Template:Infobox classical composer/doc

From Seeds of the Word, the encyclopedia of the influence of the Gospel on culture

This infobox is for classical composers. Note that most of the fields are optional and that they should only be used as necessary. This box was created as a result of extended debate in Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Composers/Infoboxes RfC; most of the participants there felt strongly that infoboxes should generally be avoided in articles on classical composers and requested that each proposed inclusion should be assessed on a case-by-case basis on that article's talkpage. See also the Composer project guidelines. Please note that only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people - see WP:NONFREE.

Examples

Short example

Fields that belong in most usages:

Terry Riley
Born
Terrence Mitchell Riley

(1935-06-24) June 24, 1935 (age 88)
EraContemporary
{{Infobox classical composer
| name          = 
| image         = <!-- only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people - see [[WP:NONFREE]] -->
| caption       = <!-- Only use to add context to the image. Do not repeat just the person's name here. -->
| birth_name    = <!-- Use only if different from name in header -->
| birth_date    = <!-- {{Birth date|YYYY|MM|DD}} (Use {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} if still living) No flag icons. For living people supply only the year unless the exact date is already WIDELY published, as per [[WP:DOB]]. Use {{birth year and age|YYYY}}. -->
| death_date    = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth) -->
| era           = <!-- Suggest: Ancient, Biblical, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 
                      20th century, Contemporary. From [[Template:Music topics]]. Follow wording in lead and categories -->
| list_of_works = <!-- Link to "List of works" subarticles here. Do not list individual pieces. -->
}}

Longer examples

Examples with more of the fields used, some of which are disputable/inapplicable in any given article.

Use with caution and consensus.

The additional fields here, are: |honorific_prefix=, |honorific_suffix=, |baptised=, |flourished=, |notable_family=, and |occupations=.

{{Infobox classical composer
| honorific_prefix = 
| name             = 
| honorific_suffix = 
| image            = <!-- Only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people – see [[WP:NONFREE]]. -->
| image_size       = 
| alt              = 
| caption          = <!-- Only use to add context to the image. Do not repeat just the person's name here. -->
| birth_name       = <!-- Use only if different from name in title. -->
| birth_date       = <!-- {{Birth date|YYYY|MM|DD}} (Use {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} if still living). [[MOS:ICONS|No flag icons]]. 
| birth_place      = 
For living people supply only the year unless the exact date is already WIDELY published, as per [[WP:DOB]]. Treat such cases as if only the year is known, so use {{tl|birth year and age}} or a similar option. -->
| baptised         = <!-- Use Baptised if Born date is unavailable, do not use both. -->
| death_date       = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth). -->
| death_place      = 
| occupations      = <!-- Use this field *only* if the person was also **notable** for contributions in another discipline.  If notable as a composer only, leave blank. -->
| flourished       = <!-- Use as a substitute for <code>born</code> and <code>died</code> where appropriate. -->
| era              = <!-- Suggest: Ancient, Biblical, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 
                   20th century, Contemporary. From [[Template:Music topics]]. Follow wording in lead and categories. -->
| known_for        = <!-- For pre-modern subjects, can be used as an alternative to the anachronistic "occupation"; not used for works (see next parameter). -->
| list_of_works    = <!-- Link to "List of works" subarticle here. Do not list individual pieces. -->
| spouse           = <!-- Use article title or common name -->
| partner          = <!-- (unmarried long-term partner) -->
| children         =
| parents          = <!-- overrides mother and father parameters -->
| notable_family   = <!-- e.g. [[Bach family]], [[Mozart family]], etc. Include only those with "family" articles. -->
}}

Fields that are specifically excluded

Note - the Composers project RfC on infoboxes concluded that this box should remain minimal; the following fields were felt to be ambiguous or otherwise unhelpful:

  • Instruments – because most composers play a few instruments. Any prominent instances can be added to the "Other occupations" field (e.g. [[Organist]], [[Cello|Cellist]], [[Horn (instrument)|Horn player]]).
  • Nationality, ethnicity, religious affiliation – too troublesome. Different sources will often give different details or emphasis.
  • Teachers, Students, Collaborators, Employers – too indefinite. Could hypothetically include anything from week-long to lifetime-long relationships.
  • Main cities of residence – too indefinite.
  • Styles/schools – e.g. Verismo, Futurism, etc. Too ambiguous, and often only apply to single works, instead of whole careers.
  • Genres – e.g. Symphonic, Chamber music, Opera, etc. Too ambiguous, and often only apply to single works, instead of whole careers.
  • Labels – because even authors do not have their publishers listed in their infoboxes (only the books themselves do). Seems non-essential for an infobox.
  • Associated_acts – generally inapplicable, except to contemporary composers. Also, the word "acts" is too ambiguous.
  • Alias – generally inapplicable. Even articles on jazz royalty do not normally use nicknames in their infoboxes unless the nickname is used almost exclusively in preference to the given name.
  • URL – Very few classical composers who ceased working before the 1990s have a website that qualifies as an official website. For those that do, use {{Infobox person}} or {{Infobox musical artist}}.

Handy references

(Original working notes)

Previous composer infobox examples

Microformat

The HTML markup produced by this template includes an hCard microformat, which makes the person's details parsable by computers, either acting automatically to catalogue articles across Wikipedia or via a browser tool operated by a reader, to (for example) add the subject to an address book or database. For more information about the use of microformats on Wikipedia, please see the microformat project.

Sub-templates

Date-of-birth ("bday") information will only be included in the microformat if {{birth date}}, or {{birth date and age}} are used in the infobox. (Do not use these if the date is before 1583). Be cautious about using these if the person is still living, per WP:DOB.

To include a URL, use {{URL}}.

Please do not remove instances of these sub-templates.

Classes

hCard uses HTML classes including:

  • adr
  • agent
  • bday
  • birthplace
  • category
  • country-name
  • deathdate
  • deathplace
  • extended-address
  • family-name
  • fn (required)
  • given-name
  • honorific-prefix
  • honorific-suffix
  • label
  • locality
  • n
  • nickname
  • note
  • org
  • role
  • url
  • vcard

Please do not rename or remove these classes nor collapse nested elements which use them.

Tracking categories

See also