You'll need to understand the difference between manuscript, facsimile, and published editions of musical scores.
- Manuscript: An unpublished, usually handwritten music score. If the manuscript includes the composer's writing, it is called an autograph.
- Facsimile edition: Photographic reproduction of manuscript or print source.
- Published edition: Could include critical or scholarly editions, or collected or complete works
You also can identify if the score is a full-score, piano reduction, performance score, or scholarly edition.
- Full score: Contains complete details of a work for orchestra, with or without voices, as it is intended to be performed. Full scores are generally large enough large enough to be read by a conductor.
- Piano reduction: Full orchestration reduced for keyboard with a separate staff for the soloist; also an orchestra score reduced to a piano version.
- Performance scores: Can include full scores, conductor's scores, piano-vocal scores, transcriptions and arrangements and other scores to support solo instrument, voice, and chamber music performance.
- Scholarly edition: Intended as a scholarly, authoritative source based from primary sources and the composers intent. Contains commentary to explain editorial differences and explanation.
Modified from Music: Scores by Creighton Barrett at Dalhousie Libraries
