Add Tubular Bells to the Instruments list

I believe this is not a stand alone issue, but part of a larger localization effort. Currently, MuseScore does not differentiate well enough between various English speaking markets (US, CA, UK, AU, NZ, ZA,, etc.). Rather than incorporate all possible variants, we should use most common terms and spellings used by publishers within each market for each individual localization.

Regarding this particular issue, maybe @mhperc (works for MuseScore... holds M.M. in Percussion Performance from Boston Conservatory), can... um... chime in here? :-)

Chimes and tubular bells are the same instrument in a different languages, American vs. British English.
This had been discussed at length about a year ago.

The MIDI standard uses "tubular bells" because it is an international standard, so it uses international English, not American English.

Most percussionists in US under the age of 50 or that are not used to reading parts from international publishers would likely have no idea what "tubular bells" would refer to.

Again, I believe this is a localization issue and EN-US version should use "chimes", while EN-UK and others should use "tubular bells". Also, this is just one of very many terminology issues that can be improved with more specific localization.

Hey Everyone,
A little example for reference:

Both Gary Cook's "Teaching Percussion" and James A. Strain's "Dictionary for the Modern Percussionist" use "chimes", as they are American authors (and authoritative texts on writing for percussion in the modern age). The reputable Elaine Gould's book "Behind Bars" uses "tubular bells" (British author/publisher).

I think the best solution here is to get a localization initiative set up. There's no need to petition to change MusicXML; all we need to do is create localizations of instrument names/language for different forms of English throughout the world. This would allow users to see/use whichever term they prefer, while also consolidating the instrument list. We want to steer clear of duplicates (i.e.: "chimes" vs "tubular bells", "timpani" or "tympani" vs. "kettle drums", etc.).

I will create a Feature Request to form an English-localization initiative. :)

@JLWaltener again, I think this would be adequately resolved through localized versions of English (EN-US, EN-UK, EN-CA, etc.).

The terms that are most common and most appropriate for the specific localization would be what appear in the version you select. This is not an issue specific to just chimes vs. tubular bells.

Moving forward, I see benefits of part names in scores (and other text) being fully-localized, where it is not actually coded in the score, but is adapted based on the instrument ID or other identifiers.

For example, if you opened a score that had in a version of MuseScore with EN-UK localization, the part would be automatically labelled as "Tubular Bells", but in EN-US localization it would be labelled as "Chimes" .... regardless of what was written by the original composer in the original source.

We need to be thinking more about future potential vs. past.

@JLWaltener I am 100% in agreement, which is why there should be appropriate localizations for every language and regional variation practical.

EN-US - Chimes
EN-UK - Tubular Bells
DE-DE - Röhrenglocken
DE-CH - Keinekuhglocke
ES-AR - Campanas tubulares
FR-CA - Carillon tubulaire
RU-RU - Колокола
JA-JP - チューブラーベル

.... and so on.

In My Country:
we use the term Chimes for the mini version used by percussionists (Bar chimes);

and we use the term the Tubular-Bells name for the larger version used in Symphonic orchestras .

This brings up an interesting point:

• Need for an International English version

That version should be the source of all translation strings, rather than US-EN.

This is the more effective way to solve these issues, rather than have unnecessary and potentially confusing terms in the US-EN version.

@JLWaltener: As an American, I can confirm that there is no "US-EN- Native American" dialect used ;-).

I agree 100% with Daniel's comments about having localized presentation of terms depending on where the user is. The goal is to make each user's experience particular to their region/terminology.

This discussion also brings up another point - authority of localized terms.

As we move forward, I believe the best way to ensure that our localized terminology is in line with the current and commonly used terms for each language/market is to seek out partners in each of these markets that will take ownership of/endorse the localized version.

For example, I am currently exploring a pilot of this effort for Lithuanian language in which the Lithuanian Academy of Music & Theatre would take ownership of and endorse the Lithuanian localization. In this case, you could have confidence that the translation will be 100% correct and appropriate.

A similar approach for each unique localization is the best way to ensure that we have terminology that meets the exact needs of each local market.

Again, this is by design and after a lengthy discussion, and is translated as Tubular Bells in en_UK, (and as Röhrenglocken im German, errnously as Windspiel before i was made aware of this difference) and has a comment about this attached to that string on transifex (after that above mentioned translation mistake of mine)
It is not a regression, had been translated that way in MuseScore 2 too. The workaround is to rename it in the score and maybe create a template for it or to switch to en_UK.

I've opened a discussion on this topic here - https://musescore.org/en/node/286838

It was the same in MuseScore 2 and is by design! It is not a bug hence doesn't need a fix.
These is a ts file for instruments and that instrument is translated.

Yes it was tubular bells in en_UK and still is, it is chimes in en_US, resp. instruments.xml.

This is an issue that was discussed at length many months ago.
There is a reasonable suggestion to create an International English version for use at base version for localization instead of US-EN.
This approach will avoid potential confusion in the US-EN version (again, this issue is not only about "Tubular Bells").
I don't know what else is left to discuss on this point?

en is the international version, the source, by definition and en_US is a pseudo translation, just to be able to fix the odd typo without having to change the code between releases, believe me back in the day requested by me for exactly this purpose. So this is by design and please leave it at that.

If there is a need for more English variants, like for Canada, Australia, New Zealand, create a feature request AKA suggestion, but I really doubt it to be needed as these 3 happily take either of the existing variants.

And this issue here is about Tubular Bells and that only...

I don't understand the objection to adding Tubular Bells as an instrument with the same definition as chimes. If us older users are too stupid to know that there is no such thing as a tubular bell then cater to us stupid users. MuseScore has made other similar concessions and the stance of one individual has never prevented several options before.

We could, but even that had been dissussed and dismissed about a year ago. And it wouldn't be a bug...

There was never consensus it was imposed on us by Daniel.

Sure? Can you point to that old discussion?

Ah, found it (searching for Mike Oldfield ;-)), see https://musescore.org/en/node/274337

There was also never an issue created. The PR was pushed through on the sly so no open discussion would happen.

Issues are not for discussions anyway, that is what the forum is for. Like the above mentioned thread...

OK maybe it's not missing from the Instrument list after all, it's the British Term for Chimes as we call them here in America.

Can I bring this up again? It's confusing when transcribing music that it says tubular bells but you can't find it on the instruments list. I agree that the instruments list should allow you to find instruments by other names it has. This makes MuseScore easier to use. Plus, can we add suspended cymbals to the list too?

This issue tracker has been discontinued so better request this again on GitHub

Actually we already have that instrument. In American English they're chimes. Tubular Bells is the British English term.

That's why this issue got closed, as being by desing