Tagging classical music

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(31-03-2014 10:27)Alpina_Lux Wrote:  For example, I have around 60 recordings of Chopin's 1st piano concerto, among them probably two dozen by Martha Argerich alone. I need to be able to search for a specific recording of that work and distinguish live and studio recordings; I'd also like to see the label if it has been published.

Dear fellow-German,

you even beat me on that and I'm a pretty obsessive collector

(31-03-2014 10:27)Alpina_Lux Wrote:  It seems that the following tags are required in that case:
- composer (Chopin)
- composition (piano concerto no. 1 op. 11)
- orchestra (e.g. Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal)
- conductor (e.g. Charles Dutoit)
- soloist (M. Argerich)
- recording date (e.g. 1999)
- recording venue (e.g. Montréal)
- recording type (live / studio)
- label (e.g. EMI)

I assume the "Group" tag will also be necessary, in order to be able to link the three movements of the relevant composition together, as well as to be able to include any encores that are given in case of a live performance.

Quite complex, all this!

You could do it this way, which indeed would be the most accurate but also most complex way of doing things. You will probably find soon that you will have to spend excessive time keeping all those tags straight.

I have taken a more simplistic approach by defining "Album" at "Composition" level. Which saves me a compsiotn tag and the Grouping feature.

If I now have a hand full composition with the same soloist, I'd distinguish them in the "Album" tag as follows:

Chopin: Klavierkonzert Nr 1 op. 11 - Zimmerman / Karajan
Chopin: Klavierkonzert Nr 1 op. 11 - Zimmerman / Polish Festival
Chopin: Klavierkonzert Nr 1 op. 11 - Argerich / Dutoit
Chopin: Klavierkonzert Nr 1 op. 11 - Argerich / Abbado
etc.
etc.

I use the "Date" tag to tag the date (usually just the year) of recording. Label I am also tagging as you suggest (some also use the "Organization" tag for it - dosnt really matter. Recording venue is not of such overwhelming importance to me so I dont tag that one. But just to give another example: I have a large collection of organ music, so I have defined a Tag "Organ" where I fill in the used Instrument (Silbermann-Orgel in the Freiberg Dom etc...).

So indeed Minimserver is amazingly flexible and you can define any tag that best reflects your needs - just dont make it too complicated otherwise you'll spend more time tagging than listening...

Viel Glück
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