The Harvard Dictionary of Music (Harvard University Press Reference Library)

Additional The Harvard Dictionary of Music (Harvard University Press Reference Library) Information

This classic reference work, the best one-volume music dictionary available, has been brought completely up to date in this new edition. Combining authoritative scholarship and lucid, lively prose, the Fourth Edition of The Harvard Dictionary of Music is the essential guide for musicians, students, and everyone who appreciates music.

The Harvard Dictionary of Music has long been admired for its wide range as well as its reliability. This treasure trove includes entries on all the styles and forms in Western music; comprehensive articles on the music of Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Near East; descriptions of instruments enriched by historical background; and articles that reflect today's beat, including popular music, jazz, and rock. Throughout this Fourth Edition, existing articles have been fine-tuned and new entries added so that the dictionary fully reflects current music scholarship and recent developments in musical culture.

Encyclopedia-length articles by notable experts alternate with short entries for quick reference, including definitions and identifications of works and instruments. More than 220 drawings and 250 musical examples enhance the text. This is an invaluable book that no music lover can afford to be without.

What Customers Say About The Harvard Dictionary of Music (Harvard University Press Reference Library):

This is one of the classic volumes of encyclopedic music scholarship in a one-volume package. Another reviewer mentions this, but it is worth mentioning again: biographical information--and some very accurate biographical information--tends to be readily accessible on the Internet, but concise, accurate information about instruments, forms, genres, styles, and so on, is not always quite as reliable. It's all here, though, and in a format and physical publication that is affordable and attractive. The Harvard Dictionary has real substance, physically and scholarly.

_The Harvard Dictionary of Music_ is easy to use and very helpful. The articles are usually short but thorough, and they often contain cross references, bibliography, and signed entries.

Back around 1987 (or so), I walked into a local mega-bookstore to find a music dictionary that would help me navigate a couple of Renaissance and Medieval music books I was trying to read through. After reading the Harvard entry, I was reading through and playing Corelli on my keyboard sequencer (albeit slowly) within about 15 minutes. I remember after having bought the book, that whenever I needed to find out something, it would give me what I needed almost without fail.

So once I'd entered the store, I grabbed their three or four music dictionaries off the shelf and started comparing their enties for each of 8 or 10 musical terms/ideas. I was doubting that the Harvard would give me what I needed, as it seemed on the surface to be so very complicated. I'd written down various terms that I would use as the litmus test to gauge how effectively (clearly, concisely and thoroughly) each dictionary would be able to tell me what I needed and wanted to know, and/or how well it defined things I already knew well.

One example of this occurred on the day I wanted/needed to learn how to read and understand figured bass (having never looked into this before). I found that the Harvard version was unsurpassed, and in fact rarely equaled in the quality of its entries. Oftentimes the other dictionaries flung around jargon; or their explanations were superficial, or would skirt some of the issues, assuming that I, for one, would already know what THEY were supposed to be explaining to me.

Was I ever wrong. Although I had also conversed with a friend who was a composition major, that was for no more than a minute or so.

The Harvard Dictionary is a staple with serious musicians - I bought this for a student of mine that was graduating. Amazons service is so fast that I'm spoiled. I expect everyone else to mail my purchases this quickly.

The Harvard Dictionary of Music is a MUST for all college music students. It will be of great interest to all who love music.Highly recommended.