Wikipedia:WikiProject Classical music
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WikiProject Classical Music aims primarily to further comprehensive documentation of classical music—including historical and musicological analysis. Major works will be at the forefront.
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[edit] Parentage
The parent of this WikiProject is the WikiProject music genres.
[edit] Similar WikiProjects
Similar WikiProjects are:
- WikiProject Opera
- WikiProject Classical guitar
- WikiProject Computer music
- WikiProject Electronic music
- WikiProject Indie music
- WikiProject Composers
- WikiProject Music terminology
- WikiProject Writing about music
[edit] About the Wikiproject
WikiProject Classical music aims to improve, expand, cleanup, and maintain all articles related to Classical music, that aren't covered by other projects. Its participants help sort stubs and source statements made throughout the universe of Classical music.
[edit] Participation
To join, add your name to the list of participants.
Identify yourself as a participant by adding this Userbox to your page. Copy this code and add it to your userpage: {{user:Bottesini/user wp classical}}
This userbox will appear.
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This user is a member of WikiProject Classical music |
To identify yourself without using the userbox, add this to the bottom of your userpage: [[Category:WikiProject Classical Music members]]
[edit] Updates
Updates are made primarily through the Newsletter, which is currently in infantile development, but will be released soon. It is sent to all members' talk pages whenever a new issue is dispatched, but all issues are publicly available through the subpage. Content is determined by the project members. Please voice your opinion on the Newsletter talk page.
[edit] Article guidelines
[edit] Title
The title of the article should be selected to maximize the chance that readers of the Wikipedia can find it. This means, among other things, that one should follow a uniform titling procedure for each genre. For example, a reader who has already successfully found Mozart's 40th symphony under Symphony No. 40 (Mozart) will expect that Haydn's 103rd symphony should be found under Symphony No. 103 (Haydn).
To find existing precedents for article titling, you can start by looking under Category:Compositions by composer.
Judgment calls will arise in works that have a famous nickname. For example, it would be clearly most useful to readers to label the famous string serenade by Mozart as Eine kleine Nachtmusik, and not Serenade No. 13 in G major for strings (Mozart). In borderline cases, consult other editors on appropriate talk pages before proceeding.
No matter what title you select, be sure to include redirect pages to help readers who search under different titles. For example, the link Serenade No. 13 in G major for strings (Mozart) given immediately above is in fact not a separate article, but a redirect to Eine kleine Nachtmusik.
[edit] Opus numbers vs. catalog numbers
The works of many composers' works are categorized by Opus number, as for instance in most of Beethoven's works. For other composers, the most usual way of referring to works is through the number assigned in quasi-official catalogs prepared by musicologists. Here is an incomplete list of composers whose works are usually referred with such catalogue numbers.
- Bach, J.S. - BWV
- Bela Bartók - Sz
- Anton Bruckner - WAB
- George Frederick Handel - HWV
- Joseph Haydn - Hoboken
- Note: The string quartets are normally referred to by opus number.
- Michael Haydn - P
- Franz Liszt - S
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Köchel-Verzeichnis (K)
- Domenico Scarlatti - K or KP (Kirkpatrick)
- Franz Schubert - D
- George Philipp Telemann - TWV
- Antonio Vivaldi - RV
[edit] Capitalization of musical keys
Key should be capitalized, but "major" and "minor" should be in lower case. For example, C sharp major; D minor.
[edit] Structure
All articles should begin a sentence that clearly identifies the piece, with the following suggested format:
- [Piece name] is an [work type], [opus number] written by [composer] in [date].
- Example: Caractacus is a cantata, Op. 35, written by Edward Elgar in 1898.
After this, a brief account of the piece in the context of the composer's life should be given (composer had just got back from... etc.). Further paragraphs may be used to describe the political, social, historical, and musicological context of the piece (e.g., "At the time the Napoleonic wars were raging in Europe..")
If an oratorio, or other dramatic work, a plot may be given - scene by scene preferably - followed by Dramatis Personæ. Preferably, the piece should have an in-depth musicological analysis hereafter - dynamics, performance quirks, instrumentation, key, etc. Where appropriate, include a listing of the movements.
A paragraph on the legacy and impact of the piece - how it has perhaps altered genres, began new styles, introduced new methods.
Finally, notable recordings and references - with links, so as to allow the reader to buy or obtain further information.
Keep in mind that all pieces are different; this is only a very loose and general guideline. However, one very firm point may be added: if something is not relevant to the piece, don't put it in.
[edit] Evaluative passages
In general, subjective personal responses to a work (for example, "the deeply touching, elegiac slow movement") should be avoided. If it is deemed appropriate to include such subjective interpretations, find existing source material in which critics present views of this kind, and quote the critics, including a citation of the source. Such quotations give readers an idea of how listeners have responded to a work and do not violate the Wikipedia's policy against original research.
[edit] Descriptions based on the score
In general, it is permitted to make factual observations based on examination of the musical score of a work. Such observations should be limited to those which would be agreed upon by virtually anyone with musical training, for instance "the trio section is in F major" or "the finale is in sonata form". Statements that are clearly interpretations, not observations ("the opening four notes of the Fifth Symphony are echoed by similar passages throughout the four movements") should not be inserted by editors, since they violate the policy against original research; though they can be quoted from source material if this is suitably cited.
For borderline cases, first place the proposed revision on the Talk page and get other editors' approval first.
[edit] Hierarchy definition
Pieces can be placed into one or more of the following categories:
