# Musical ignoramus seeks help from musical folks **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 11, 2014, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-ignoramus-seeks-help-from-musical-folks/704374 "2014-11-11T21:21:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-ignoramus-seeks-help-from-musical-folks/704374/1 "2014-11-11T21:21:17Z")
A question about a musical matter – triggered by a family memoir which I’m trying to write. I am totally and completely unmusical. Could I ask – is there a general term in the world of music, for “a book giving both the musical score and the words, of a choral work”? I have seen same – the question is prompted, re an oratorio in which my father took a choral part more than half a century ago. Is there a handy word for such a book? The word “libretto” came to mind – but if I understand rightly, that means the words rather than the music, of an opera – so I don’t think that can be the right term. Help here, would be much appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![DooWahDiddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@DooWahDiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DooWahDiddy)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-ignoramus-seeks-help-from-musical-folks/704374/2 "2014-11-11T21:48:08Z")
Do you mean the words as they appear under the music notes, or do you mean in paragraph form? Because you’re right; “libretto” usually means the words written out in poetry/paragraph form, along with the dialogue between songs. But if you just mean a book that provides the sheet music as well as the lyrics to be sung underneath those words, such as [this](http://www.amazon.com/Requiem-Score-Wolfgang-Amadeus-Mozart/dp/0486253112/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415742306&sr=8-1&keywords=mozart%27s+requiem+sheet+music), then “Full Score” should suffice (it’s implied that the lyrics will come with the music). ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-ignoramus-seeks-help-from-musical-folks/704374/3 "2014-11-11T22:00:13Z")
Church music is presented that way in a hymnal. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-ignoramus-seeks-help-from-musical-folks/704374/4 "2014-11-11T22:15:52Z")
“Vocal score”? ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-ignoramus-seeks-help-from-musical-folks/704374/5 "2014-11-11T22:56:49Z")
Sheet Music? ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-ignoramus-seeks-help-from-musical-folks/704374/6 "2014-11-11T23:28:48Z")
For the words and the music they’re set to, I’d use “vocal score”; for the above plus the music for the accompanists I’d use “complete score”. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-ignoramus-seeks-help-from-musical-folks/704374/7 "2014-11-12T02:00:56Z")
I’ll add that I think “score” works just fine to refer casually to either of the above. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-ignoramus-seeks-help-from-musical-folks/704374/8 "2014-11-12T04:34:16Z")
Depending on the work, there could basically be three types of scores. A “part”, which is similar to an orchestral part, where all you get are the choir notes, and perhaps a few helpful cues. Comparatively rare in the choral world, but it happens (and is terrible, as choirs need reference pitches, which are often missing). “Piano/vocal score” which has the choir parts, any solos, and a piano reduction; the orchestra parts arranged for piano. The vast majority of scores used are these. A full score, which has everything: chorus, solos, every orchestra line. Generally only used by the conductor, and music nerds who like to follow along. Of course, if there is no orchestra part, that last one is moot. And if it’s a cappella, so’s the second. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-ignoramus-seeks-help-from-musical-folks/704374/9 "2014-11-12T04:37:36Z")
The following is from my copies of Schirmer editions which include all vocal parts and piano accompaniment. Bach’s St. Matthew Passion and Handel’s Messiah are both termed “vocal score”. Bach’s Magnificat is termed “score for voices with organ or piano accompaniment”. The cover and title page of Brahms’ “A German Requiem” look like this: > [@](#): > > Requiem > > for > > four-part chorus of mixed voices > and baritone and soprano soli > with piano accompaniment > > by > > Johannes Brahms “Vocal score” is succinct. ---
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-ignoramus-seeks-help-from-musical-folks/704374/10 "2014-11-12T07:33:55Z")
Thanks,all ! I think that for my purpose, just the word “score” would do fine. I’ve realised that I have in the past, heard the word in that context; but I’d forgotten it. ETA: I see that I actually used the word in my OP. Duh !