Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Six Moments Musicaux (Rachmaninoff)/archive 1

Six Moments Musicaux (Rachmaninoff)
Classical music is a corner of Wikipedia that doesn't get much exposure. By editing and improving articles in classical music, I hope to round out Wikipedia's reputation as being a resource for free knowledge, by providing free music clips and accurate information on compositions and other related topics. "Moments Musicaux" is an article I have been working on for about a month, on a set of not well-known pieces composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff. The reason I choose such an article to work on is because these are the kind that give Wikipedia the status it has: an encyclopedia for everything. More often than not, the first idea of a resource in this age is an online source, and even more often the first source one will mention is Wikipedia.

I did not know, before starting work, that he had to write these to replenish money that had been stolen from him. These and other facts about this work are researched and cited. I hope that, if this article is promoted, that the general knowledge of classical music, an integral part of Western culture will increase and appreciation and exposure of classical music will be part of everyday life.

This particular article may have many flaws, so I will respond to any feedback I get about anything, but I do believe that everything in the article is intentional. For example, I realize that it is recommended that no image size parameters be set, but in this particular case the images in this article will become illegible at the default thumbnail size. Also, a while back another editor removed some of my citations, claiming I was "over-citing." Every sentence in an article should, ideally, be cited. I take it that when a sentence is not cited, it is covered by the next footnote that comes along, but in most cases this is not true. So, in articles that I edit, I try to cite everything to avoid any possible ambiguity. There are a number of seemingly subjective adjectives placed throughout the article, but again I strive for accurate depictions and I have eschewed any description that cannot be universally approved (such as saying Prestissimo is fast). Lastly, I agree that there are many wiktionary links, but this is because this article is written with the language of music. I will not change this, even if it compromises this article's promotion, unless someone can suggest a better alternative, because if I did not understand music, I would also wish that these terms be defined.

"Moments Musicaux" is currently a Good Article. It is authored almost entirely by me, so it is a self-nomination. ALTON  .ıl  06:05, 12 September 2007 (UTC)

Leaning towards support I found this to be an excellent article. It is very difficult to write about classical music and this editor has done an excellent job. It may be a bit technical at times, but I think that everything is explained. Having played the piano for many years myself, I am not the best person to ask, unfortunately. I do have several comments and one question before I support:


 * The lead needs to be expanded a bit to be a true standalone summary of the article per WP:LEAD.


 * Professor Robin Hancock stressed the importance of the cohesive bonding Rachmaninoff intended the set to emanate - Could we get a bit more identification on the professor, such as Professor of Music or Rachmaninoff expert? Just to give the reader a reason to trust her.


 * Drawing on the previous illustration of a "generic hybrid", this piece is described as a mixture between the song without words and funeral march genres,[10] to create what is called the most "Russian" piece of the set, with several aspects common to Russian music.[1] - What is Russian about it?


 * What do you think about juxtaposing the score of the Revolutionary Etude with the Presto? (Having played the Revolutionary, I can see the resemblance right away, but it might help others who have not to at least see the music.)


 * This is the only piece in the set with indicated pedal markings. - Fascinating! Can you say more? Are the others to be played pedal-less?


 * Following the torrential gauntlets of number four is the fifth piece, likened to a passage in the Bible (1 Kings 19:12, read text), which says, "And after the fire came a gentle whisper." - Likened by Rachmaninoff?


 * This piece is one of the more important regarding Rachmaninoff's emphasis on musical ideas as opposed to virtuosic technical passages. - a bit awkward


 * While playing the thick melody, the player must also navigate the relentless thirty-second note broken chord figures and put emphasize on a continually descending eighth note motive. - fix grammar


 * This "triple counterpoint. . . is titanic both in size and impact, and in potential for disaster."[10] - explain what disasters can ensue


 * I am slightly concerned that many of the citations come from a PhD dissertation; dissertations are not really "published". Is this the most reliable source on this piece of music? One usually only uses dissertations when there is absolutely nothing else. Awadewit | talk  06:43, 12 September 2007 (UTC)


 * The issues of the lead, Revolutionary Etude, grammar, and clarification can easily be fixed, but I just don't have an answer for the most important questions you have. After sleeping on it, I tried to convince myself that what I had was a referenced article, but in truth, it really isn't that well-sourced. It turns out Hancock is also a PhD candidate, according to this; I don't know where I got "Professor from, but I think I did not understand what exactly a dissertation is. I read it again, and most of the key points are covered by Glover and Hancock, both unpublished authors. The main problem with this is that, again, it's an uncommon piece, and probably isn't covered in much on the internet, since that's where all my sources were. I'm going to withdraw this nomination for now since I was a little too eager for this. Thanks for your incredible remarks and comments. ALTON   .ıl  23:46, 12 September 2007 (UTC)


 * I look forward to seeing this article back at FAC soon. Awadewit | talk  01:14, 13 September 2007 (UTC)