From: Ray Saintonge saintonge@telus.net The Cunctator wrote:
In all seriousness, I think the policy should be that any special knowledge needed to understand the article should be included somewhere in Wikipedia. For example, the above knowledge is included at [[key signature]] and at [[E-flat major]].
Thus if the example article read
"The [[key (music)|key]] of the score is [[E-flat major]]<ref> [link to score]</ref>..."
Any person with the knowledge contained at those links would be able to understand the reference.
That's perfectly sensible. Instead some people are intent on reinventing the wheels that they are already spinning too fast to see.
The essence of the matter is that a reader be able to verify that there is a source that confirms the statement.
Nit-picks/genuine questions (my musical literacy is almost nil): what is "the" key of a piece of music which modulates into many different keys and has different key signatures marked within the score? Is it a general rule or custom or convention that the first key signature which appears in the score is "the" key signature?
Nit-pick number two: how do you tell by looking at the music whether it is in C Major or A Minor? That is, can you always unequivocally tell the key of a piece of music by glancing at it, or is judgement sometimes involved?