Score order for Free reed instruments
As you all know I'm currently working on the MusicXML 3.0 compatible Instruments.xml file for MuseScore 2.0 which is organised in score order of instruments.
I have run into a slight problem:-
Which score category should the free reed instruments come in?
Obviously the harmonicas fall into this category together with the melodica and things like the sheng.
Question is - should they go in the Wind section with the rest of the reed instruments?
Or should they go in the Other section below Tuned Percussion?
Your thoughts please guys :)
Comments
My first thought is that if I were writing a score for harmonica, I'd look under Woodwind, but for melodica, I'd look under keyboard first. Then if I didn't find it, I'd look under Woodwind. I don't think I'd look in Other for either unless I didn't find them in Woodwind. But then, only someone who knows that flute and saxophones is a woodwind and thus wood has nothing to do with it would be inclined to look under woodwinds. So I could definitely see some people looking in Other first. As for sheng, I don't know what it is, so if I were asked to write a score for it, I'd look it up in Wikipedia first, see what category it says it is in, and look there. It's possible people who actually know the instrument might disagree with Wikiepdia, of course.
All of which is to say, this sounds like a no-win situation - but fortunately, that really means it's also no-lose. It's all-stalemate!
In reply to My first thought is that if I by Marc Sabatella
Just wondering, why not have them in all the various places?
In reply to My first thought is that if I by Marc Sabatella
According to the classification Hornbostel-Sachs the harmonica should be a Free reed aerophone (Wikipedia).
I think it's a hard work, you can not please everyone. But, damn, good job!
Franz.
What about
"Wind instruments (orchestral)"
- piccolo, flute, oboe, English horn (cor anglais), clarinet, E-flat clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, contrabassoon
"Other wind and reed instruments"
- tin whistle, recorder, other recorder, yet another recorder, saxophone, bagpipes, sheng, bawu, melodica, ocarina etc.?
Some sort of search facility is going to be needed if many more instruments are added.
In reply to What about "Wind instruments by underquark
I think, becomes necessary with the increase of the instruments.
In a tree directory we would have something like
Free reed aerophone: Harmonica (mouth organ)/Harmonium (Pump organ)/accordion
Single reeds:clarinets/saxophones
Double reeds:oboe/bagpipes