Remember to indent after the first line of each bibliographic entry.
Here are some examples for your quick reference. Starting this CMOS 18th edition, the place of publication is no longer needed for books published since 1900. See CMOS18 14.30.
| Book with 1-2 Authors | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Weiss, Piero, and Richard Taruskin. 2008. Music in the Western World: A History in Documentations. 2nd ed. Thomson/Schirmer. |
| In-Text: |
(Weiss and Taruskin 2008, 20-21) |
| Book with 3 or More Authors | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Frith, Simon, Matt Brennan, Martin Cloonan, and Emma Webster. 2013. The History of Live Music in Britain, Vol. 1. Routledge. |
| In-Text: | (Frith et al. 2013, 10-11) |
| * Note: |
(1) In the reference list, list up to six authors. If more than six, list only the first three followed by "et al." (CMOS18 13.107) |
| Book with an Editor | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Latham, Alison, ed. 2004. The Oxford Dictionary of Musical Terms. Oxford University Press. |
| In-Text: | (Latham 2004, 100) |
| * Note: | In-text citation does not include ed. (CMOS18 13.106) |
| Book with an Author, Plus Editors/Translators | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Fendeĭzen, Nikolai. 2008. History of Music in Russia from Antiquity to 1800. Translated by Samuel William Pring. Edited and annotated by Miloš Velimirović and Claudia R. Jensen. Indiana University Press. |
| In-Text: | (Fendeĭzen 2008, 22) |
| * Note: |
(1) In the reference list, "edited by" and "translated by" are spelled out (CMOS18 13.108). (2) When there are both editors and translators, record them in the order as appeared on the title page of the source (CMOS18 14.6). |
| Chapter in an Edited Book | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Campbell, Edward. 2017. "French Music and the East: Colonising the Sound of an Empire." In The Orient in Music: Music of the Orient, edited by Magorzata Grajter. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. |
| In-Text: | (Campbell 2017, 61-62) |
| * Note: | In the reference list, the page range for the chapter is no longer needed, starting with this CMOS 18th edition (CMOS18 14.8). |
| Chapter in a Festschrift | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Bianco, Anna. 2014. "From the Art Collection of Ton Koopman: A Possible Portrait of Francesco Saverio Geminiani." In Studies in Baroque: Festscrhfit Ton Koopman, edited by Albert Clement. Dr. J. Butz. |
| In-Text: | (Bianco 2014, 75-76) |
| * Note: | Citing a chapter in a Festschrift follows the same guidelines for a book chapter. |
| Book in a Book Series | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Belkind, Nili. 2021. Music in Conflict: Palestine, Israel and the Politics of Aesthetic Production. SOAS Studies in Music. Routledge. |
| In-Text: | (Belkind 2021, 25) |
| * Note: | (1) Series title is capitalized but not italicized (CMOS18 8.178). (2) For numbered series, the number follows the series title without intervening comma unless vol. or no. is used (CMOS18 14.25). |
| E-Book | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Walls, Peter, ed. 2016. Baroque Music. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315096643. |
| In-Text: | (Walls 2017, 12) |
| * Note: | (1) Opt for a direct link to the source (e.g. DOI) rather than a link to the library's catalogue or a URL copied from the address bar of a browser (CMOS18 13.8). (2) Do not include the access date unless the date of publication cannot be determined from the source (CMOS18 13.15). (3) If no year of publication can be ascertained, insert n.d. in the place of the year (CMOS18 14.44) and add an access date (CMOS18 13.15). |
| E-Book in Reflowable Format or a Proprietary Application | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
DeLaurenti, Kathleen, and Andrea I. Copland. 2024. Unlocking the Digital Age: The Musician's Guide to Research, Copyright, and Publishing. Johns Hopkins, Peabody Institute. EPUB. |
| In-Text: | (Delaurenti and Copland 2024, chap. 1) |
| * Note: |
(1) Ebooks in reflowable formats such as EPUB or those on Kindle and Apple Books may not have fixed page numbers or any at all. In this case, cite the chapter number or a section heading (CMOS18 14.59). Then, add the ebook format (e.g. EPUB) or the proprietary application (e.g. Google Play Books) to the end of the citation in the reference list (CMOS18 14.58). (2) No need to indicate the ebook format or the proprietary application in subsequent footnotes (CMOS18 14.59). |
| E-Book with No Publication Date | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Walls, Peter, ed. n.d. Baroque Music. Routledge. Accessed November 18, 2022. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315096643. |
| In-Text: | (Walls n.d., 12) |
| * Note: | If no year of publication can be ascertained, insert n.d. in the place of the year (CMOS18 14.44) and add an access date (CMOS18 13.15). |
| Book that is Forthcoming, Not Yet Published | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Walls, Peter, ed. Forthcoming. Baroque Music. Routledge. |
| In-Text: | (Walls, forthcoming) |
| * Note: | If the publication is forthcoming, enter forthcoming as the year element (CMOS18 14.45). |
Note the followings for journal articles.
| Journal Article with 1-2 Authors | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Brandenburg, Sieghard, and William Drabkin. 1979. “Viewpoint: On Beethoven Scholars and Beethoven’s Sketches.” 19th-Century Music 2, no. 3: 270–76. |
| In-Text: | (Brandenburg and Drabkin 1979, 270) |
| * Note: |
(1) If the year, volume and issue numbers are available, no need to include the month or season: Journal Title volume, no. issue: page range. E.g. 19th-Century Music 2, no. 3: 270-76. (CMOS18 14.70) |
| Journal Article with 3 or More Authors | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Stuhl, Andy Kelleher, Alexandra Hui, Alexander Russo, and Amy Skjerseth. 2022. “Sounds of Accompaniment: Transcript from an SCMS 2022 Panel on Music, Technology, and Labor." Journal of Popular Music Studies 34, no. 3 (September): 6-29. |
| In-Text: | (Stuhl et al. 1979, 10) |
| * Note: |
(1) In the reference list, list up to six authors. If more than six, list only the first three followed by "et al." (CMOS18 13.78) |
| E-Journal Article | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Brandenburg, Sieghard, and William Drabkin. 1979. “Viewpoint: On Beethoven Scholars and Beethoven’s Sketches.” 19th-Century Music 2, no. 3: 270–76. https://doi.org/10.2307/3519805. |
| In-Text: | (Brandenburg and Drabkin 1979, 270) |
| * Note: | (1) Opt for the DOI rather than a link to the library's catalogue or a URL copied from the address bar of a browser (CMOS18 14.72). (2) Do not include the access date unless the date of publication cannot be determined from the source (CMOS18 13.15). When included, place it before the DOI (CMOS18 14.73). (3) If no year of publication can be ascertained, insert n.d. in the place of the year and add an access date (CMOS18 13.15). |
The citation elements and formats for databases are similar to that for books.
| Article in Grove Music Online (As a Signed Article) | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Kerman, Joseph, Alan Tyson, Scott G. Burnham, Douglas Johnson, and William Drabkin. 2001. "Beethoven, Ludwig van." In Grove Music Online. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.40026. |
| In-Text: | (Kerman et al. 2001) |
| * Note: | (1) Opt for the DOI rather than a link to the library's catalogue or a URL copied from the address bar of a browser (CMOS18 13.8). (2) Do not include the access date unless the date of publication or revision for the cited entry cannot be determined from the source (CMOS18 14.131). (3) If no date of publication or revision can be ascertained, insert the access date (CMOS18 14.132). |
| Article in Grove Music Online (As an Alphabetical Entry) | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Grove Music Online. 2001. "Beethoven, Ludwig van." Accessed November 18, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.40026. |
| In-Text: | (Grove Music Online 2001) |
| * Note: | (1) If citing as an unsigned alphabetical entry, cite under the title of the reference work (CMOS18 14.131). (2) Opt for the DOI rather than a link to the library's catalogue or a URL copied from the address bar of a browser (CMOS18 13.8). (3) Do not include the access date unless the date of publication or revision for the cited entry cannot be determined from the source (CMOS 14.131). (4) If no date of publication or revision can be ascertained, insert the access date (CMOS18 14.132). (5) For details about citing a signed article in a reference work, see example above and CMOS18 14.132. |
| Article in MGG Online (As a Signed Article) | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Schubert, Giselher. June 2021. "Hindemith, Paul." In MGG Online. Bärenreiter-Verlag. https://www.mgg-online.com/mgg/stable/395530. |
| In-Text: | (Schubert 2021) |
| * Note: | (1) Opt for the DOI rather than a link to the library's catalogue or a URL copied from the address bar of a browser (CMOS18 13.8). (2) Do not include the access date unless the date of publication or revision for the cited entry cannot be determined from the source (CMOS18 14.131). (3) If no date of publication or revision can be ascertained, insert the access date (CMOS18 14.132). |
For details, please refer to CMOS18 14.103-105.
| Webpage within a Website | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Phamox Music. n.d. "African Musicians." Phamox Music: Music is Life and Life is Music!!! Accessed November 18, 2022. https://phamoxmusic.com/category/musicians/african-musicians. |
| In-Text: | (Phamox Music, n.d.) |
| * Note: | If no date of publication or revision can be determined from the website, insert n.d. in the place of the year and add an access date (CMOS18 14.104). |
| Wikipedia Entry | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Wikipedia. 2022. "Inuit Throat Singing." Last modified September 11, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuit_throat_singing. |
| In-Text: | (Wikipedia 2022) |
| * Note: | (1) Wikipedia is treated as the title of the website rather than a conventional encyclopedia. Thus, it is set in roman, not italics. (2) The date of modification is indicated at the bottom of the wiki page and is therefore included in the citation. No access date is needed (CMOS18 14.131). |
| Blog Post | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Oteri, Frank J. 2022. "Tania León: The Rhythm of Life." NewMusicBox (blog), New Music USA. December 7, 2022. https://newmusicusa.org/nmbx/tania-leon-the-rhythm-of-lilfe. |
| In-Text: | (Oteri 2022) |
| * Note: | (1) Title of the post in quotation marks. (2) Title of the blog in italics, then add blog in parentheses. (3) If the blog is part of a larger publication, include the name of that publication. (4) Include the date of the post. (5) For details about citing a blog post, see CMOS18 14.105. |
Citing scores is similar to that for books.
| Score | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Beethoven, Ludwig van. 1989. Diabelli-Variationen, Opus 120. Fingering by Walter Georgii. Henle. |
| In-Text: | (Beethoven 1989) |
| Online score from a database | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Takemitsu, Toru. 1973. Stanza I (1969). Universal Edition. Music Online: Classical Scores Library. |
| In-Text: | (Takemitsu 1973) |
| * Note: | When the source is available through a subscription or library account, name the database in lieu of a URL (CMOS18 13.10). |
| Online score from IMSLP | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Boulanger, Lili. 1919. Cortège: Piano et violon. Ricordi. https://s9.imslp.org/files/imglnks/usimg/d/d2/IMSLP435484-PMLP707819-Cortege.pdf. |
| In-Text: | (Boulanger 1919) |
| Score from complete works | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Busnoys, Antoine. [2000?]. "Missa l'homme armé." In The Latin-Texted Works, edited by Richard Taruskin, part 2 of Antoine Busnoys Collected Works. Broude Trust. |
| In-Text: | (Busnoys [2000?], 130) |
| * Note: |
A score from a complete work edition (i.e. specific parts of individual volumes of multivolume books) follows essentially the same style as a chapter of a book (CMOS18 14.22). |
Depending on the purpose of the sound recording citation, you may put the composer or the performer as the author. Also, for audiovisual materials, the Author-Date system emphasizes the date of the original recording in the citation. Hence, this date (instead of the date of a subsequent release) is placed after the author/composer's name (CMOS17 15.57).
Below are some of the specific elements that should be included (where applicable). For details, please refer to CMOS18 14.161 and 14.163.
| CD (For a Whole Recording) | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Britten, Benjamin. 1958. Peter Grimes. Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Benjamin Britten. With Peter Pears, Claire Watson, James Pease, David Kelly, et al. Decca 467 682-2, 2001, 2 compact discs. |
| In-Text: | (Britten 1958) |
| * Note: | Here Benjamin Britten is both the composer and conductor, hence appearing twice in the citation. |
| LP (Individual Track Featuring the Composer) | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Shostakovich, Dmitry. 1998. "Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 99." On Midori, Claudio Abbado, Berlin Philharmonic: Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35, Shostakovich Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 99. Berlin Philharmonic, Midori Goto, violinist and Claudio Abbado, conductor. Sony Classical 827969308820, 2004, LP. |
| In-Text: | (Shostakovich 1998) |
| Streaming Audio (Individual Track Featuring the Performer) | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Goto, Midori, violinist. 1998. "Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 99," by Dmitry Shostakovich. On Midori, Claudio Abbado, Berlin Philharmonic: Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35, Shostakovich Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 99. Sony Classical 827969308820, 2004, streaming audio. Naxos Music Library. |
| In-Text: | (Goto 1998) |
| * Note: | (1) List the service or the file format (CMOS18 14.163). (2) When the source is available through a subscription or library account, name the database in lieu of a URL (CMOS18 13.10). |
For audiovisual materials, the Author-Date system emphasizes the date of the original recording in the citation. Hence, this date (instead of the date of a subsequent release) is placed after the author/composer's name (CMOS17 15.57). For details, please refer to CMOS18 14.165.
| DVD | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Tan, Dun. 2002. Tea: A Mirror of Soul: Opera in Three Acts. Directed by Pierre Audi. Bass-Baritone Chorus of the Netherlands Opera, NHK Symphony Orchestra. With Haijing Fu, Nancy Allen Lundy, Christopher Gillett, Ning Liang, and Stephen Richardson (vocalists). Hamburg: Deutsche Grammophone, 2004. DVD, 148 min. |
| In-Text: | (Tan, 2002) |
| * Note: | The date of the original recording (instead of the date of a subsequent release) is placed after the author/composer's name. |
| Streaming Video | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
World Music. Musicians in Brazil (1). 2008. Directed by Chronis Pchlivanidis and Angeliki Aristomenopoulou. Onos Productions, 2008. Streaming video, 50:24. medici.tv. |
| In-Text: | (Tan, 2002) |
| * Note: | (1) List the service or the file format at the end (CMOS18 14.163). (2) When the source is available through a subscription or library account, name the database in lieu of a URL (CMOS18 13.10). |
| YouTube Video | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Javanese Gamelan Ensemble. 2014. "Pelog Barang - Singa Nebah (The Pouncing Lion)." Northern Illinois University School of Music. YouTube video, 03:01. https://youtu.be/p3HwqqiVxbE. |
| In-Text: | (Javanese Gamelan Ensemble, 2014) |
Generally, cite the sound recording as usual and add "Liner notes" at the end (CMOS18 FAQ). For a signed liner note, cite by the author's name, followed by the title (if applicable).
| Unsigned Liner Notes | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Ravel, Gershwin: Piano concertos. 2017. Dennis Kozhukhin, pianist, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Kazuki Yamada, conductor. Recorded July 2017. Pentatone PTC 5186 620, 2018, SACD. Liner notes. |
| In-Text: | (Ravel, Gershwin: Piano concertos 1958, [5]) |
| * Note: | The liner notes booklet here is unpaged. In this case, count the pages, cite the page number as usual and put brackets around it. |
| Signed Liner Notes | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Row, Grace. 1986. "To the Edge of Dream." To the Edge of Dream: Esa-Pekka Salonen: Messiaen, Takemitsu, Lutoslawski. Sony Classical SMK 53473, 1993, compact disc. Liner notes. |
| In-Text: | (Row 1986, 4-5) |
| Online Signed Liner Notes | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: |
Niels, Elger. 2001. "Sergei Rachmaninov." Sergei Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos 1 & 4, by Sergei Rachmaninov. Alexander Ghindin, pianist, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Vladimir Ashkenazy, conductor. Ondine ODE977-2, 2001, streaming audio. Naxos Music Library. Liner notes. |
| In-Text: | (Niels 2001, 3-9) |
As stated in the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)'s position statement, AI tools do not hold authorship as they cannot take responsibility for the work they generated. Yet, it is still necessary to credit if using AI-generated text in papers and assignments. Cite it in-text, but not in the reference list unless a publicly available link is provided. For details, please refer to CMOS18 14.112.
|
When the prompt has been included in the body of the paper |
|
|---|---|
|
Reference List: |
(Do not include it in the reference list.) |
|
In-Text: |
When asked to list all countries in Southeast Asia that have been colonized by Britain, Google’s Gemini (October 29, 2024) listed Brunei, Malaysia, Myanmar and Singapore. |
|
When the prompt has not been included in the body of the paper |
|
|---|---|
|
Reference List: |
(Do not include it in the reference list.) |
|
In-Text: |
The following list of Southeast Asian countries have been colonized by Britain (ChatGPT, October 29, 2024). |
|
* Note: |
(1) The generative AI tool, ChatGPT, appears as the "author" in the citation. (2) The date is when the text was generated by AI. |
|
When the AI-generated text has been edited when incorporating into the body of the paper |
|
|---|---|
|
Reference List: |
(Do not include it in the reference list.) |
|
In-Text: |
When asked to list all countries in Southeast Asia that have been colonized by Britain, Google’s Gemini indicated that Singapore was one of them (October 29, 2024, edited for style and content). |
|
* Note: |
(1) Gemini's response was edited to list Singapore only in the paper. |
When citing a fonds, no need to include n.d. (no date) in the citation. However, when citing an item in a fonds, mention the date in the text when applicable/available (CMOS18 14.128).
| A textual item in a fonds | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: | Julius Schloss Collection. McGill University Marvin Duchow Music Library. |
| In-Text: | In Schloss' correspondence with his publisher dated 1960 (Julis Schloss Collection, item S1.1/F5 SC306), it shows that ... |
| A non-texutual item in a fonds | |
|---|---|
| Reference List: | Hellmuth Wolff Organ Collection. McGill University Marvin Duchow Music Library. |
| In-Text: |
In the organ plan dated May 1973 (Hellmuth Wolff Organ Collection, series 1 box 8), it shows that ... In the promotional DVD titled "Organpipes" from Taylor Fladgate (Hellmuth Wolff Organ Collection, series 13), it shows that... |
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