Planning a relational database for (classical) music

[Kurt Hansen]

I have some 36,000 CDs in a flat database (FM Pro 11).

I am considering building a new one, where the different data elements have their own table and bring it all together with relationships.

It would be a great help to analyze a sample database, but Google has not given a useful result. The example database need not necessarily be tailored to classical music, but the principle should resemble my needs, so I can learn about the structure. Where can I find such a download?

I realize that the following is rather loose and that it will show retail issues, but here are my initial thoughts:

Tables:

COMPOSER(s)
- First name
- Surname
- The year of birth
- The year of death
- Country

About birth / death: Accurate data are not always available, especially for early composers. There must be given approximate, but still so that composers can be listed in chronological order.

ARTIST(s)
- First name
- Surname
- Category example. soprano, trumpet player, pianist

ITEM
- Product Name / Title
- Catalog Number
- Barcode (with validation)
- Purchase price
- Wholesale price
- Retail price
- Release date
- Genre (classical, jazz, traditional etc.)
- Category (orchestral music, chamber music, opera etc.)
- Media (1 CD, 2 SACD, 1 CD + 1 DVD etc.)

RECORD COMPANIES
- Name
- Account number
- Supplier

[comment]

Based on your description, I would expect to see something like:

The Composers and Performers tables could be possibly united into single Artists table, albeit retaining its dual role.

If you have duplicate performances on different media, then you may need another join table of Tracks in-between Performances and Media.

[Kurt Hansen]

I'm sorry, Comment. I have once again managed to express myself unclear, although I myself think that I make a great effort not to do so.
I see your sketch as a structure to a record collection. I ask, however, as representant of company selling music on disc media, and it is in this light my structure scetch must be seen.