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Citation Styles for Music

Style Manuals

As of 2020, we now have online access to the Chicago Manual of Style, which should answer all your questions about citing sources properly in Chicago Style.

Image of cover of Chicago Manual, 17th edition

Translations (print & online)

Translation of a book Note: ¹Author First Name Last, Title, trans. Translator First Name Last (Location: Publisher, Date): page.

Note:¹Paul Hindemith, The Craft of Musical Composition, trans. Arthur Mendel and Otto Ortmann (New York: Associated Press, 1941-42), 242.

Bibliography: Author Last Name, First. Title. Translated by Translator First Name Last.  Location: Publisher, Date.

Bibliography: Hindemith, Paul. The Craft of Musical Composition. Translated by Arther Mendel and Otto Ortmann. New York: Associated Press, 1941-42.
Song translation in a collection Note: ¹:Igor Stravinsky, "La lune blanche," In The Ring of Words: an Anthology of Song Texts,  trans. Philip M. Miller (New York: W. W. Norton, 1933), 353.

Bibliography: Stravinsky, Igor. "La lune blanche." In The Ring of Words: an Anthology of Song Texts.  Translated by Philip M. Miller, 353.  New York: W. W. Norton, 1933.
Translation from IPA Source (or located online) Note: ¹Igor Stravinsky, Sagesse, trans. Bard Suverkrop,  accessed March 16, 2013 http://www.ipasource.com/view/song/Igor_Stravinsky/Sagesse.

Bibliography; Stravinsky, Igor. Sagesse. Translated by Bard Suverkrop.  Accessed March 16, 2013 http://www.ipasource.com/view/song/Igor_Stravinsky/Sagesse.

Common Questions

What is Humanities Style?

The Humanities Style, also known as Notes and Bibliography, is commonly used for writing in the area of literature, arts, and music.   This style documents its sources using footnotes/endnotes and a bibliography.  This style consists of two parts:  a number in the text and a related note that describes the source in a footnote or endnote (a list of notes at the end of the document).   A bibliography provides a  complete list of resources referred to in the document.

What is "Turabian"?

Kate L. Turabian’s Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations  is a simplified version of the Chicago Manual of Style written specifically for the the needs of student writers.   This manual provides a wide variety of examples.

What are punctuation practices in Chicago/Turabian Style?

A complete description of punctuation practices may be found at the Chicago Manual of Style Online.