What is the use of COMPILATION tag with classical music?

[Apesbrain]

It's not uncommon for a classical album to feature compositions by multiple composers. Out of habit I've been tagging these COMPILATION=1, but now I'm wondering whether there is any sense to this. Is there any use case with LMS where a COMPILATION tag on classical music would serve a valid purpose? Thanks.

[Daverz]

It's not uncommon for a classical album to feature compositions by multiple composers. Out of habit I've been tagging these COMPILATION=1, but now I'm wondering whether there is any sense to this. Is there any use case with LMS where a COMPILATION tag on classical music would serve a valid purpose? Thanks.

I only use it on multiple disc sets with multiple composers and no obvious album artist.

[BJW]

I have a large collection but only 5% or so is classical. However, for me if a CD isn't "someones" like say mozarts, or Arthur fielders, it generally is a comp imo. So I guess I go by either a unified composer, or unified conductor / orchestra, and if not, it's a comp... there may be exceptions, but again, generally speaking, that's what I do.

I guess the usage case is to separate comps from more traditional classical CDs in a listing.

[dolodobendan]

It's not uncommon for a classical album to feature compositions by multiple composers. Out of habit I've been tagging these COMPILATION=1, but now I'm wondering whether there is any sense to this. Is there any use case with LMS where a COMPILATION tag on classical music would serve a valid purpose? Thanks.

I never thought about that. How would you tag a live recording with a piano concerto (e.g. Schumann) and a violin concerto (e.g. Beethoven)? I wouldn't call this a compilation despite it having two different composers, genres, and potentially soloists. My guess would be that there's more headache than an actual purpose in using the COMPILATION tag here. In my little bubble, a compilation would be a disc full of excerpts with different composers AND artists. But these discs are usually pretty bad, so...

4/5 of my discs (probably more) are classical discs. I don't think using COMPILATION would make it easier to find a particular disc. In these cases, I use the artist, the composer, or the album title to find the disc. Or the work.

[thniels]

I've always considered COMPILATION to be an album with tracks that were not originally meant to go together, e.g. tracks (or performances) that were previously released in some original form and now re-compiled in a new release. Of course, this is not a bulletproof definition .

Oscar Peterson's "Take the A Train" has "Hymn to Freedom" from a different recording session (and sticks out like a sore thumb both in style and recording quality). Not really a compilation, is it? Ozzy Osbourne's "Tribute" was different performances, topped off with a studio outtake. Also hardly a compilation. Anne-Sophie Mutter just released an album with John Williams, playing movie scores. Even if the pieces are very different, it is still the same concert, the same composer and an original release and thus not a compilation in my book. Same Mutter released "Early Years", which are mostly previously released material remastered. That I'd consider a compilation.

I don't consider an album that has tracks with different musicians a compilation, unless it honours the above. But then what about soundtracks. They look an awful lot like compilations on many parameters. Aargh!

It's a bloody detective job figuring this out, sometimes. Particularly if you are a music-addict and buy more music than you have time to investigate properly .

p.s. While I don't often search for compilations, I often use it as a cue to whether or not it's what I am looking for, once it pops up.

[Apesbrain]

Thanks, everyone, for the feedback. On further thought, I have maybe one classical album for which COMPILATION=1 makes sense: the soundtrack LP to 2001: A Space Odyssey. It's a collection of tracks by different composers and different performers.

[RonM]

There are lots of classical compilation albums, although not necessarily ones you might actually want to listen to. But they do serve a purpose.

For instance, there are a series of "Greatest Hits" albums, including for Mozart, Beethoven and many others. These are most often recordings of well-known works by various orchestras, choirs, string quartets, etc. The compilation tag would be appropriate for these. In the days when CDs or vinyl were the only way to get at recorded music, they represented inexpensive and reasonably listenable shortcuts to the works of the composer for classical newbies. Even now, using streaming services, it's hard to get a good take on the major significant works of a single composer unless you actually know what you are looking for.



My favorite in this category (actually the only one I ever listen to) is the amusingly titled "Pachelbel's Greatest Hit", which is a multitude of takes on the iconic Canon in D. It includes a standard version by Festival Strings Lucerne, one on traditional instruments by the Baroque Chamber Orchestra, a sung version by Cleo Laine, an electronic version by Tomita and the Plasma Symphony Orchestra, and a brass version (Canadian Brass). All are well-played and reasonably well recorded, but the principal attraction is the "Greatest Hit" (singular) title. Very clearly a compilation album.

R.

[d6jg]

I don’t do classical really even though my taste is very eclectic but I do have some classical compilations. Here in UK there was a popular series of “Classical Experience” - there were four of five volumes. These are compilations.

[dolodobendan]

[ATTACH]33496[/ATTACH]

My favorite in this category (actually the only one I ever listen to) is the amusingly titled "Pachelbel's Greatest Hit", which is a multitude of takes on the iconic Canon in D. It includes a standard version by Festival Strings Lucerne, one on traditional instruments by the Baroque Chamber Orchestra, a sung version by Cleo Laine, an electronic version by Tomita and the Plasma Symphony Orchestra, and a brass version (Canadian Brass). All are well-played and reasonably well recorded, but the principal attraction is the "Greatest Hit" (singular) title. Very clearly a compilation album.

R.

Oh my, I actually have this one, too! But it doesn't fit my definition of a compilation: The disc features complete works (the same one several times, but still) of one composer (arrangements can be tricky, yes). Very clearly not a compilation album.

[d6jg]

Oh my, I actually have this one, too! But it doesn't fit my definition of a compilation: The disc features complete works (the same one several times, but still) of one composer (arrangements can be tricky, yes). Very clearly not a compilation album.

I’m with Ron. That’s as good an example of a compilation as you’ll find.

[dolodobendan]

I’m with Ron. That’s as good an example of a compilation as you’ll find.

Okay. What about a disc with two recordings of Beethoven's fifth?

[d6jg]

Okay. What about a disc with two recordings of Beethoven's fifth?

Depends who its by

[dolodobendan]

Depends who its by

Defining the "who" can be VERY tricky in classical music (conductor, orchestra, soloist(s), principal violin, chorus master, etc.). It's a dark path into madness.