The Facts on File Dictionary of Music (Facts on File)

The Facts On File Dictionary of Music is an indispensable reference to the vast field of music. More than 3,000 musical terms are included in this authoritative resource, covering all major subjects, from technique and musical styles to instruments and notation and much more. Clear explanations of terminology, illustrations of instruments, pronunciations of foreign terms, and biographical information on composers are enhanced by the inclusion of quick-reference charts presenting information on important operas, ballets, and symphonies. This thoroughly revised and expanded edition of the original standard is an invaluable source for teachers, students, professionals, and music lovers alike.

lexicographer Ammer Has Produced A Number Of Musical Dictionaries, And A History Of Women In American Music. Here She Defines The Most Commonly Used Musical Terms, And Others Relating To Music History With View To Explaining The Background Of Musical Practice. The Biographical Articles Focus On People's Musical Work, And Leave Details Of Their Lives To Other References. She Includes Pronunciation Guides For All Terms That Are Not Common English Words, Extensive Cross-referencing, And Indexes Of Composers And Instruments. The Third Edition Was Published In 1995 As the Harpercollins Dictionary Of Music. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, Or

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professional Lexicographer Ammer (the A To Z Of Foreign Musical Terms) Has Added A Significant Volume To The List Of Concise Hardcover Dictionaries Of Music And Musicians That Have Appeared In The Past Five Years. Featuring Entries For 3000 Musical Terms And Topics (e.g., A Capella; Masque; 20th-century Music), 250 Illustrations, And A Friendly, Easy-to-read Style, The Book Compares Favorably With The Harvard Concise Dictionary Of Music And Musicians (1999) As Well As The Hutchinson Concise Dictionary Of Music (1999). It Includes Such Nice Touches As Lists Of Famous Ballets, Waltzes, Symphonies, Etc., Phonetic Pronunciations For Composers And Foreign Terms (not Found In The Harvard Dictionary), And An Index Of Composers For Whom Biographical Sketches Are Supplied. There Are A Few Caveats, However. The Book Costs $15 More Than The Harvard Dictionary And Contains Fewer Biographical Sketches. It Also Lacks The Kind Of Technical Detail Found In The Harvard Dictionary. One Example Is The Lack Of Figured Bass Inversion Numbers In Some Of The Musical Examples That Clearly Use Inverted Chords. Bottom Line While Less Than Ideal For Serious Academic Collections, This Strong Reference Would Make A Wonderful Addition To All School Libraries. It Would Also Make An Ideal Gift For The Aspiring Musician.-james E. Perone, Mount Union Coll., Alliance, Oh Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

The Facts on File Dictionary of Music provides in-depth explanations and examples of more than 3,000 musical terms and topics, including biographies of composers. Covering all major subjects, from technique and musical styles to instruments and notation to history and much more, the dictionary is an authoritative reference. It offers accessible coverage of a wide range of music-related subjects, from early history up to the present day, and is enhanced with more than 250 illustrations. This reference provides in-depth explanations and examples of more than 3000 musical terms and topics, including biographies of composers. Spanning early history to the present day, the dictionary covers subjects including: a capella; afterbeat; bluegrass; cantata; cajun music; chamber opera; and many more.