Music: Style and Citation Guides

Tip # 1 - Spell out key signatures and chords.

Example: E-flat major ; the triad C-E-G

Tip # 2 - Italicize foreign terms unless they are common to the English language.

Example: tempo, opera ; tempi, opera comique

Tip # 3 - Know when to italicize a musical title, enclose the title in quotes, or use no italics or quotes.

• Titles of long musical compositions (such as tone poems, operas, oratorios, etc.) should be italicized.
  • Example: Idomeneo, Till Eulenspiegel, Messiah
• Song titles and titles of short compositions should be enclosed in quotes.
  • Example: "Amazing Grace"
• Generic titles should be capitalized but not italicized nor enclosed in quotes.
  • Example: Beethoven's String Quartet No. 1, Op. 18

For more tips, visit the Citing Music Sources in Your Essay and Bibliography.