Musical Score References

This page contains reference examples for musical scores, including the following:

Musical score with composer and librettist
Musical score with composer and librettist, edited and republished
Musical score with composer, republished
Musical score with composer, in another language, republished

1. Musical score with composer and librettist

Picker, T., & McClatchy, J. D. (1995). Emmeline: An opera in two acts [Study score]. Schott Music. https://www.eamdc.com/psny/composers/tobias-picker/works/emmeline/

Parenthetical citation: (Picker & McClatchy, 1995)
Narrative citation: Picker and McClatchy (1995)

Provide the composer and librettist in the author element of the reference for a musical score. Present the names in the order shown on the work.
Specify the type of score in square brackets (e.g., “[Musical score],” “[Piano score],” “[Vocal score],” “[Study score]”).

2. Musical score with composer and librettist, edited and republished

Gilbert, W. S., & Sullivan, A. (2012). The Mikado in full score (C. Simpson & E. H. Jones, Eds.) [Musical score]. Dover Publications. (Original work published 1885)

Parenthetical citation: (Gilbert & Sullivan, 1885/2012)
Narrative citation: Gilbert and Sullivan (1885/2012)

Provide the composer and librettist in the author element of the reference for a musical score. Present the names in the order shown on the work.
Specify the type of score in square brackets (e.g., “[Musical score],” “[Piano score],” “[Vocal score],” “[Study score]”).
If the score has been edited, provide the editors’ names in parentheses after the title of the score.
For an older score that has been republished, provide the year of the republication in the main date element of the reference. Provide the year of original publication at the end of the reference in parentheses after the words “Original work published.”
Both publication years appear in the in-text citation, separated with a slash, with the earlier year first.

3. Musical score with composer, republished

Haydn, F. J. (2001). The creation [Musical score]. Dover Publications. (Original work published 1798)

Parenthetical citation: (Haydn, 1798/2001)
Narrative citation: Haydn (1798/2001)

Provide the composer in the author element of the reference.
Specify the type of score in square brackets (e.g., “[Musical score],” “[Piano score],” “[Vocal score],” “[Study score]”).
For an older score that has been republished, provide the year of the republication in the main date element of the reference. Provide the year of original publication at the end of the reference in parentheses after the words “Original work published.”
Both publication years appear in the in-text citation, separated with a slash, with the earlier year first.

4. Musical score with composer, in another language, republished

Mozart, W. A. (1970). Die Zauberflöte [The magic flute] [Vocal score]. Becksche Verlagsbuchhandlung. (Original work published 1791)

Parenthetical citation: (Mozart, 1791/1970)
Narrative citation: Mozart (1791/1970)

Provide the composer in the author element of the reference.
When the title is in another language than the language of your paper, translate the title into the language of your paper in square brackets. For example, the title of the score is in German and the paper is in English, so the German title is provided in italics and the English translation is provided in square brackets.
Specify the type of score in square brackets (e.g., “[Musical score],” “[Piano score],” “[Vocal score],” “[Study score]”).
For an older score that has been republished, provide the year of the republication in the main date element of the reference. Provide the year of original publication at the end of the reference in parentheses after the words “Original work published.”
Both publication years appear in the in-text citation, separated with a slash, with the earlier year first.

References for musical scores follow the audiovisual reference templates in Section 10.12 of the APA Publication Manual, Seventh Edition