On 03/02/2012 10:11 AM, caller#6 wrote: > Hi all, > > I'm working on a CSG "start page". It's mostly a directory, with a bit > of overview. > > Feedback and developments will be tracked at > http://wiki.musicbrainz.org/User:Caller_number_six/CSG_history_and_principles > > A key point that should be answered on this page (and in the /Style > pages) is (as the subject says), "When does the CSG apply?" > > > My thoughts: > > --------- > > Q: "Why do we have a CSG at all? Why is "classical" music treated > differently?" > > A: First, by "classical" we don't mean a particular style or genre exactly. > We're talking about music that's performed and presented as part of a > musical tradition with certain broad characteristics (e.g. it tends to > be "composer-centric" rather than "performer-centric"). [1] > > The CSG is meant to recognize this difference in musical traditions. > > [snip] > > Feedback please, > Alex / caller#6 > > > > > [1] c.f. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_music#Characteristics > I wanted to follow up on this point, because it's a bit of a departure from previous guidelines.
In the past we've asked "Who is considered a “classical” composer?"[1] or "What is classical music?"[2] In my opinion, the question should be "is this release part of the classical tradition?" and the answer would be based on how the music is performed and presented (and, alas, marketed). Wikipedia [3] lists certain common characteristics: "literature, instrumentation, form, technical execution, complexity and society". I'd add that what we're calling classical tends to be composer-centric, tends to be performed with a high degree of fidelity to the score, and tends to be presented in a fairly "formal" setting. Does that make sense as a basis for determining when to apply the CSG? thanks (as always), Alex / caller#6 [1] http://wiki.musicbrainz.org/Proposal:CSGv2#Who_is_considered_a_.E2.80.9Cclassical.E2.80.9D_composer.3F [2] http://musicbrainz.1054305.n4.nabble.com/What-is-classical-music-tp2990811p2990811.html [3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_music#Characteristics _______________________________________________ MusicBrainz-style mailing list MusicBrainz-style@lists.musicbrainz.org http://lists.musicbrainz.org/mailman/listinfo/musicbrainz-style
