Wikipedia talk:Naming conventions (music)

:See also discussion started at category talk:musical compositions, derived from a RfC topic

Merger proposal

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section. A summary of the conclusions reached follows.

The apparent consensus was Do Not Merge. Votes - 0 Support, 3 Oppose and 0 Neutral. - Jayadevp13 02:33, 15 June 2013 (UTC)

---

I thought of the request for this merger when I noticed that an editor had linked the section Wikipedia:WikiProject Albums/Album article style guide#Naming in Template:Naming conventions. The standard usage of this template is to link to non-WikiProject pages in the Wikipedia namespace for naming convention guidelines. Essentially, the guidelines in Wikipedia:WikiProject Albums/Album article style guide#Naming state all the information regarding albums types that are not listed on Wikipedia:Naming conventions (music); in fact, Wikipedia:Naming conventions (music) currently only includes mentioning of modern-day albums in the opening sentence, and then is not mentioned ever again throughout the entire page.

...And that is why I propose that Wikipedia:WikiProject Albums/Album article style guide#Naming be merged into Wikipedia:Naming conventions (music). The information in the WikiProject could only expand Wikipedia:Naming conventions (music) due to its lack of wording. Steel1943 (talk) 22:56, 27 April 2013 (UTC)

• Oppose – The Naming section of the Album Article Style Guide is specific to albums, and articles about albums. That needs to be left where it is, it's a necessary part of the Album Article Style Guide. I do think it would be fine to expand the existing Bands, Albums, and Songs section of the Naming Conventions (Music) page. That might involve duplicating some of the material from the AASG, but there's nothing wrong with that. — Mudwater ^(Talk) 23:01, 5 May 2013 (UTC)

• Oppose per Mudwater. This material needs to be reworked, paragraph by paragraph, before it goes in Wikipedia:Naming conventions (music). --Kleinzach 05:24, 6 May 2013 (UTC)

• Comment - Wikipedia:Disambiguation#Partially disambiguated titles is now part of a guideline, which affect the Project's guidelines. --George Ho (talk) 11:35, 23 May 2013 (UTC)

• Oppose per Kleinzach. - Jayadevp13 02:33, 15 June 2013 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

Bands, albums and songs: Capitalization

Delete the section on capitalization. Our job is to report the name of a band or song, not create it. Normal capitalization rules apply, there is nothing special about song names or band names that calls for a section on capitalization. Apteva (talk) 21:17, 28 April 2013 (UTC)

I editted it to clarify that there's nothing new or special there, using links to the relevant style guidelines. Dicklyon (talk) 22:22, 28 April 2013 (UTC)

It does not work that way. We can not be making up song titles and band names. Apteva (talk) 16:41, 29 April 2013 (UTC)

I must admit to being confused by your comments. If, as you say, "normal capitalization rules apply", what is your objection to repeating/clarifying Wikipedia's capitalization policy in the music naming conventions? And what do you mean by "making up" titles and names?--ShelfSkewed Talk 16:59, 29 April 2013 (UTC)

If a band is called "The Beatles" we call it "The Beatles". If we call it "Beatles" that is something we made up. If a band is called "Foo Like Us", and we call it "Foo like Us", that is a name we made up. We have no reason to, and are prohibited from making things up. By saying we are not going to capitalize certain words is absurd, because we have no way of predicting whether those words are capitalized or not. Apteva (talk) 00:59, 30 April 2013 (UTC)

The guideline MOS:TM already makes it clear that we are not to make up styles not found in sources. Have you read it? It was linked in the section you deleted. It says "When deciding how to format a trademark, editors should choose among styles already in use by sources (not invent new ones) and choose the style that most closely resembles standard English, regardless of the preference of the trademark owner." Band names are trademarks ("words and short phrases used by organizations and individuals to identify themselves and their products and services"). And the song and album names are composition titles; have you read MOS:CT? Dicklyon (talk) 03:48, 30 April 2013 (UTC)

Capitalization is covered in WP:Naming conventions (capitalization), and it is not prudent to have the same convention repeated in multiple places, it just leads to the opportunity for content forks. The only item that I know of that is warranted in having a separate separate section on capitalization is birds species, which are capitalized differently than any other items. All editors are reminded to WP:AVOIDYOU, and direct the conversation to the group. As there are no special rules for band naming capitalization that are needed or wanted, the section should clearly be deleted. IF anyone wants a section, it should consist solely of See WP:Naming conventions (capitalization), but that is pretty pointless. Apteva (talk) 13:26, 18 May 2013 (UTC)

The section in the article parrots MOS:CT, which is where WP:NCCAPS sends you to figure out the "details" of when to capitalize particular words in the title of "works" which is what this page is about. I fail to see how reiterating that information here is harmful. (Redacted) AgnosticAphid talk 23:43, 20 May 2013 (UTC)

The danger is that as a content fork it is not going to be the same as WP:NCCAPS, and is too likely to diverge over time. This page is probably not watched as closely, which can lead to problems (48 for this page, 88 for NCCAPS, 616 for WP:AT). Apteva (talk) 06:14, 21 May 2013 (UTC)

I find it difficult to have frank conversations with those who are precluded from addressing certain topics, and nobody else seems to care about our squabbling, plus I don't think it's reasonable to just go around removing things wholesale from pages just because they're arguably redundant, and right now the page is fine, so I think I'll bow out of this one. AgnosticAphid talk 07:14, 21 May 2013 (UTC)

I think we can consider this topic closed unless some who supports Apteva's idea wants to step in. Dicklyon (talk) 16:05, 21 May 2013 (UTC)

Bands, albums and songs: Capitalization RfC

Is there anything about band names that requires a section on capitalization? Apteva (talk) 03:29, 22 May 2013 (UTC)

Bird names are different from all other capitalization rules, but band names? This appears to be a content fork from other locations where capitalization rules appear. For example here are the rules from NCCAPS:

• each word in English titles of books, films, and other works takes an initial capital, except for articles ("a", "an", "the"), the word "to" as part of an infinitive, prepositions and coordinating conjunctions shorter than five letters (e.g., "on", "from", "and", "with"), unless they begin or end a title or subtitle.

And here are the rules here:

capitalize the first and last word and all other words except:

• coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)
• prepositions shorter than five letters (in, to, over)
• articles (an, a, the)
• the word to when used to form an infinitive.

• Note that short verbs (Is, Are, and Do) and pronouns (Me, It, and His) are capitalized.

There are different suggestions in other locations, as well. It seems important to avoid content forks, for obvious reasons, which means deleting this section. Apteva (talk) 03:29, 22 May 2013 (UTC)

Discussion

• NCCAPS says about capitalization, "for details please refer to MOS:CT." MOS:CT has the same rules as this article. So I don't see your point about avoiding content forks. AgnosticAphid talk 14:16, 22 May 2013 (UTC)

• Context – When nom started the previous section above proposing the deletion of the capitalization section, the section indeed had a problem, in suggesting that the guidelines for composition titles applied also to band names. So I fixed that, and linked the underlying guidelines in MOS, which are not the same for band names (MOS:TM) and song/album names (MOS:CT). These seemed like effective clarifications, avoiding any potential confusion and making clear what the source of the caps summary for titles was, and making clear that we do not make up names or stylings, but use stylings of names that are in use. In subsequently deleting the section, even though nobody supported the idea of doing so, nom was found to be in violation of a topic ban against advocating that the MOS does not apply to titles; the community had spent way too much time on nom's various RFCs and disruptive edits to that effect over the last 9 months to have much appetite to open that discussion again. The topic ban was explicitly clarified and he was warned. When he came back here in the section above and again proposed deleting the section, several of us tried to damp that down, but he removed our comments; I noted above that I'd considered the issue closed pending any other editor coming along to support the idea. So why are we having an RFC again here? To test the ban boundaries, to see if advocating deleting reference to the MOS is OK as long as the MOS is not mentioned in the process? In a desperate attempt to find an editor who will jump in and advance his losing case? Or what? Dicklyon (talk) 15:13, 22 May 2013 (UTC)

  That is he or she, his or her, thank you. This is a little watched page (my talk page is better watched than this page), warranting the RfC. Apteva (talk) 06:55, 23 May 2013 (UTC)

• Comment I am watching this page and I am a bit puzzled by this Rfc. What exactly is the issue? My understanding is that proper nouns/names of organisations (including musical groups) are determined by the organisations themselves, not Wikipedia. Likewise song titles and album titles are as published. Or is it more complicated than that? --Kleinzach 07:06, 23 May 2013 (UTC)
  • Kleinzach, good question. Sometimes it's a little more complicated than that, which is why I thought it was best to have links to the relevant guidelines. Follow those links to MOS:TM (see the KISS example there), and to MOS:CT, and see if they answer your questions. Probably the "what exactly is the issue?" question remains hard to answer. Dicklyon (talk) 16:12, 23 May 2013 (UTC)
    • That does help me to understand the issue. Thank you. This begs the questions: what is and isn't a trademark? I see MOS:TM says "the Company names should normally be given in the most common form in English". That seems to contradict the idea that Wikipedia edits names. I also note MOS:CT#Trademarks. I don't think this is cut and dried.Kleinzach 00:39, 24 May 2013 (UTC)

• No problem. There may be no requirement, but there's also no harm in repeating or summarizing the capitalization conventions here. -- JHunterJ (talk) 11:00, 23 May 2013 (UTC)

• Support deletion of guideline per content fork argument. Kleinzach 00:47, 24 May 2013 (UTC)

If content fork is really your issue, we could solve that by shortening the section to just refer to the relevant guidelines and not repeat the capitalization scheme for title words. But from your remarks above, it's not clear that that's really your issue or that this would make you any happier. You didn't even know there were guidelines, so why would you suggest removing reference to them? Dicklyon (talk) 02:34, 24 May 2013 (UTC)

No, I don't have an issue, only an opinion. BTW I am aware of the MOS, or I should I say, many parts of it. --Kleinzach 02:55, 24 May 2013 (UTC)

OK, good. So is your opinion that it would be better to remove the duplication by just citing the relevant guidelines? Or not mention the guidelines at all? Or something else? Dicklyon (talk) 03:54, 24 May 2013 (UTC)

Deletion. I have clarified this above now. --Kleinzach 04:00, 24 May 2013 (UTC)

Got it; I'll take your addition of "of guideline" to mean you want to leave the section having only the links, removing the repetition of what title words to make lowercase. I could live with that, though it doesn't seem like it will help our audience. Let's see what anyone else thinks. Dicklyon (talk) 04:26, 24 May 2013 (UTC)

No, deletion of the whole guideline. In haste. --Kleinzach 05:07, 24 May 2013 (UTC)

"The guideline" could mean the MOS:TM or MOS:CT. But here we're talking about a section that links those guidelines. So I remain ambiguously wondering what you want... As before we started, I'll stop now and consider the matter dead unless someone comes in with a coherent idea in support of it. Dicklyon (talk) 05:10, 24 May 2013 (UTC)

• Support deletion of capitals guideline text per content fork argument, as just more unneeded rule-bloat. -Wikid77 (talk) 16:31, 26 May 2013 (UTC)
• Keep reference, delete expansion: There's no harm in pointing the reader to MOS:CT. Albums and songs are undoubtedly compositions, and our guidelines on composition titles undoubtedly apply. There's no reason to repeat them here, as that will possibly cause problems in the future if MOS:CT changes. I suspect Apteva's real problem is with MOS:CT itself, and that should be covered there. I can't see any reason that we would handle song titles and book titles differently.—Kww(talk) 20:45, 4 June 2013 (UTC)

Disambiguation of songs

It states that when two (or more) songs exists of the exact same name, the articles should be dab'd by <song title> (<name of artist> song). But it doesn't have any specific rules for articles like Bad Girl (Rihanna song). This song was initially performed by Rihanna and Chris Brown but their version wasn't released. It did however leak. The version by The Pussycat Dolls was released on a soundtrack. The leaked version by Rihanna managed to chart and the article wouldn't be notable enough if it didn't leak. But is it really her song? Since hers wasn't officially released. See also talk page for a move request with no consensus. Raykyogrou0 (Talk) 14:04, 14 September 2013 (UTC)

Hmm, User:Raykyogrou0 interesting question.

But WP Song editors are ignoring WP:NCM anyway, we have a succession of RM issues at WP:PDAB with 2 or 3 very vocal editors wanting to have a "primary song" and make readers play guess-the-artist. So what's the point of clarifying above when editors are deliberately ignoring what WP:NCM says about this subject anyway? In ictu oculi (talk) 11:06, 3 November 2013 (UTC)

Good point. Raykyogrou0 (Talk) 08:15, 4 November 2013 (UTC)

Disambiguation for a song by its first artist?

See Talk:High_Hopes_(Bruce_Springsteen_song)#Requested_move for the perhaps interesting details... Red Slash 22:07, 23 November 2013 (UTC)

Off the Wall example

There seems to be a bit of a problem with the Off the Wall (album) example, as The Ugly Ducklings also released an album with that name. —BarrelProof (talk) 07:28, 2 December 2013 (UTC)

Sure, if the Ugly Ducklings' album was notable enough to warrant its own article. Raykyogrou0 (Talk) 09:12, 2 December 2013 (UTC)

I suppose it is a question of original intent. The Off the Wall (album) example was put into WP:SONGDAB before the Off the Wall (Ugly Ducklings album) redirect existed on Wikipedia and before the album was listed at Off the wall (disambiguation). (The redirect was created by me – just before I made the above remark – after someone else noted that this album existed and was mentioned in The Ugly Ducklings.) So the question is whether the "(album)" naming practice was intended to apply only to unique names, or was intended to also be used in cases where other candidate topics may exist but are not covered as extensively on Wikipedia or appear to be significantly less notable. —BarrelProof (talk) 21:09, 17 December 2013 (UTC)

The problem just got worse. I found a link in a prior discussion, and updated Off the Wall with these (in addition to the previous two):

• Off the Wall, a 1997 album by John Abercrombie (guitarist) (under the pseudonym Lester LaRue) and Dan Wall
• Off the Wall, a 1978 album by Fat Larry's Band
• Off the Wall, a 1978 album by Ray Wylie Hubbard
• Off the Wall, a 2004 album by Jethro (comedian)
• Off the Wall, a 1964 album by Budd Johnson
• Off the Wall, a 1978 album by Roger Miller
• Off the Wall, a 1985 album by Yoshi Wada
• Off the Wall, a 2012 album by Yuksek

We now have approximately as many Off the Walls as Down to Earths. We clearly need an example with a more unusual name.

—BarrelProof (talk) 21:53, 17 December 2013 (UTC)

There are plenty of unusual album names out there, take your pick. Raykyogrou0 (Talk) 12:00, 18 December 2013 (UTC)

I replaced the example with H.M.S. Donovan (Donovan album). I tried to use Mellow Yellow (Donovan album), but it appears that several other albums named Mellow Yellow do exist. I doubt anyone else will name an album H.M.S. Donovan (and there are other non-album topics on the HMS Donovan dab page, so it seems unlikely that we'll remove "(album)" from the title either). —BarrelProof (talk) 20:28, 18 December 2013 (UTC)

• User:BarrelProof thank you for this, but I wonder if the titling instructions on WP:NCM just need to be scrapped entirely and all songs and albums include artist names. These titling guidelines were designed for people reading Wikipedia on PCs, and now - particularly in popular music - it will be a minority of users who access using PCs, and our titling needs to start working on Android and iPhone technology. In ictu oculi (talk) 07:16, 14 March 2014 (UTC)

  Personally, I agree with you that including the artist name in the title of an article about an album or song seems generally desirable and helpful for the reader – except perhaps in rare cases when it produces a silly degree of redundancy – e.g., H.M.S. Donovan (Donovan album). But I don't really see what that has to do with Android and iPhone technology. —BarrelProof (talk) 16:55, 29 April 2014 (UTC)

Simply that an iPhone search produces all possible main article infobox jpgs - such as album covers, wheras a Google search gives no infobox art. Hence disambiguation by album cover occurs. In ictu oculi (talk) 23:33, 19 May 2014 (UTC)

Disambiguate a soundtrack single.

There is this one single – Baby Doll which is from a soundtrack. There is already an article disambiguated with (song). But how to disambiguate this one from that? Should I use the composers name, eg: (Meet Bros Anjjan song) or singers? – Soham (talk) 17:19, 21 March 2014 (UTC)

Actually, the article formerly at Baby Doll (song) was moved to Baby Doll (Girlicious song) back in October 2013. This was done by In ictu oculi (IIO), saying that the Girlicious song is "not even remotely close to main subject, print references are to Fred Astaire song, Bruce Springsteen etc." There are various songs with that title listed at Baby Doll (disambiguation). To complete the process started by IIO, I just changed Baby Doll (song) into a redirect to Baby Doll (disambiguation). I suggest using the performer's name for the disambiguation of an article about a new song, unless for some reason it is more well known as being the work of the composer than the work of the performer. Please make sure that the new song is sufficiently noteworthy for an article to be devoted to it (which properly requires significant coverage of the song as a distinct topic discussed in depth in reliable sources) – a good alternative may be to discuss the song in an article about the artist, composer, or album. Don't forget to add the song to the disambiguation article Baby Doll (disambiguation). —BarrelProof (talk) 17:20, 29 April 2014 (UTC)

@BarrelProof: Thank you. I support this, ... the main reason being we have a strong bias to post 2005 or post 2010 article content. Yet in many if not most cases any common or generic title has already been used several times by artists of the 1930, 60s, 80s... WP:CRITERIA does not advocate making articles into a guessing game. In ictu oculi (talk) 23:30, 19 May 2014 (UTC)

Addition of WP:DISAMBIGUATION

Surprisingly the Dab section only listed WP:DABSONG not the main WP:DISAMBIGUATION. I have added it. That should not be controversial and cannot see any reason to be reversed. I have (2) spelled out what the guideline means and (3) added the Hurricane example. (4) I have redlinked the non existing H.M.S. Donovan (Donovan album) example for clarity. These changes are all open to discussion, and can be removed while discussion is ongoing. However as dab policy says (2) it is not too bold to add it into page history at this point. In ictu oculi (talk) 23:30, 19 May 2014 (UTC)

I removed "Hurricane", as a poor example. Hurricane as a title is already in use as a redirect. Further, it is WP:PRIMARYTOPIC already, and no music article would disturb that. Redirects are no less titles than any other title, and regular WP:PRIMARYTOPIC decisions apply to redirects. If a better example exists, feel free to propose it here. Dohn joe (talk) 17:25, 12 June 2014 (UTC)

Note: I did replace the link to WP:DISAMBIGUATION for general guidance. Dohn joe (talk) 17:27, 12 June 2014 (UTC)

Changing 1 day after this "discussion" took place is not discussion. I have reverted again. Happy to take to ANI if you prefer. --Richhoncho (talk) 00:35, 14 June 2014 (UTC)

19 May to 12 June is 25 days, by my count. And yes, if you choose not to revert yourself, I'd be happy to trot off to ANI. Hopefully that won't be necessary! Dohn joe (talk) 00:38, 14 June 2014 (UTC)

Btw - did you notice that your reversion(s) still include the link to WP:DISAMBIGUATION?? I only removed the portion of In ictu's additions that they admitted could be removed and brought here for discussion. Please revert. Dohn joe (talk) 00:41, 14 June 2014 (UTC)

• Dohn joe Please don't edit war back into guideline when additions are reverted. In ictu oculi (talk) 03:22, 5 July 2014 (UTC)

EP or (EP)?

Given lack of guidance I have added a line here that dab EP should be "(EP)" unless it is part of title. Feel free to revert/chop/edit/discuss as needed. In ictu oculi (talk) 07:17, 12 June 2014 (UTC)

Songdab - again.

I think it would be prudent to explain why songdab is at NCM and to point out that is is supported by a policy and not a guideline (AT -v- DAB). Without spending much time and happy for improvements, how about adding as a "nutshell" or something along lines of :-

The importance of specific albums and songs can change by year, by country, by genre and by language. As a result the project has avoided the problem of continual discussions and pages moves that could be caused by common words and phrases being used as titles by avoiding the guideline WP:Primarytopic when 2 or more songs (or albums) have the same name. This is supported by the policy, Wikipedia:Article titles.

On second thoughts, even I should be able to write that better, but the gist is there. --Richhoncho (talk) 09:54, 5 July 2014 (UTC)

Note that WP:PRIMARYTOPIC does not address questions of whether to use "(song)" or "(Michael Jackson song)", only whether any qualifier is needed at all -- so WP:SONGDAB does not avoid that guideline (but does correct the way the guideline is sometimes misunderstood). Which is a good thing, since the project does not get to decide to avoid broader guidelines; see WP:LOCALCONSENSUS. WP:SONGDAB is here instead of under the dab project because the dab project doesn't opine on what qualifiers to use when qualifiers are needed. -- JHunterJ (talk) 12:47, 5 July 2014 (UTC)

Hi, thanks for comments, all of which were understood, in no way should songdab be used to decide broader guidelines, but equally, the opposite shouldn't happen, either. If my sugestion wasn't clear I'd appreciate clarity.--Richhoncho (talk) 13:18, 5 July 2014 (UTC)

Your suggestion suggests that WP:SONGDAB avoids WP:PRIMARYTOPIC, which isn't true. If a song's title has the song as its primary topic (as determined by WP:PRIMARYTOPIC), the song article goes at the base name (with no qualifier). If a song's title has something other than the song as its primary topic (as determined by WP:PRIMARYTOPIC), the song article gets a qualifier as determined by WP:SONGDAB. There's nothing in WP:AT that supports avoiding WP:PRIMARYTOPIC. -- JHunterJ (talk) 17:36, 5 July 2014 (UTC)

Understood. Made a slight word change. Thanks for your comment. Is this better? --Richhoncho (talk) 17:45, 5 July 2014 (UTC)

It still suggests avoiding the guidelines (primary topic). It shouldn't suggest that any guidelines should be avoided. When two or more songs (or albums) have the same name, if one of them is the primary topic for the title, then it goes at the base name: no addition of "(song)" or "(Artist Name song)" is needed. For example, Welcome to the Jungle, Welcome to the Jungle (disambiguation), and Welcome to the Jungle (Neon Jungle song) are correctly arranged. -- JHunterJ (talk) 01:39, 8 July 2014 (UTC)

So why should one guideline take precedence over another? I do not understand. --Richhoncho (talk) 18:41, 8 July 2014 (UTC)

User:JHunterJ, that's a bad idea. Unlike cities and people the audience for pop songs is massively fragmented by genre. Also unlike cities and people we don't disproportionately cover cities and people built/born since circa 2010.

Also unlike cities we don't have such indistinguishable "primary topics" as Oh Yeah! Oh Yeah Ooh Yeah! Oh Yeah? Ooh Yeah and O Yeah. (I kid you not, these are all play-guess-the-band titles on our reader-hating song corpus... no wonder everyone I ask prefers allmusic). In ictu oculi (talk) 15:38, 14 July 2014 (UTC)

JHunterJ gets it exactly right. WP:SONGDAB picks up where WP:DAB leaves off. There is no conflict, and no need for avoidance - they complement each other. WP:DAB tells us when disambiguation is needed generally, and WP:SONGDAB tells us how to do it in the realm of songs/albums - but only where it's required in the first place. Dohn joe (talk) 16:48, 14 July 2014 (UTC)

User:Richhoncho, I'm saying no guideline takes precedence. Your proposed text has SONGDAB taking precedence over PRIMARYTOPIC, so you'll have to answer your question "So why should one guideline take precedence over another?". User:In ictu oculi, your examples don't illustration any bad-idea-ness. If there's no primary topic, then there's no primary topic, whether it's because of massive fragmentation by genre or coverage. OTOH, if there is a primary topic, then there is a primary topic, whether there is also massive fragmentation by genre or coverage. If the dab for Oh Yeah! and its variations needs to be at one of the base names (because that title has no primary topic), then it should be. If the other base names need to redirect to it (because those titles have no primary topics), then they should. If the titles have primary topics, then they should have hatnotes linking to the dab, as part of our reader-loving song corpus. -- JHunterJ (talk) 17:47, 14 July 2014 (UTC)

JHunter, hatnotes for songs don't love readers. Among myriad and generic byproducts of artists, readers with slow connections having to download articles to find out that they aren't what they wanted and the hatnote doesn't list what they wanted either, if there even is one, it is just so much simpler to use allmusic. Of these 6 titles Oh Yeah! Oh Yeah Ooh Yeah! Oh Yeah? Ooh Yeah and O Yeah one of those is likely to be by an artist a general music reader will recognise and the other 5 maybe recognise another two. How do our artist-less Oh Yeah! Oh Yeah Ooh Yeah! Oh Yeah? Ooh Yeah and O Yeah beat Allmusic's results displaying actual band names? In ictu oculi (talk) 22:46, 14 July 2014 (UTC)

If there's a primary topic, hatnotes love readers. If there's no primary topic, base-name dabs love readers. -- JHunterJ (talk) 01:31, 15 July 2014 (UTC)

JHunterJ that would work as a rule if 6 songs Oh Yeah! Oh Yeah Ooh Yeah! Oh Yeah? Ooh Yeah and O Yeah were 6 distinctive Italian towns, Collecorvino Colledara Colledimacine Colledimezzo Collelongo Collepietro. But 6 songs Oh Yeah! Oh Yeah Ooh Yeah! Oh Yeah? Ooh Yeah and O Yeah aren't 6 Italian towns they are (a) little different from six different romanizations of the same Telugu village, (b) 6 dependent byproducts only notable because 6 Artist Foos sang, (c) these are 6 WP:RECENT songs that have only WP:PrimaryRecentTopic because we do not cover songs prior to 2000 unless seriously notable, wheras from 2000 we cover every bit of five-minute fame. The 3 factors together make applying the golden rules which work reasonably well elsewhere in en.wp work very badly in songs - Collecorvino Colledara Colledimacine Colledimezzo Collelongo Collepietro are (a) fixed spellings, with (b) standalone notability, (c) each standing for 100s of years, none of which (a) (b) (c) applies to 6 songs Oh Yeah! Oh Yeah Ooh Yeah! Oh Yeah? Ooh Yeah and O Yeah.

Which is why allmusic is a pleasure to use, and navigating wikipedia songs articles is a nightmare. In ictu oculi (talk) 07:54, 15 July 2014 (UTC)

Quite, as per IIO. What is so hard to understand? --Richhoncho (talk) 08:33, 15 July 2014 (UTC)

Or, quite, as per Dohn joe. What is so hard to understand? Still, if the goal is to have SONGDAB trump PRIMARYTOPIC, this is the wrong forum. You'll probably need to raise it at the village pump. Here it would just be a WP:LOCALCONSENSUS, which is to be avoided. -- JHunterJ (talk) 12:27, 15 July 2014 (UTC)

"exist"

I'm thinking that the main problem to older Users with song/album articles, i.e. the enormous overweight of WP:RECENT creation of detailed single/album articles for circa 2008-2014 content, vs typically only artist bio mentions of albums for 1940-2000 content could be solved by an underscore of exist in the following:

Unless multiple albums (or songs) of the same name exist, they do not need to be disambiguated any further

This would prevent the current practice of adding "(song)" to articles which are really (song since 2008) or (album since 2008). The vast number of clashes with existing pre-2008 songs and albums could be prevented by reading "exist" as "exist" not as "have a standalone article" which is how the guideline is interpreted by some, perhaps even many, editors. In ictu oculi (talk) 02:08, 8 July 2014 (UTC)

Or, is there an alternative to underlining which would make the same meaning clearer? In ictu oculi (talk) 22:51, 14 July 2014 (UTC)

What should be done to the disambiguator of eponymous albums released by different musical acts?

To be clear, what are we supposed to do when there are (at least) two musical acts who share their name (for example Embrace (English band) and Embrace (American band)) who have, both, released an eponymous album?

Citing 3 different examples we have:

• Embrace (American album), a 1987 post-hardcore album released by Embrace (American band), and
• Embrace (English album), a 2014 alternative rock album released by Embrace (English band).

• Lucero (Lucero entertainer album), a 1993 pop album released by Lucero (Mexican entertainer), and
• Lucero (Lucero band album), a 2001 alt-country album released by Lucero (American band).

• Black (1987 album), a pop album released by Black (English singer), and
• Black (2011 album), a rock album released by Black (Bangladeshi band).

As more bands articles are being created every day, and some of them tend to share the name of another musical act, it is evident more non-related eponymous albums may have their own pages eventually. The question is, which it is supposed to be the "correct disambiguator" in all these circumstances? © Tbhotch^™ (en-2.5). 08:52, 7 August 2014 (UTC)

@Tbhotch: could you please remove piping from question so we can see the band article titles as they actually are? Thanks In ictu oculi (talk) 09:36, 7 August 2014 (UTC)

You can click through their articles, so, the answer is no. © Tbhotch^™ (en-2.5). 18:10, 7 August 2014 (UTC)

Ok, well for those who don't want to have to click open 12 articles to see where they are now, they are at:

Embrace (English band album) by Embrace (English band) vs Embrace (American album) by Embrace (American band)

Lucero (Lucero entertainer album) by Lucero (entertainer) vs Lucero (Lucero band album) by Lucero (band)

Black (1987 album) by Black (singer) vs Black (2011 album) by Black (Bangladeshi band)

Cheers. In ictu oculi (talk) 04:48, 29 August 2014 (UTC)

• Use existing artist dab - simple enough, in all these cases the artist is already at a clear existing article title, so just use the same dab existing clear artist article title, placed before artist name: [Embrace (American band Embrace album)], [Lucero (entertainer Lucero album], [Black (Bangladeshi band Black album)]. In ictu oculi (talk) 09:34, 7 August 2014 (UTC)
• Use existing artist dab as per IIO. Albums are, generally, disambiguated by artist name, not by country of origin or year of issue. Why should we adopt a new procedure? --Richhoncho (talk) 13:27, 7 August 2014 (UTC)

  In these three examples there is no "procedure", and many people has refused to use disambiguators inside disambiguator (as with Embrace (Embrace (English band) album) RM), so we need to adopt one for future cases. © Tbhotch^™ (en-2.5). 18:10, 7 August 2014 (UTC)

I thought somebody would query my use of the word "procedure" (I nearly went back and changed it!), but that is arguing semantics. The practice, the standard, the normal can of beans means that when there two albums/songs with the same title we disambiguate by the name of the artist, if there are two albums by artists with the same name then why not disambiguate the same as the artist? Saves lots of discussion about bugger all (and semantics!) --Richhoncho (talk) 18:17, 7 August 2014 (UTC)

• Dates! I rather like the date format. There might be a problem if there's two bands called the same thing and they both release an eponymous album in the same year but the answer there is to just find some specific hack for that individual problem. But the date solution looks tidy and doesn't require complex qualification afterwards. It looks like the simplest possible thing that could work. So let's do that! —Tom Morris (talk) 08:19, 9 August 2014 (UTC)

Yes I agree, the date format could work great. It's easy and simple. By the way, I noticed notability issues in some of the articles. They could end up in an AFD sometime soon.  ΤheQ Editor  ^Talk? 00:29, 22 August 2014 (UTC)

@Tom Morris: the problem is who remembers exact dates? compare Attack Attack! (album) and Attack! Attack! (album), without looking which is 2008 and which is 2010? If it was (1960s album) vs (2010s album) okay, but because our coverage is massively skewed to 2005-2014 content a lot of albums are only a year or two apart anyway. In ictu oculi (talk) 04:40, 29 August 2014 (UTC)

I prefer the stacked DAB method. WE have an Album named Embrace. We can't use that because there are 9 or more pages that could refer to. Embrace (album) still refers to at least 2 pages. The next step is to add the band Embrace (Embrace album) That still refers to 2 and we differentiate the bands by country in this case so Embrace (Embrace (English band) album). Simple, logical. Stack the dabs where needed. SPACKlick (talk) 13:17, 4 September 2014 (UTC)

Very logical, but not pretty or IMO reader-friendly. Nested parens work fine for computer programmers and poorly for everyone else. -- JHunterJ (talk) 13:29, 4 September 2014 (UTC)

Compositions (classical music)

This discussion may lead to an update of Wikipedia:Naming conventions (music)#Compositions (classical music):

Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Classical music#Schubert Sonata Articles Renamed

Kindly inviting to participate in that discussion. --Francis Schonken (talk) 07:11, 29 August 2014 (UTC)

Here's my update proposal following from the discussions at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Classical music#Schubert Sonata Articles Renamed

What follows is proposed as a replacement of all subsections of Wikipedia:Naming conventions (music)#Compositions (classical music) after the recently added subsection on capitalization:

---

Common name, italics, disambiguation and serialization

Compositions that fall under no generic composition type category are rare. Their name is treated as a proper noun (and thus and it is italicized). Their article title strictly follows the common name principle:

• Vexations
• 4′33″

Compositions that are one of a kind and nonetheless have a generic name, and so require neither italics nor not requiring additional disambiguation are even more exceptional:

• Arpeggione Sonata

When the name of a non-generic composition is neither unique nor the primary topic under this name, add the composer's last name as parenthical disambiguator:

• Syrinx (Debussy)
• Poème (Chausson)

Common name always applies when a composer composed only one instance of a generic type of composition:

• 1. X. 1905
• Siegfried Idyll
• Symphony on a French Mountain Air
• War Requiem
• Enigma Variations

Article titles on individual songs, lieder or arias are not italicised:

• Heidenröslein
• Madamina, il catalogo è questo
• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Compositions of a type A non-generic article title for an article on a composition that is unique to a composer are is only disambiguated by composer's name when such disambiguation is needed:

• A German Requiem (Brahms)
• Concerto in F (Gershwin) Deutsche Messe (Schubert)
• Ave Maria (Schubert)

When the name of such composition of a type that is unique to the composer is generic it is not italicised (not treated as a proper noun), and always disambiguated When a generic composition type is unique to a composer and also has a generic article title, then that article title is not italicised and always disambiguated:

• Requiem (Fauré)
• Piano Concerto (Dvořák)
• Sinfonia Concertante (Haydn)
• Symphony in D minor (Franck)
• Quodlibet, BWV 524

The key signature of a composition is only added to the article title when it is part of the common name of the composition. For generic names of compositions the formatting of the key signature is as described in Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Music#Accidentals, however avoiding special graphics (♭, ♯) in article titles.

As a disambiguator, key signatures can only be used in natural disambiguation, so they're never enclosed in parentheses, nor after a comma.

Disambiguation by catalogue number is usually avoided while these numbers have a low recognisability potential, and can only be used for these composers that have a single widely used catalogue covering all of their compositions:

• Bach: BWV
• Buxtehude: BuxWV
• Handel: HWV
• Mozart: K.: there is another reason to avoid this one as much as possible: there is a lot of variation in the numbers in subsequent editions of the catalogue.
• Schubert: D, use only D. numbers according to the latest version of the Deutsch catalogue in article titles, and where applicable explain former numbers in the article.

An advantage of disambiguation by catalogue number is however that compositions can be uniquely identified without taking a stance on who composed them:

• Uns ist ein Kind geboren, BWV 142 - composer uncertain, but disambiguated from similar works by, among others, Graupner and Telemann

Catalogue numbers can be added as disambiguator after the common name:

• Between parentheses: Violin sonata in A major (HWV 361)
• Separated by a comma: Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, BWV 51, The London Sketchbook, K. 15a–ss, Passacaglia in D minor, BuxWV 161

For D. numbers it is avoided to use them as exclusive disambiguator In titles of the works of Schubert, use of the D. Number should always be followed by the composer’s name in parentheses (alternatively:) Avoid D. numbers as exclusive disambiguator, in other words, an article title containing a Deutsch number schould always end on "(Schubert)":

• Wiegenlied, D. 498 (Schubert)

Opus numbers are only part of a generic name when the composition (or group of compositions) is usually indicated in that fashion:

• String Quartets, Op. 76 (Haydn)

Also opus numbers can not be used as exclusive disambiguator, they're always followed by the last name of the composer in parentheses.

Quotation marks should be avoided, except for the name of a theme in a set of variations that has no other proper name:

• Twelve Variations on "Ah vous dirai-je, Maman"
• Variations on "I Got Rhythm"

Other than that the article title for an article on a (set of) composition(s) should almost never contain quotation marks: an article title is either italicised as a proper noun or contains no quotation marks, with only a very few exceptions:

• Concerto in E-flat "Dumbarton Oaks"

When a composer wrote more than one composition of a similar type, multiple articles on such compositions form a series. The most standardized format for article names of such a series is as follows:

• [composition type] No. [number] ([last name of composer])

E.g.,

• Symphony No. 1 (Mahler)
• Symphony No. 104 (Haydn) (keep the parenthical disambiguator even if the article title is unique without it)

Deviations from this standardized format are only possible:

• when the composition is never numbered: e.g. Manfred Symphony, Ein Heldenleben, Rhapsody in Blue; If needed with disambiguation to the composer's name: e.g. Also sprach Zarathustra (Strauss)
• when the numbering is part of a composition's name as a proper noun, and only that proper noun is used to indicate the composition, e.g. Second Rhapsody
• when the article groups several compositions of the series, e.g. Preludes, Op. 23 (Rachmaninoff), Má vlast
• when numberings are ambiguous, or almost never used, e.g. Eine kleine Nachtmusik

When the usual standardization is not possible for the aforementioned reasons, a common format is nonetheless preferably maintained across related series for a particular composer:

• Try ro stay close to the standardized format
• Keep the same text up till the point where the differentiation is made.
• Apply similar layout and capitalization
• Keep the same disambiguator format throughout the series (either ending on a catalogue indicator and/or the composer's name)

The common name needs to be overwhelmingly better known to divert from these principles regarding serialization of compositions, e.g.:

• Piano Sonata No. 14 (Beethoven), not Moonlight Sonata: the standardized format for this piano sonata is fairly often used.

---

--Francis Schonken (talk) 09:46, 6 September 2014 (UTC)

Second version:

---

Articles not belonging to a series: common name and disambiguation

Compositions that fall under no generic composition type category are rare. Their article title strictly follows the common name principle:

• Vexations
• 4′33″

Compositions that are one of a kind and nonetheless have a generic name not requiring additional disambiguation are even more exceptional:

• Arpeggione Sonata
• Concerto for Horn and Hardart

When the name of a non-generic composition is neither unique nor the primary topic under this name, add the composer's last name as parenthical disambiguator:

• Syrinx (Debussy)
• Poème (Chausson)

Common name always applies when a composer composed only one instance of a generic type of composition:

• 1. X. 1905
• Siegfried Idyll
• Symphony on a French Mountain Air
• War Requiem
• Enigma Variations

A non-generic article title for an article on a composition that is unique to a composer is only disambiguated by composer's name or composition type when such disambiguation is needed:

• A German Requiem (Brahms)
• Deutsche Messe (Schubert)
• Ave Maria (Schubert)
• Wiener Blut (waltz)

Unless the composition type is truly one of a kind (exactly one composer with exactly one instance of the type} or is a set of variations disambiguated by their theme, generic compositions with a generic article title are always disambiguated by catalogue number and/or the name of the composer:When a generic composition type is unique to a composer and also has a generic article title, then that article title is always disambiguated:

• Requiem (Fauré)
• Piano Concerto (Dvořák)
• Sinfonia Concertante (Haydn)
• Variations on a Theme of Corelli
• Symphony in D minor (Franck)
• Quodlibet, BWV 524

Avoid however to disambiguate by composer when the composer is not known with certainty, or a composer's name would be otherwise misleading:

• Adagio in G minor, not Adagio (Albinoni), which redirects to the former

Key signature, catalogue number, opus number, and other additions to a composition's article title

Key signature

The key signature of a composition is only added to the article title when it is part of the common name of the composition. For generic names of compositions the formatting of the key signature is as described in Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Music#Accidentals, however avoiding special graphics (♭, ♯) in article titles.

As a disambiguator, key signatures can only be used in natural disambiguation, so they're never enclosed in parentheses, nor after a comma.

As key signatures are not always mentioned, can be ambiguous, and are often difficult to remember, they can't serve as an exclusive disambiguator, unless, exceptionally, as part of a non-generic common name article title, e.g. Great Mass in C minor.

Catalogue number

Disambiguation by catalogue number is usually avoided while these numbers have a low recognisability potential, and can only be used for these composers that have a single widely used catalogue covering all of their compositions:

• Bach: BWV
• Buxtehude: BuxWV
• Handel: HWV
• Mozart: K.: there is another reason to avoid this one as much as possible: there is a lot of variation in the numbers in subsequent editions of the catalogue.
• Schubert: D, use only D. numbers according to the latest version of the Deutsch catalogue in article titles, and where applicable explain former numbers in the article.

An advantage of disambiguation by catalogue number is however that compositions can be uniquely identified without taking a stance on who composed them:

• Uns ist ein Kind geboren, BWV 142 - composer uncertain, but disambiguated from similar works by, among others, Graupner and Telemann

Catalogue numbers can be added as disambiguator after the common name:

• Between parentheses: Violin sonata in A major (HWV 361)
• Separated by a comma: Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, BWV 51, The London Sketchbook, K. 15a–ss, Passacaglia in D minor, BuxWV 161

Avoid D. numbers as exclusive disambiguator, in other words, an article title containing a Deutsch number schould always end on "(Schubert)":

• Wiegenlied, D. 498 (Schubert)

Opus number

Opus numbers are only part of a generic name when the composition (or group of compositions) is usually indicated in that fashion:

• String Quartets, Op. 76 (Haydn)

Also opus numbers can not be used as exclusive disambiguator, they're always followed by the last name of the composer in parentheses.

Other additions

Following types of additions to a generic article title can only be added to the article title when they're part of the common name; They are not considered suffient as an exclusive disambiguator, so would usually require an additional composer/catalogue type of disambiguator:

• number of items in a set: Twenty Variations in G major (Haydn), Twelve Violin Sonatas, Op. 2 (Vivaldi), 12 Fantasias for Solo Violin (Telemann)
• instrumentation: Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments (Stravinsky), Sinfonia Concertante for Four Winds (Mozart)
• ethnic and/or stylistic indicators, exceptional: e.g. Overture in the French style, BWV 831, Hungarian Rhapsody No. 17 — an ethnic qualifier usually indicates a non-generic title: Bohemian Rhapsody, Rapsodie Espagnole, Italian Concerto (Bach).

Articles in series

When a composer wrote more than one composition of a similar type, multiple articles on such compositions form a series. The most standardized format for article names of such a series is as follows:

• [composition type] No. [number] ([last name of composer])

E.g.,

• Symphony No. 1 (Mahler)
• Symphony No. 104 (Haydn) (keep the parenthical disambiguator even if the article title is unique without it)

For concerto series, composition type includes soloist instrumentation (e.g. "Cello Concerto"). Also for sonata series the (soloist) instrumentation is mentioned in the composition type ("Violin Sonata"). Similar for most other types of chamber music ("Partita for keyboard", "Flute Quartet"). For other numbered series the instrumentation is only mentioned when not what one would usually expect, e.g. "Symphony for Organ". Other additions when well-estabished, e.g. "Hungarian Rhapsody" for the series of compositions by Liszt.

Deviations from this standardized format are only possible:

• when the composition is never numbered: e.g. Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra in E major (Mendelssohn), Manfred Symphony, Ein Heldenleben, Rhapsody in Blue; If needed with disambiguation to the composer's name: e.g. Also sprach Zarathustra (Strauss)
• when the numbering is part of a composition's non-generic name, and only that non-generic name is used to indicate the composition, e.g. Second Rhapsody
• when the article groups several compositions of the series, e.g. Preludes, Op. 23 (Rachmaninoff), Má vlast
• when numberings are ambiguous, or almost never used, e.g. Cello Concerto in A major (Dvořák), Eine kleine Nachtmusik
• when the composition type has only been used in a series by one composer, which makes the composer disambiguator redundant, e.g. Hungarian Rhapsody No. 19

When the usual standardization is not possible for the aforementioned reasons, a common format is nonetheless preferably maintained across related series for a particular composer:

• Try to stay close to the standardized format and/or the common name.
• Keep the same text up till the point where the differentiation is made.
• Apply similar layout and capitalization
• When a disambiguator is used throughout the series, keep to the same disambiguator format (ending on a catalogue indicator and/or the composer's name)

The common name needs to be overwhelmingly better known to divert from these principles regarding serialization of compositions, e.g.:

• Piano Sonata No. 14 (Beethoven), not Moonlight Sonata: the standardized format for this piano sonata is fairly often used.

---

--Francis Schonken (talk) 23:31, 10 September 2014 (UTC)

OK, went life with this one --Francis Schonken (talk) 06:36, 15 September 2014 (UTC)

Discussion of proposals

• Comment Francis Schonken refers to the recently added subsection on capitalization at Wikipedia:Naming conventions (music)#Compositions (classical music . However, there is still some absence of clarity. For example:

---

• Usually in all other cases:
  • Violin Sonata (Franck)
• However, not always:
  • Violin sonata in A major (HWV 361)

---

Can I suggest: Where the title of an article refers to a generic form of music, the words following the first should not be capitalized - thus Violin sonata, Piano trio. Where a particular piece is referred to, the form should be capitalized , e.g. Violin Sonata (Franck), Violin Sonata in A major (HWV 361) (but see my comment below), Piano Sonata in C major D. 613 (Schubert).

I am also very leery of using only catalogue numbers in titles without the name of the composer. This pratice seems to me to militate against lay users of Wikipedia who are not as learned as some editors. I also believe the catalogue number should be without brackets, but the name of the composer should be bracketed: thus Piano Sonata in C major D. 613 (Schubert), Violin Sonata in A major HWV 361 (Handel).

I also raise here an issue concerning Beethoven's Piano Sonatas. The titles are only given by number in WP, thus Piano Sonata No. 29 (Beethoven). I submit that (setting aside the 'Hammerklavier' nickname) this piece is more widely known, or would be more widely recognised, as 'Op. 106' than as 'no. 29'. Thus on analogy with Piano Sonata in C major D. 613 (Schubert), it might be better retitled Piano Sonata No. 29 Op. 106 (Beethoven)... and so on with the other Sonatas.

I may later have some other comments on other of these proposals.--Smerus (talk) 10:38, 6 September 2014 (UTC)

• Re. sonata/Sonata: the Handel sonatas are not capitalized, and that seems to be a long-standing example in this naming conventions guideline. If you want it otherwise (there are a few dozen of these sonatas), I'd suggest you run a WP:RM (of the type requesting multiple page moves at the same time). I don't care either way. But I propose no change in the guideline in this respect unless such wider agreement is reached (or at least someone moves all these sonatas to the capitalized version, and those versions prove stable).
• Re. disambiguating on catalogue indicator without naming the composer: see Wikipedia talk:Naming conventions (music)/Archive 1#Proposal: addition of a new section - the approved version of that broadly participated in consensus gauge contains Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, BWV 51. For a change of that consensus a survey at least as broad as the previous one would be needed. Or at least hundreds of pages moved without opposition. My current proposal already limits severely to only, and in exceptional cases, HWV, BWV and K. (the last one even rarer), and no others. Anyway, I'm opposed to changing practice by guideline instruction without established broad acceptance.
• Re. added opus numbers, after the sequential number by type of work: oppose. Even for Beethoven's Op. 111. Also, Piano Sonata No. 14 Op. 27, No. 2 (Beethoven), with two different "No. XX"s, would be going nowhere. --Francis Schonken (talk) 13:14, 6 September 2014 (UTC)

I think the lower case "s" in the Handel sonatas is an outlier and they should all be moved to titles in line with other such works. I wonder what their creator, User:GFHandel, would opine now. -- Michael Bednarek (talk) 14:08, 6 September 2014 (UTC)

I agree with Michael Bednarek . Moreover, the problem now arises from Francis Schonken's responses - what is the point of setting out proposals for standards 'for broad acceptance' if there is no consistency within them? The number of articles that do not conform to a standard are no argument either way as to whether that standard should be introduced. Wny HWV, BWV and K. as privileged catalogue numbers? - as I have pointed out, they mean nothing to lay readers of Wikipedia without the composers' names being present. And if you have thse, why not Hoboken numbers for J Haydn? Why, exactly is having two "No. XX"s in a title "going nowhere"? - the example cited of Piano Sonata No. 14 Op. 27, No. 2 (Beethoven), (without Beethoven in brackets), is a commonplace in concert programmes - or, for example here in IMSLP, a well respected source, which does include Beethoven in brackets. The thing is, to make obiter dicta and put forward potentially binding proposals on such a basis is a form of WP:OR, which should not carry weight in itself. We should take a look, in this context, of the forms of titling used by other sources, such as IMSLP, and we might even learn from them. Looking at IMSLP standards in particular (for instance) - and as a website which lists even more individual pieces than Wikipedia - their standard for music written in generic forms seems to be [Musical form in capital letters] [key] [No. if any] [catalogue or opus no. if any] [composer in brackets] - why not adopt this for WP as well?--Smerus (talk) 14:20, 6 September 2014 (UTC)

I might just add that the proposed standards of Francis Schonken above, which as I understand them would replace (e.g.) the present Piano Sonata in C major D. 613 (Schubert) with Piano Sonata in C major D. 613, runs against the consensus (of all but one editor) in the discussion on Schubert piano sonatas of only a few days ago, which was satisifed with the former of these versions.--Smerus (talk) 17:51, 6 September 2014 (UTC)

I also support the earlier consensus. Using "(Schubert)" in titles is both reader-friendly and safe from confusion from catalogs for other composers. Opus33 (talk) 18:00, 6 September 2014 (UTC)

By the way, Francis Schonken justifies omitting the name of the composer, whilst using a catalogue number, by citing Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, BWV 51 (which perhaps by mistake he gives here in un-italicized form, against his own proposed standards). But as no other composers have (as far as I am aware) composed a 'Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen', this would anyway be covered by his point "Common name always applies when a composer composed only one instance of a generic type of composition" - this might better read, by the way, "Common name always applies when a composer composed only one uniquely titled instance of a generic type of composition" . There is no need to include the name of the composer in such unique works, I agree. --Smerus (talk) 18:59, 6 September 2014 (UTC)Also there is

Smerus, please, don't go overboard. Opus 33, also.

E.g., what would be unclear about "For D. numbers it is avoided to use them as exclusive disambiguator" + example in the proposal?

Re. "Piano Sonata No. 14 Op. 27, No. 2 (Beethoven)": I don't think it a good idea. Let's hear from some others.

Re. "scores:Piano Sonata No.14, Op.27 No.2 (Beethoven, Ludwig van)" — WP:OTHERSTUFFEXISTS, we don't follow scores:Piano Sonata No.1, D.157 (Schubert, Franz) either. My recent proposal to start using numbers for Schubert's piano sonatas was met with "no, because of the existence of the other numbering scemes". We don't do something because others do it.

Re. "Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, BWV 51": that's how it got consensus, I was just quoting without altering layout (from a procedure that led to consensus some time ago, probably before italicisation was possible for article titles). The proposal above of course has an italicised Bach cantata, Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, BWV 51, as it is in the guideline currently.

--Francis Schonken (talk) 20:37, 6 September 2014 (UTC)

Re. "I think the lower case "s" in the Handel sonatas is an outlier and they should all be moved to titles in line with other such works. I wonder what their creator, User:GFHandel, would opine now." — Move the pages, or find consensus before moving them. I don't care either way. The example is now in the guideline, the pages are currently at lower case "s", I didn't change consensus. When you prefer to see consensus changed, act accordingly, and of course the guideline will express consensus "as is". --Francis Schonken (talk) 21:02, 6 September 2014 (UTC)

I apologise for having misconstrued and therefore misrepresented your proposals insofar as they relate to Schubert sonatatas, etc. You write in the proposals: “For D. numbers it is avoided to use them as exclusive disambiguator”. It would perhaps be more explicit to have a rule on the lines of “In titles of the works of Schubert, use of the D. Number should always be followed by the composer’s name in brackets”.--Smerus (talk) 19:17, 7 September 2014 (UTC)

Updated the proposal according to this clearer formulation, also offering this alternative: Avoid D. numbers as exclusive disambiguator, in other words, an article title containing a Deutsch number schould always end on "(Schubert)" (see above). --Francis Schonken (talk) 20:35, 7 September 2014 (UTC)

Here is however another catalogue we might need to mention in the list of "allowed" exclusive catalogue disambiguators: BuxWV, see e.g. its use in Passacaglia in D minor, BuxWV 161. --Francis Schonken (talk) 12:11, 8 September 2014 (UTC)

• Only a minor comment, but up to now we've always had a comma before opus and catalogue numbers. AFAICS Francis has consistently retained that in his proposal, but some of the later comments have suggested forms without that comma. That would lead to inconsistency. --Stfg (talk) 20:11, 7 September 2014 (UTC)
  • Personally I don't like the comma in the double disambiguator combination "[article title needing additional disambiguation], [first disambiguator] ([second disambiguator]). It combines the second and the third method of WP:AT#Disambiguation. Generally I'd prefer for an article title to keep to one of those two methods, and everything before it natural disambiguation (first method per WP:AT#Disambiguation). For that reason I prefer Piano Sonata in E major D. 157 (Schubert) as it is now to Piano Sonata in E major, D. 157 (Schubert) as it used to be. However, I chose existing examples (meaning, examples which have more stability than a few days) which usually have the comma. For the formulation of the guidance I didn't want to make the new format of the Schubert sonatas impossible. Another possibility would be to write guidance that takes a clearer stance on this, in which case I'd prefer to steer towards the "one method for non-natural disambiguation per article title" approach. --Francis Schonken (talk) 20:35, 7 September 2014 (UTC)

Examples

Looking for good examples for the guideline update proposal above I chanced upon this one: Eine Kleine Gigue in G for Keyboard, K. 574 - which is not OK according to current guidance I suppose (nor would it be OK according to the proposed updates):

• It starts out as a proper noun (based on a nickname I suppose), Eine Kleine Gigue (which shculd be italicised Eine Kleine Gigue)
• then a key signature is added ("in G"), which should be "in G major" while it doesn't appear to be part of the proper name (like it is for Gershwin's Concerto in F)
• then after the key an instrument is added "... for Keyboard" (isn't that a bit late in the sequence?)
• finally, a comma separated catalogue number disambiguator ", K. 574" - I'm fairly sure Eine Kleine Gigue is a quite unique name, so why add further disambiguation?

Let's discuss this example for what it should be ideally moved to: I suppose either Eine Kleine Gigue or Gigue in G major, K. 574. --Francis Schonken (talk) 21:11, 7 September 2014 (UTC)

Another fault in K. 574's current article name is the spelling of "kleine" which should not be in upper case. Mozart called it "Eine kleine Gigue für das klavier" (NMA IX/27/2 p. XVII) (with a lower case "k" in "klavier" which does not conform to normal German spelling rules today). Anyway, the best name in this case seems to me your 2nd proposal, Gigue in G major, K. 574. -- Michael Bednarek (talk) 06:13, 8 September 2014 (UTC)

Bach cantatas and comma — Mozart's masses

I have no time to read all this properly, but here are two comments:

The Bach cantatas appear - after discussion in 2010 - with the title italic, comma, BWV number, no composer, for example Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, BWV 51, with the exception of no comma when a title ends with an exclamation mark, such as Erschallet, ihr Lieder, erklinget, ihr Saiten! BWV 172. I hope we don't have to add "(Bach)" to all of them. (Please remember that until the 2010 consensus, they would have been just the titles, with no help to what the German words might mean.) I like the comma separating the title from the disambiguation, even if the italic shows it a bit.

I am not so sure about the key in a name. In several cases a key is used as part of a name, such as Missa in D, - or would it be Missa in D? In others cases it seems to be more another kind of disambiguation, as in Schubert's piano sonatas. How will we handle that? In early music, you often don't have major or minor but some church mode. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:47, 8 September 2014 (UTC)

Re. Missa in D: I can't find any "content" article under such title. I found some redirects:

• Missa in B minor redirects to Missa, BWV 232a
• Missa in C minor redirects to Great Mass in C minor (a work by Mozart)
• Missa Brevis in D redirects to Missa Brevis (Britten)
• Missa brevis No. 2 (Mozart) is in D minor
• Missa brevis No. 4 (Mozart) is in D major
• Requiem Mass in D minor redirects to Requiem (Mozart)
• Mass in D (Beethoven) redirects to Missa solemnis (Beethoven)
• there is also Mass in D (Smyth)
• Mass No. 1 (Bruckner) is a work in D minor.

There are some issues with whether or not to use italics, with capitalization, with whether or not minor or major should be added, and with whether or not to disambiguate by composer or catalogue number in these examples. Missa in D and Missa in D are both out as far as I'm concerned. However I suppose Gerda Arendt is hinting at something like Concerto in F, an actual page name, and an actual example used in the update proposal above.

Re. "In others cases it seems to be more another kind of disambiguation, as in Schubert's piano sonatas", indeed e.g. Piano Sonata in D-flat major D. 568 (Schubert) and Piano Sonata in E-flat major D. 568 (Schubert) are exactly only disambiguated by key signature. In WP:AT logic we're speaking about the "natural disambiguation" concept here, see (first disambiguation method mentioned at WP:AT#Disambiguation). See also the answer I gave at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Classical music#A conflict in guidelines: "... for Schubert's piano sonatas the key is usually given. Which is only logical, while not all publications (both recordings and scores), as surprising as that may seem, give D. numbers, e.g. [1]. Key is about all that is left then for recognisability (... or the odd moniker)".

Key signature as part of a proper name and key signature as a natural disambiguator are both explained in the guideline proposal above. Even if you don't have time to read all of the discussion, I hope you find time to read #Common name, italics, disambiguation and serialization, the actual proposal, and let us know whether it handles the key signature issue satisfactorily in your view. Same for the BWV disambiguation issue. (yeah, maybe it is easier to type some words, than read those others have typed... well, that goes for your co-editors too...) --Francis Schonken (talk) 08:12, 8 September 2014 (UTC)

I had a closer look at current article titles for Bach's masses (BWV 232 to 236):

1. Mass in B minor (= BWV 232)
2. Missa, BWV 232a (earlier "Lutheran mass" version of BWV 232)
3. Missa (Bach) discusses the four other Lutheran masses

Seems a bit akward to me. Missa is a generic name, apart from BWV 232a Bach wrote four of them, so I'd keep #2 not italicized, i.e. Missa, BWV 232a. For #3 I'd go for a descriptive name Bach's Lutheran masses or something in that sense. --Francis Schonken (talk) 10:09, 8 September 2014 (UTC)

I removed the italics from BWV 232, thank you for pointing that out. If you have a good descriptive name for the masses of only Kyrie and Gloria, great, - a discussion on the German Wikipedia told me that Lutherische Messe (Lutheran mass) is misleading, however frequently used. - No more time right now for the other questions, later, please understand. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 10:30, 8 September 2014 (UTC)

No problem, take your time, I think we can agree not to rush this.

I suppose you meant 232a (#2), not 232 (#1).

Bach's missae breves would be correct for #3, downside being that the plural of missa brevis might appear akward to many. Masses BWV 233—236 would have the downside of using a range of BWV numbers, but I'd still prefer it over the current name. --Francis Schonken (talk) 10:50, 8 September 2014 (UTC)

Since the content of #3 links to all Latin-language liturgical compositions by Bach, I'd settle for Bach's church music in Latin when we give somewhat more of a Wikipedia:Summary style structure to the article for the links to Mass in B minor, Missa, BWV 232a, Magnificat (Bach) and Gloria in excelsis Deo, BWV 191

Right, I meant BWV 232a. Should that be Missa in B minor, BWV 232a? The article Missa (Bach) was derived from a former Missa Brevis, that's where the present name comes from. I don't think an article name should require knowledge of a Latin plural. - Mass in B minor seems to be THE common name of one unique piece (a case where the key is part of the name), therefore I always had it italic, until it was changed. Many links are still italic, I bet. - When I mentioned Missa in D I had no particular piece in mind but works without an article yet by let's say Monteverdi, see Missa in F in Selva morale e spirituale. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:08, 8 September 2014 (UTC)

Regarding the Bach masses:

• In my view Mass in B minor should not be italicized, for the same reasons we don't italicise Missa solemnis in C major. Whether or not Mass in B minor is its common name, whether or not it is a unique name and whether or not the key signature is part of the name are all irrelevant for italicization. When to italicize is explained in WP:ITALICTITLE, it has: "Use italics when italics would be used in running text": afaik Mass in B minor is not usually italicised in running text. Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Titles#Italics has this example: "Symphony No. 2 by Gustav Mahler, known as the Resurrection Symphony ...". What I say is that Mass in B minor is closer to Symphony No. 2 in that example, than to Resurrection Symphony. Mass in B minor is a generic name for a composition, thus it should not be italicized, as opposed to, for example, Glagolitic Mass.

A mass is also a generic composition type, whatever the uniqueness and originality of Bach's composition. A rather exceptional key signature doesn't change that. Generic composition types with a generic name are always disambiguated (unless the composition type is truly one of a kind accross all composers like the Arpeggione Sonata). General Wikipedia rules are not to add a disambiguator to article topics that are unique or that are the primary topic under that name. For classical compositions there are well established exceptions, like the series. But also, for example, Concerto for Flute, Harp, and Orchestra (Mozart). So, Mass in B minor, BWV 232 would probably be better.

I think the current wording and examples of Wikipedia:Naming conventions (music)#Unique names more than a bit confusing:

• All examples are in italics, while, for example, Arpeggione Sonata is both unique and not italicised. Gretchen am Spinnrade would be another one.
• "If the name of the piece is unique to that one piece, then the title should be the name of the piece alone" — yeah, sure, but we do Symphony No. 104 (Haydn) following another subsection in the same guideline.

It is all of this contradiction and ambiguity I tried to straighten out with my proposal above.

• Missa, BWV 232a works for me without alteration.
• For #3 I'd go for Bach's church music in Latin, as I explained above.

I have no idea for stile antico compositions, but I suppose the same principles can apply. --Francis Schonken (talk) 20:30, 8 September 2014 (UTC)

Believe it or not, I am returning from rehearsal, and we sang the Missa in F by Monteverdi I mentioned above ;) - We now have a stub article each for the Missae 233 to 236, Missa, BWV 233 etc. - We have (after discussion) Christmas Oratorio, St John Passion and St Matthew Passion, without any dab because Bach's works are the pieces most frequently meant, - it simply saves time not having to pipe them. I see Mass in B minor in the same category, - there isn't even any other, while there are several Christmas oratorios and Passions - but will not fight over it. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:41, 8 September 2014 (UTC)

Some issues regarding Mozart's masses:

• Category sorting in Category:Masses by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is a mess, at least counter-intuitive
• Numbered missae breves:
  • only two capitalize "Brevis" (Missa Brevis No. 7 (Mozart), Missa Brevis No. 8 (Mozart))
  • A few are difficult to find by number, e.g. Sparrow Mass appears to be Missa brevis No. 10 — the table in List of masses by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart doesn't help, the numbering in the first column doesn't correspond with the numbering of the numbered missae breves.
  • No. 6 misses the (Mozart) disambiguator: Missa brevis No. 6
• Other issues:
  • Missa solemnis in C major and Missa solemnis (Mozart) are not properly disambiguated, both are a missa solemnis in C major by Mozart (I don't think this can be solved without mentioning a K. number in the article title, or, alternatively, year of composition).
  • There's no No. 8 in the table at List of masses by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - whatever happened to that one (even if there's no Wikipedia article)?

Anyone care to help out with this?--Francis Schonken (talk) 11:35, 13 September 2014 (UTC)

Discussion contiued at Talk:List of masses by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart#Why no Missa brevis No. 5? --Francis Schonken (talk) 10:34, 16 September 2014 (UTC)

More examples

see prior discussion at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Classical music#Other Schubert sonatas (and fantasies)

I propose these page moves:

• Grand Duo (Schubert) → Sonata in C major for piano four-hands D. 812 (Schubert)
• Violin Sonata in A (Schubert) → Violin Sonata in A major D. 574 (Schubert)

Further, the second of these is the primary topic for Grand Duo (Schubert), so redirect and disambiguation hatnotes should reflect that.

Alternatively, after moving the four-hands sonata, redirect Grand Duo (Schubert) to Grand Duo, a new disambiguation page which might list, besides the two Schubert sonatas menioned above, Grand Duo concertant (Chopin and Franchomme) and Gran Duo Concertante.

Also this page move:

• Fantasia in F minor (Schubert) → Fantasia in F minor for piano four-hands D. 940 (Schubert)

Thoughts? --Francis Schonken (talk) 08:12, 8 September 2014 (UTC)

D or D.?

My proposal above abbreviates Deutsch to "D." (with a period). Before this is transferred to the guideline we should try to find consensus whether this is the way we're going to keep references to the Deutsch catalogue. Please don't discuss here but at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Classical music#While we have your attention... "D" or "D."? --Francis Schonken (talk) 09:43, 11 September 2014 (UTC)

When (song) and (instrumental) both exist

When FOO (A song) and FOO (B song) both exist, and one is determined to be an instrumental do we move to FOO (song) and FOO (instrumental) removing artist names A and B. Or do we retain A and B? Noting that pop songs/instrumentals very often lose or add lyrics in covers. NB: Evidently if (composition) is used the question should not arise since both songs and instrumentals are compositions. In ictu oculi (talk) 23:16, 13 September 2014 (UTC)

• Comment. We only need one unique disambiguator per title. As per the convention, "(song)" = has words. "(instrumental)" and "(composition)" are synonyms here, and = no lyrics. So yes, we could have FOO (song) and FOO (instrumental), or FOO (song) and FOO (composition). Dohn joe (talk) 01:46, 14 September 2014 (UTC)

FWIW The article I think you are both discussing says it is a song! Whether this is true I don't know, but there does seem to be a problem using instrumental if the two words are interchangeable. I also note another article was moved yesterday to instrumental even though the text reads "is an instrumental except for..." Composition is equally misleading because we need to define if it is a musical composition rather than any other kind of composition. Instrumental has similar problems. All in all, it would be nice for WP to have a guideline we can stick to, but I am not sure what it should be and I can see loads of exceptions. --Richhoncho (talk) 08:48, 14 September 2014 (UTC)

User:Richhoncho I would agree there are significant problems. I presume User:Dohn joe you are not saying we can have FOO (song) and FOO (composition) coexist, or you would have to say we could have John Smith (person) and John Smith (footballer) coexist as titles. In ictu oculi (talk) 02:44, 17 September 2014 (UTC)

Correct me all if I am wrong but the page begins with "Any substantive edit to this page should reflect consensus.". I noticed In ictu oculi added the next phrase recently (while this is "under discussion" to be precise): "However if another (song) exists, both the (song) and the (instrumental) will still require artist name." Is there any consensus to make this substantive edit, or it was added to the page arbitrarily? © Tbhotch^™ (en-2.5). 02:32, 17 September 2014 (UTC)

Tbhotch, I added (under discussion) to get discussion going and why you're here discussing. No there isn't consensus yet which is why it has an "(under discussion)" tag on it and why I opened this talk page section. In ictu oculi (talk) 02:44, 17 September 2014 (UTC)