No categories, please

I specifically object to the idea of categorisation by instruments.

There's a category for piano. I am a pianist, but I find the concentration on the piano slightly disconcerting. Then orchestra and a pop/band/jazz/everything-else. Basically, anything that isn't piano or orchestra goes to the third category, including chamber music, music for solo instruments other than piano, opera, electronic music, and so on. This renders those categories virtually useless.

Categories have been installed, disliked and subsequently removed twice already. I thought you should have realized that by now.

EDIT: Eek. Now a category for experimental and atonal music. What the? What about atonal orchestral pieces, where do they go?

EDIT 2: I also see that string quartets and brass quintets have been put into the orchestral category. I recommend that you go to the library, grab the New Grove and look up the definition of "orchestra". Also, what about the "orchestral arrangements" in the description? I have a few orchestral pieces, and they're most definitely not arrangements.

EDIT: Eek. Now a category for experimental and atonal music. What the? What about atonal orchestral pieces, where do they go?

They will go in the atonal section.

There's a category for piano. I am a pianist, but I find the concentration on the piano slightly disconcerting.

It's a huge area of interest though.

But... um... "your composition will have no ensembles"?!?! What's that supposed to mean?

Solo instruments?

You don't like the idea of categories at all? This is different from my last attempt to make categories for composers.

Wouldn't it be better than having just everyone throw their compositions in one big forum? Of course I will do some renaming but I want to do the basics. Lots of people have piano compositions, so I had to make a category for that. Lots of people have symphonies, so I had to make one for that. Obviously I can't name every compositional style, but this does need to have some organization right now. I will try to include every popular type of compositional style in the categories. I'm up for some suggestions. Remember, popular categories though.

Also, this whole board is going to focus on compositional development and help. While there are tons of styles, I do feel that having everyone put their composition in one big forum can lead to neglected members. I will be assigning moderators to a specific genre as well, so a composer can get the most of this forum.

Chamber music is currently filed under both piano and orchestral, and there's a lot of it posted.

I don't want to have to look in two forums for one genre, and it's patently absurd to decide which forum to file chamber music in on the sole basis of whether or not a piano is used.

Thanks.

But... um... "your composition will have no ensembles"?!?! What's that supposed to mean?

I think I agree, Herr Zwiebel. Though, perhaps categories may have an advantage for new people to the site (ie. it's the popularist approach to the matter).

I don't know how I feel about this one way or another yet.

Would a cross-referencing system be practical?

Since I am going to set the focus of this board strictly for composition, I feel this is a good approach. And if it doesn't work out, I will revert back. But to let you all know, I will be taking a few forums off this site most likely. Again, I want this site to focus strictly on composition. For example, I may take away the repertoire and stick it on my other site.

Since I am going to set the focus of this board strictly for composition, I feel this is a good approach.

The categories are not very practical

Not yet, but they will be. Think of all the music people will be submitting :(

Why is atonal music lumped into the "experimental" section? It seems like most of the other sections are divided with respect to instrumentation. Or this it an attempt to prevent our good score of traditionalists from ripping on them too much :)?