Music and audio
You may need to consult more than one section to accurately represent the source used (eg. number of authors and source descriptions)
-
Sound recording
Format for footnotes
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
33. Composer/Performer, Title of Recording, Label & publisher number, date, format.
Footnote example
33. Pink Floyd, Delicate Sound of Thunder, CBS 4631612, 1988, compact disc.
Format for bibliography
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
Composer/Performer. Title of Recording. Label & Publisher number, date, format.
Bibliography entry example
Pink Floyd. Delicate Sound of Thunder. CBS 4631612, 1998, compact disc.
Style notes for this reference type
- See Manual 14.263.
- Italicise the official title of the album, but individual track titles should be included in quotation marks (Manual 8.197).
- If the performer or conductor (or similar) is more relevant than the composer, they may be listed first.
- Include any information about the work that is relevant, including performers, conductors, performance dates, medium and publisher details.
- For the date, include the date of the recording, the copyright date or published date included with the recording. If a date cannot be found consult a library catalogue or other resource; citations without a date are generally unacceptable. If no date can be found, use “n.d.” (for no date).
- Sound recordings should be grouped under an appropriate subheading in the bibliography (see Chicago Manual, chapter 14.263 and 14.63).
-
Sound recording: Downloaded audio file
Format for footnotes
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
41. Composer, Title, Details of recording, format, Label & Publisher number, year, Source of file/URL.
OR
34. "Track title," format, track number on Composer, Title, details of recording, Label & publisher number, year, Source of file/URL.
Footnote example
First entry:
41. Philip Glass, The Hours/Distant Figure, Anton Batagov (piano), MP3 audio, Orange Mountain Music, 2018, iTunes.
Second and subsequent entries:
55. Glass, The Hours/Distant Figure.
OR
First entry:
34. "An Unwelcome Friend," MP3 audio, track 5 on Philip Glass, The Hours/Distant Figure, Anton Batagov (piano), Orange Mountain Music, 2018, iTunes.
Second and subsequent entries:
56. Glass, "An Unwelcome Friend."
Format for bibliography
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
Composer (Surname, First name). Title. Details of recording. Label & Publisher number, year, format. Source of file/URL.
Bibliography entry example
Glass, Philip. The Hours/Distant Figure. Anton Batagov (piano). Orange Mountain Music, 2018, MP3 audio. iTunes.
Style notes for this reference type
- See Manual 14.263.
- Italicise the official title of the album, but individual track titles should be included in quotation marks (Manual 8.197).
- If the performer or conductor (or similar) is more relevant than the composer, they may be listed first.
- Include any information about the work that is relevant, including performers, conductors, performance dates, medium and publisher details.
- Include the name of the download service as part of the citation. If a separate URL can be determined from the source, include that at the end.
- For the date, include the date of the recording, the copyright date or published date included with the recording. If a date cannot be found consult a library catalogue or other resource; citations without a date are generally unacceptable. If no date can be found, use “n.d.” (for no date).
- Sound recordings should be grouped under an appropriate subheading in the bibliography (see Chicago Manual, chapter 14.263 and 14.63).
-
Sound recording: Streamed online
Format for footnotes
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
21. "Track title", streaming service, track number on Composer, Title, Label & Publisher number, year, URL (if available).
OR
33. Composer, Title, streaming service, Label & Publisher number, year, URL (if available).
Footnote example
First entry:
21. "So What," Spotify, track 1 on Miles Davis, Kind of Blue, Columbia, 1959, https://open.spotify.com/track/4vLYewWIvqHfKtJDk8c8tq.
Second and subsequent entries:
55. Davis, "So What."
OR
First entry:
33. Miles Davis, Early Milestones: Original Recordings 1945-1949, Naxos Music Library, Naxos Jazz Legends, 2002.
Second and subsequent entries:
45. Davis, Early Milestones.
Format for bibliography
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
Composer (Surname, First name). "Track title." Track number on Title. Details of recording. Label & Publisher number, Year, streaming service. URL (if available).
OR
Composer (Surname, First name). Title. Details of recording. Label & Publisher number, year, streaming service. URL (if available).
Bibliography entry examples
Davis, Miles. "So What". Track 1 on Kind of Blue. Recorded 1959. Columbia CL 1355, Spotify. https://open.spotify.com/track/4vLYewWIvqHfKtJDk8c8tq.
OR
Davis, Miles. Early Milestones: Original Recordings 1945-1949. Naxos Jazz Legends 8.120607, 2002, Naxos Music Library.
Style notes for this reference type
- See Manual 14.263.
- Italicise the official title of the album, but individual track titles should be included in quotation marks (Manual 8.197).
- If the performer or conductor (or similar) is more relevant than the composer, they may be listed first.
- Include any information about the work that is relevant, including performers, conductors, performance dates, medium and publisher details.
- Include the name of the streaming service as part of the citation. If a separate URL can be determined from the source, include that at the end.
- For the date, include the date of the recording, the copyright date or published date included with the recording. If a date cannot be found consult a library catalogue or other resource; citations without a date are generally unacceptable. If no date can be found, use “n.d.” (for no date).
- Sound recordings should be grouped under an appropriate subheading in the bibliography (see Chicago Manual, chapter 14.263 and 14.63).
-
Radio program
Format for footnotes
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
Broadcast
34. "Segment title (if relevant)," Presenter, Title of program, aired Date, on Network.
Online
44. Interview subject, interview by Host, Title of program, date of publication or access, URL.
Footnote examples
Broadcast
34. "Federation," Joel Carnegie, Music in Time, aired November 26, 2018, on ABC Classic FM.
Online
44. Meg Mac, interview by Nkechi Anele, Roots 'N All, April 16, 2018, https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/roots-n-all/megmac-asos-extend-iv/9671950.
Second and subsequent entries:
45. "Federation," Music in Time.
OR
50. Meg Mac, interview by Nkechi Anele.
Format for bibliography
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
Broadcast
Title. "Title of segment." Presenter. Aired date, on Network.
Online
Title. Interview subject, interview by Host. Date of publication or access, URL.
Bibliography entry examples
Broadcast
Music in Time. "Federation." Joel Carnegie. Aired November 26, 2018, on ABC Classic FM.
Online
Roots 'N All. Meg Mac, interview by Nkechi Anele. April 16, 2018. https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/roots-n-all/megmac-asos-extend-iv/9671950.
Style notes for this reference type
- See Manual 14.261 and 14.265. See also Turabian 17.8.3.2.
- The order of the citation elements may depend on the nature of the resource and on what the focus of the citation is (i.e. you may cite the director's name first if the direction of the work is your primary focus).
- Any facts relevant to identifying the item should be included (i.e. additional writers, actors, producers). See above links for examples.
- Segment titles should appear in quotation marks. Names of interview subjects should just appear in roman text.
- Bibliography entries are usually listed by title (see Turabian 17.8.3.2).
- For recordings accessed online, if there is no date of production or broadcast provided, you should include an access date prior to the URL (Manual 14.12).
-
Podcast
Format for footnotes
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
31. Name of host/s, “Title of Episode,” date posted/broadcast, in Title of Podcast, additional information, podcast, MP3 audio, duration, URL/Source of download.
Footnote examples
First entry:
31. Fidler, Richard, "Robert Connolly's Audacious Film Adaptation of Tim Winton's 'The Turning'," September 20, 2018, in Conversations, interview by Richard Fidler, podcast, MP3 audio, 50:55, https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/conversations/robert-connollys-audacious-film-adaption-of-tim-wintons-the-turn/7755452.
OR
33. Roman Mars, "All In Your Head," June 10, 2015, in 99% Invisible, Episode produced by Hrishikesh Hirway, podcast, MP3 audio, 36:34, iTunes.
Second and subsequent entries:
66. "Robert Connolly's Audacious Film Adaptation."
OR
45. Mars, "All In Your Head".
Format for bibliography entries
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
Name of host/s. "Title of Episode". Date posted/broadcast. In Title of Podcast. Additional information. Podcast, MP3 audio, duration. URL/Source of download.
Bibliography entry examples
Fidler, Richard. "Robert Connolly's Audacious Film Adaptation of Tim Winton's 'The Turning'." September 20, 2018. In Conversations. Interview by Richard Fidler. Podcast, MP3 audio, 50:55. https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/conversations/robert-connollys-audacious-film-adaption-of-tim-wintons-the-turn/7755452.
OR
Mars, Roman. "All In Your Head." June 10, 2015. In 99% Invisible. Episode produced by Hrishikesh Hirway. Podcast, MP3 audio, 36:34. iTunes.
Style notes for this reference type
- See Manual 14.267 and Turabian 17.10.3.3.
- A podcast or series title should be italicised. An individual podcast episode should be placed in quotation marks (see Manual 8.189).
- If no date can be determined from the source, include an access date.
- Where actual names are used, invert the names of the first named person only in bibliography.
- Different sources will provide more or less information about the item. Any facts relevant to identifying the item should be included, for example the name of a YouTube channel or where and when it was recorded.
- If the material is a recording of a performance, or is a digitised version of pre-existing material, you should also include information about the original source. The order of these entries may depend on the information available.
- Use a permanent URL wherever available, otherwise list the source of the download.
-
Music score
Format for footnotes
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
10. Composer, Title of Score (Place of publication: Publisher, year), page number(s).
Footnote examples
First entry:
10. Igor Stravinsky, Rite of Spring (London, England: Hansen House, 1975), 3.
Second and subsequent entries:
31. Stravinsky, Rite of Spring, 4.
Format for bibliography entries
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
Composer. Title of Score. Place of publication: Publisher, year.
Bibliography entry example
Stravinsky, Igor. Rite of Spring. London, England: Hansen House, 1975.
Style notes for this reference type
- See Manual 14.255.
- Published musical scores are treated in the same way as books. Additional information such as an editor's name or additional writers may be included where relevant (see Manual 14.104).
- Editor's name(s) should be followed with the abbreviation ed. (or eds.). Use the same format where there is a translator or compiler instead of an editor.
- Many musical works are known by their generic names, such as 'Symphony no. 1' or 'Sonata in A major', while some have descriptive or popular names (such as 'Eroica' or Danse Macabre). See Manual 8.194, 8.195 and Turabian 22.3.2 for guidance on whether titles should be italicised, in quotation marks or neither.
- Specify the edition if it is not the first edition.
- In the footnotes, do not use ‘p’ or ‘pp’ before the page numbers.
- In the bibliography (but not the footnotes), invert the name of the composer (i.e. surname, given name).
- Page numbers are not given in the bibliography entry.
- Use the shortened form for second and subsequent footnotes.
-
Online music score
Format for footnotes
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
31. Composer, Title of Work, ed. Editor name (Place of publication: Publisher, Year), URL/DOI/Database name.
Footnote examples
First entry:
31. Modest Mussorgsky, "Reverie," in Complete Collected Works, ed. Pavel Lamm (Moscow: Muzgiz, 1939), https://imslp.org/wiki/Reverie_(Mussorgsky%2C_Modest).
OR
44. Heather Frasch, Collage (Paris: BabelScores, 2011), BabelScores Contemporary Music Online.
-->
Second and subsequent entries:
45. Mussorsky, "Reverie."
OR
55. Frasch, Collage.
Format for bibliography
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
Composer (Surname, First name). Title of Work. Edited by Editor. Place of publication: Publisher, Year. URL/DOI/Database name.
Bibliography entry examples
Mussorgsky, Modest. "Reverie" in Complete Collected Works. Edited by Pavel Lamm. Moscow: Muzgiz, 1939. https://imslp.org/wiki/Reverie_(Mussorgsky%2C_Modest).
OR
Frasch, Heather. Collage. Paris: BabelScores, 2011. BabelScores Contemporary Music Online.
Style notes for this reference type
- Online music scores are treated in the same way as electronic books. The URL/DOI should be the last part of the full citation. See Manual 14.159, 14.160 and 14.161.
- Many musical works are known by their generic names, such as 'Symphony no. 1' or 'Sonata in A major', while some have descriptive or popular names (such as 'Eroica' or Danse Macabre). See Manual 8.194, 8.195 and Turabian 22.3.2 for guidance on whether titles should be italicised, in quotation marks or neither.
- Sometimes a suitable URL is not available, or is only for subscribers of the database. In these cases it is appropriate to just include the database name (i.e. BabelScores) (Manual 14.161).
- Include an editor's name wherever possible. This helps identify particular versions of a work.
- Editor's name(s) should be followed with the abbreviation ed. (or eds.). Use the same format where there is a translator or compiler instead of an editor.
- Any facts relevant to identifying the item should be included. It is not appropriate to just include the URL.
- DOI stands for 'digital object identifier' and provides a permanent and stable link to a resource. Use this in place of a URL where it exists.
- If no date can be determined from the source, include the date the material was last accessed.
-
Musical examples
Musical examples may be included to support a point in your essay. They must be incorporated into the text and include:
- An example number,
- A caption identifying where it is from, and
- An accompanying footnote and bibliography entry indicating where the excerpt has been taken from.
All examples must also include clefs, key and time signatures, instrumentation and bar numbers.
Format for caption
Captions are generally placed above the example rather than below. See Figure 3.5 in the Chicago Manual for an example.
Example number. Composer Surname, “Title of individual piece or section”, from Title of Work, Bar numbers of excerpt. [Footnote marker]
Caption examples
Example 5. Debussy, “Prelude III”, from Preludes for Piano: Book 1, Bars 1-4.2
OR
Example 8. Lim, Anactoria: For Six Percussionists, Bars 7-8.7
Examples as they would appear in the text
Format for footnotes
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
Each example and caption must have an accompanying footnote.
22. Composer's full name, "Title of Individual Work or Section" in Title of work or volume, ed. Editor name (Place of publication: Publisher, year), page number(s).
Footnote examples
First entry:
2. Claude Debussy, "Prelude III" in Preludes for Piano: Book 1, ed. Roy Shepherd (Melbourne: Allans Music Australia, 1969), 7.
OR
7. Liza Lim, Anactoria: For Six Percussionists (Milan, Italy: Ricordi, 1998), 2.
Second and subsequent entries:
36. Debussy, "Prelude III", 7.
9. Lim, Anactoria, 2.
Format for bibliography
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
Each musical example must have an accompanying bibliography entry indicating where the example was taken from.
Composer Surname, First name. Title of volume or work, edited by Editor name. Place of publication: Publisher, Year.
Bibliography entry examples
Debussy, Claude. Preludes for Piano: Book 1, edited by Roy Shepherd. Melbourne: Allans Music Australia, 1969.
OR
Lim, Liza. Anactoria: For Six Percussionists. Milan, Italy: Ricordi, 1998.
Style notes for this reference type
- Published musical scores are treated in the same way you would treat a book. See Manual 14.255.
- Where possible, you should take examples from the complete scores or collected editions. If you use an example from a secondary source (ie. from another article or book), you should include the secondary source in your footnote and bibliography.
- Captions should be placed above the musical example and include an example or figure number.
- Examples should be discussed within the text and be referred to by their number.
- Examples should be placed as closely as possible to the paragraph in which they are discussed.
- More information on how to incorporate music examples into your writing can be found in the Incorporating Music Examples resource form Academic Skills.
-
Liner notes
The citation of liner notes accompanying audio recordings is not dealt with comprehensively in the Chicago Manual of Style, apart from a brief note in the Q&A section. The following guidance incorporates this advice but also includes some interpretation based on examples provided for sound recordings and supplementary information.
Format for footnotes
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
No author
34. Composer/Performer, Title of recording, Label & Publisher number, date, format, liner notes, page number.
With an author
22. Author of notes, [liner notes to] Composer/Performer, Title, Label & Publisher number, date, format, page number.
Footnote examples
No author
13. Idea of North, The Gospel Project, Magnetic Records 934 128-4, 2006, compact disc, liner notes.
With an author
22. David Cairns, liner notes to Hector Berlioz, The Complete Works, Warner Classics 190295519414, 2019, compact disc, 40.
Second and subsequent entries:
36. Idea of North, liner notes.
OR
45. Cairns, liner notes, 42.
Format for bibliography
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
No author
Composer/Performer. Title of recording. Label & publisher number, date. Format. Liner notes.
With an author
Author (surname, given name). [Liner notes to] Composer/Performer. Title of recording. Label & publisher number, date. Format.
Bibliography entry examples
No author
Idea of North. The Gospel Project. Magnetic Records 934 128-4, 2006. Compact disc. Liner notes.
With an author
Cairns, David. Liner notes to Hector Berlioz. The Complete Works. Warner Classics 190295519414, 2019. Compact disc.
Style notes for this reference type
- Liner notes accompanying a sound recording may be treated like a preface to a book. See Chicago Manual of Style, 14.110.
- See this brief note in the Chicago Manual Q&A section, and Manual 14.263. Please check with your lecturer if you are unsure of how to deal with citation of liner notes.
- The citation is for the author of the notes, so author's name comes first.
- If there is no separate author indicated for the liner notes, simply add 'liner notes to...' before the title of the sound recording.
- Include any information about the work that is relevant, including performers, conductors, performance dates, medium and publisher details.
- For the date, include the date of the recording, the copyright date or published date included with the recording. If a date cannot be found consult a library catalog or other resource; citations without a date are generally unacceptable. If no date can be found, use “n.d.” (for no date).
- If the notes are titled, include the title in quotation marks after the author's name.
- Publisher numbers can be found on the CD liner notes or track listing.
Before selecting a referencing style check with your tutor, lecturer or supervisor for the style preferred by the School or Department.
Introduction to the style
Chicago style has both an author-date system and a notes and bibliography system. This guide refers only to the notes and bibliography system.
There are two key components:
- Footnotes or endnotes.
- A bibliography.
Access to the full style manual
This guide is based on the Chicago Manual of Style, Chicago; London: The University of Chicago Press, 2017.
The full style manual is available as a library eBook. Print copies are available from the University of Melbourne library. Consult the official manual for more information.
Footnotes
A footnote or an endnote lists the author, title, and facts of publication, in that order. Elements are separated by commas and the facts of publication are enclosed in parentheses.
The notes are usually numbered and correspond to superscripted note reference numbers in the text.
Authors’ names are presented in standard order (first name first).
Titles are capitalised headline-style (all major words).
Titles of larger works (e.g., books and journals) are italicised.
Titles of smaller works (e.g., chapters, articles) or unpublished works are enclosed in quotation marks and not italicised.
Give full details in the first footnote and abbreviated version in subsequent footnotes. For example:
First footnote
1. Kristin Otto, Yarra: A Diverting History (Melbourne: Text Publishing, 2009), 12.
Subsequent footnotes
7. Otto, Yarra, 23.
Bibliography
In a bibliography entry the elements are separated by periods rather than by commas and the facts of publication are not enclosed in parentheses.
The first-listed author’s name, according to which the entry is alphabetised in the bibliography, is inverted (last name first).
Where there are four or more authors the footnote should give the name of the first author only, followed by ‘et al.’ The bibliography entry should include the names of all the authors.
Titles are capitalised headline-style (all major words).
Titles of larger works (e.g., books, journals and websites) are italicised.
Titles of smaller works (e.g., chapters, articles and web pages) or unpublished works are enclosed in quotation marks and not italicised.
For books, specify the edition for all editions other than the first.
Do not include personal communications, such as letters or informal emails, in the bibliography. These should appear only in footnotes.
The bibliography can be divided into sections (e.g. primary and secondary sources).
The Chicago Manual of Style advises against citations taken from secondary sources (i.e. “quoted in”), but check with your lecturer or tutor if you are in doubt. For more information refer to Chicago Manual of Style (14.260) (login required).
Acceptable abbreviations in the bibliography for parts of books and other publications include:
| chap. | chapter |
| ed. | edition |
| et al. | and others |
| rev. ed. | revised edition |
| 2nd ed. | second edition |
| ed. (eds) | editor (editors) |
| trans. | translator(s) |
| n.d. | no date |
| vol. | volume (as in vol. 4) |
| vols | volumes (as in 4 vols.) |
| no. | number |
| suppl. | supplement |
| s.v. | under the word |
Can’t find what you’re looking for?
Let us know the citing and referencing advice you need to help us improve Re:cite
Need help? Chat with a Librarian