The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th ed.
Turabian: A Manual for Writers of Research PapersThere is no single "right" way to cite a recording because the important information for a reader can be the composer, the lyricist, the performer, the conductor, or the ensemble. Like any other citation, the purpose of a recording citation is to lead the reader to EXACTLY the same version of the source material the researcher consulted. Recordings on CD or online are often "re-mastered" from the LP version, and significant changes are made, so it is essential to cite the correct format. Below are a few suggestions of ways to think about and cite classical compositions, jazz standards, and popular recordings. These are common scenarios, but variations on the notes below are likely, and almost certainly necessary.
Citations can emphasize different contributors as the author (composer, performer, conductor, etc.) depending on emphasis. Note that because LPs can have different speeds, that information can be essential.
LastName, FirstName M. Title of Work, with Performers, Ensemble, and Conductor, recording date , on Disc Title, Record Label #, release year, format.
Beethoven, Ludwig van. 1964. Symphony no. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, "Choral". New York Philharmonic Orchestra and the Juilliard Chorus. Conducted by Leonard Bernstein. With Martina Arroyo, soprano; Regina Sarfaty, mezzo-soprano; Nicholas Di Virgilio, tenor; and Norman Scott, bass. Recorded May 18, 1964. The Nine Symphonies. Columbia D8S 815, 1970, 33 1/3 rpm.
Berlioz, Hector. 1994. D'amour l'ardente flamme. With Françoise Pollet, soprano, the choir and orchestra of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. Conducted by Charles Dutoit. Recorded October 27-29, 1994, from La damnation de Faust, London 444 812-2, 1996, compact disc.
Dutoit, Charles,conductor. 1994. D'amour l'ardente flamme, by Hector Berlioz with Françoise Pollet, soprano and the choir and orchestra of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. Recorded October 27-29, 1994, from La damnation de Faust, London 444 812-2, 1996, compact disc.
DiDonato, Joyce, mezzo-soprano. 2010. D'amour l'ardente flamme (La damnation de Faust), by Hector Berlioz with the Orchestre et Chœur de l'Opéra national de Lyon. Conducted by Kazushi Ono. Recorded September 18-28, 2010, on Diva, Divo, Virgin Classics 50999 641986 0 6, 2011, compact disc.
Follow the suggestions for CDs/LPs/Cassettes with the addition of a stable URL, doi, or the name of the database. The format should be 'streaming audio.' To identify an exact event or quotation, use time code.
Note that in this example, the CD is streamed from a library database, and that the URL is given. CDs can have several publisher's numbers. Use the one that makes it easy to find the exact recording you heard.
LastName, FirstName M. Title of Work, with Performers, Ensemble, and Conductor, recording date , on Disc Title, Record Label #, release year, format, URL.
Berlioz, Hector. D'amour l'ardente flamme (La damnation de Faust). With Joyce DiDonato, mezzo-soprano and the Orchestre et Chœur de l'Opéra national de Lyon, conducted by Kazushi Ono. Recorded September 18-28, 2010. On Diva, Divo, Virgin Classics 5099909487451, 2011, streaming audio. http://bates.naxosmusiclibrary.com/catalogue/item.asp?cid=5099909487451.
Follow the suggestions for CDs/LPs/Cassettes with the addition of a stable URL, doi, or the name of the database. An accessed date should be included, since tracks and recordings may disappear from services or websites. The format can either be 'streaming audio' or the exact format if you know the file type. Streaming services often do not provide complete album information. To identify an exact event or quotation, use time code.
LastName, FirstName M. Title. Other relevant information. On Disc Title, Label #, release year, format, URL.
Miranda, Lin-Manuel. Helpless. With Phillippa Soo. Track 10 on Hamilton: an American Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording), Atlantic Records, 2015, streaming audio, Amazon Prime, https://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Original-Broadway-Recording-Explicit/dp/B0135P6PZA.
Alphabetize by the bibliographic information that you have chosen to emphasize. In the examples below, Blade Runner is first because we are ordering it by "B" (the first word in it's title), while "The Trouble with Tribbles" is ordered by "P" (for director Pevney), and "Captain Jack Harkness" is ordered by "T" (for screenwriter Tregena). The date of the original recording should be emphasized.
LastName, FirstName M. Year released. Title of Series. Season number, episode number, "Title of Episode." Aired date, on network. PlacePublished: Label, Video release date. Format.
Blade Runner (Director's Cut). 1992. Directed by Ridley Scott. Burbank, CA: Warner Home Video, 1999. DVD.
Pevney, Joseph, dir. 1967. Star Trek: the Original Series. Season 2, episode 15, "The Trouble with Tribbles." Aired December 29, 1967, on NBC. Hollywood, CA: CBS DVD, 2012. DVD.
Tregenna, Catherine, screenwriter. 2007. "Captain Jack Harkness." Directed by Ashley Way. Torchwood, series 1, episode 12. Aired January 1, 2007, on BBC Three. Burbank, CA: Warner Home Video, 2008. DVD.
Follow the suggestions for VHS/DVD with the addition of a stable URL, DOI, or the name of the database.
LastName, FirstName M. Title of Series. Season number, episode number, "Title of Episode." Aired date, on network. URL.
DuVernay, Ava, dir. 2016. 13th. Sherman Oaks, CA: Kandoo Films. https://www.netflix.com/title/80091741.
Herbes-Sommers, Christine, dir. 2003. "The Difference Between Us." Race: the Power of an Illusion. Episode 1. Video, 67:03. https://search.alexanderstreet.com/lti/view/work/bibliographic_entity%7Cvideo_work%7C1859751.