lists)

Follow the framework defined in http://wiki.musicbrainz.org/BrianFreud/sandbox|ClassicalWorkTitleStyle

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 a partial 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.

The Release Language for a Classical Release

The Release Language setting for a release should reflect the language used for the CSG titles. It does not reflect the language spoken or sung on the release, nor any of the specific languages found on the liner for any given release of the same recording.

What Advanced Relationships (ARs) ought to always be set for a classical release?

When adding a classical release, you are encouraged, as always, to set all ARs possible. However, even if you don't set any other ARs, we do ask that you always set the performer, conductor, and chorus master ARs for each work. If a release you are adding includes arrangements of classical works, please also always set the arranger AR.

Reasoning: For any given classical release, it is quite likely that there are several other releases containing the same works in the same order; if these basic ARs are not set, the release is essentially a 'blank' listing. Such unidentified 'blank' listings have a bad tendency to become full of PUIDs, TRMs, CD TOCs, and other data from a range of unrelated releases. Setting these basic identifying ARs allows the users of the database to identify that the releaser you are adding is not, in fact, the one that they want, both avoiding inaccurate data being added, and potentially leading to more releases being added, both of which benefit the data-health of the database.

At the release level or at the track level?

While there will always be those ARs which do belong at the release level, performer, composer, conductor, chorus master, and other related ARs should always be set at the track level if you have sufficient data to be able to be that specific. If an artist performs on all tracks, please set such ARs on all tracks rather than just setting a single AR for the release.

The History of the Classical Style Guidelines

The Classical Style Guideline (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 reexamined and rewritten by mb-style with the intent of making it both easier to understand and much more comprehensive and clear in its guidance. At this point, CSG track title style was rebuilt and moved to CSG work style, with track titles moving to be much more just as on the liner of the release. In early 2009, this full rewrite of the guidelines was passed by mb-style.