Template:Infobox classical composer/doc

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.

Short example
Fields that belong in most usages:



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.

The examples that are used below should not be taken as an indication that those articles need to display the infobox, they are just examples.



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, Cellist, 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)
 * Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Composers/Infoboxes RfC
 * Previous composer infobox examples
 * User:Turangalila/sandbox/Infobox_composer
 * [//en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:Voceditenore/Sandbox&oldid=346272250#Monkeying_around... Voceditenore's infoboxes for classical and opera personnel]
 * See also: Infobox person, Infobox musical artist, Infobox writer, Infobox scientist, music topics

Tracking categories

 * – Used by Module:InfoboxImage to track articles where an infobox uses image syntax in the format |image=[[File:Example.jpg]] . To exclude articles from this category, change it to undefined.
 * – Used by Template:Wikidata image to track articles where an infobox has no image but Wikidata has an image name. To exclude articles from this category, add an image or yes to the infobox.