Citing a musical work involves providing key information about the piece and its recording or performance in a standardized format, allowing readers to easily locate the source. This typically includes details about the composer, performer, piece title, album or collection, and release information.
Core Elements of Citing a Musical Work
When citing a musical work, especially recorded pieces, you'll need to gather specific details to give proper credit. These elements help identify the work uniquely and acknowledge all contributors.
- Composer: The individual who wrote the music. This is often the primary entry point for a citation.
- Performer: The artist or group who performed the musical piece. For recorded works, it's crucial to acknowledge the specific performance. This can include vocalists, instrumentalists, or an orchestra and conductor.
- Piece Title: The name of the specific song, movement, or composition you are citing (e.g., "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Symphony No. 5: I. Allegro con brio").
- Collection Title: The larger work that contains the piece, such as an album, opera, or symphony recording (e.g., A Night at the Opera, Beethoven: The Complete Symphonies).
- Publisher or Recording Label: The company responsible for releasing the musical work (e.g., EMI, Deutsche Grammophon).
- Year: The year of the recording's release or publication.
- Format (Optional): Details about the physical or digital format (e.g., CD, MP3, vinyl, streaming audio).
General Citation Structure
While specific formatting varies by style guide (like MLA, Chicago, or APA), a common structure for citing a recorded musical work integrates the composer, performer, and recording details. This structure ensures that all significant contributors and publication information are included.
Template for Recorded Music:
Composer Last Name, First Name, composer. "Piece Title." Title of Collection, performance by Performer's First Name Last Name, Publisher or recording label, Year. Format.
Note on Credits: It's important to include all relevant contributors. Besides the primary composer, other individuals, such as the specific performer or an ensemble, are vital to the musical work and should be credited, often using a "performance by" description.
Practical Example
Let's apply the general structure to a hypothetical musical work:
Example Citation:
Beethoven, Ludwig van, composer. "Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67: I. Allegro con brio." Beethoven: The Symphonies, performance by Berlin Philharmonic, conducted by Herbert von Karajan, Deutsche Grammophon, 1963. MP3.
Common Citation Styles and Their Approaches
Different academic and professional fields use various citation styles, each with its own rules for formatting musical works. Always consult your instructor or publisher for the required style.
- MLA (Modern Language Association): Often used in the humanities, MLA focuses on author-page citations and a "Works Cited" list. For recordings, it emphasizes the performer, title of the recording, and distributor. MLA Style Center
- Chicago (Chicago Manual of Style): Popular in history and some social sciences, Chicago offers two systems: Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date. Its citations for musical works are comprehensive, often including composer, performer, title, label, and year. Chicago Manual of Style Online
- APA (American Psychological Association): Primarily used in social sciences, APA citations emphasize the author and publication date. While less common for direct musical analysis, it provides guidelines for citing recordings when relevant to research. APA Style
Citing Different Musical Formats
The format of the musical work can slightly alter the citation details.
- Recorded Music (CD, Vinyl, MP3): Follow the general template above, specifying the format at the end if desired. For digital files, note "MP3" or "Digital file."
- Streaming Audio (Spotify, Apple Music): Include the same core information, but specify "Streaming audio" or "Streaming audio from [Platform Name]" as the format. You might also include a URL if the platform allows direct linking to the specific track or album, though this is less common for general citations.
- Live Performances: For a live concert, you would typically cite the composer, title of the piece, performers, conductor (if applicable), venue, city, and date of the performance.
Why Accurate Citation Matters
Properly citing musical works is crucial for several reasons:
- Academic Integrity: It acknowledges the original creators and performers, avoiding plagiarism.
- Credibility: It demonstrates thorough research and supports your arguments with verifiable sources.
- Referencing: It allows your audience to locate and explore the musical works you discuss.
