The Oxford Dictionary Of Musical Works

Anyone who listens to or plays classical music often wants to put the pieces they encounter in context - to check information ranging from who wrote the piece, or the date of its first performance, to how it acquired its title, or whether it was commissioned for a specific person or occasion. General dictionaries of music only cover a limited number of musical works, and include very little detail. The new Oxford Dictionary of Musical Works provides short articles on over 1750 musical works from earliest times to the present day, providing a comprehensive but handy reference. Entries encompass a broad spectrum of genres - from opera, ballet, choral and vocal music, orchestral, chamber and instrumental pieces, to nicknamed works, collections, national anthems, hymn tunes, and traditional melodies. Each entry outlines the genre to which the piece belongs; the librettist or author of the text, including any literary source; the number of acts or movements; the scoring - includingdetails of the instrumentalists and vocalists needed to perform the piece; how it came to be commissioned; the place and date of its first performance; any subsequent arrangements or revisions; and any additional important or entertaining information.

Includes entries for more than two thousand composers of all nationalities and eras, and includes definitions of musical terms and forms, and descriptions of musical instruments.

This comprehensive one-volume dictionary covers all the musical terms in English and other European languages generally used in Western music. With over 2,500 A-Z entries, this ideal reference book provides clear, succinct definitions across a broad range of subjects, including rhythm, metre, scales, harmony and counterpoint, notational systems, and many more. An indispensable reference for students and teachers of music.

Included in this work are entries on composers, performers, conductors, musical terms and forms, instruments, works, venues, and a host of other topics.

"The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music is the most authoritative and up-to-date dictionary of music available in paperback. Coverage includes musical terms from allegro to zingaro, and musical works from Aida to Zauberflote, as well as composers, librettists, musicians, singers, and orchestras. It provides a mine of information for all lovers of music." "The book includes musical instruments and their history; and covers living composers and performers, with over 150 added for this edition."--BOOK JACKET.

Contains thousands of entries covering all eras of music. It is unique in that it includes contemporary terms and composers from the popular genre as well as classical terms and composers. It is organized in a logical sequence for quick and easy reference.

When we speak of "classical music" it often refers rather loosely to serious "art" music but at the core is really the music of the classical period running from about 1730 to 1800, give or take. This was truly one of the most glorious periods for both composition and performance and it is this classical music which is still at the core of today's repertoire. Obvious names connected with this period are Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, but there were many more still reasonably well known like Gluck and C.P.E Bach, and dozens more who are regrettably little known today. This Historical Dictionary of Music of the Classical Period includes not only these composers, but also eminent conductors and performers, patrons, and publishers. There are also dictionary entries on major centers of music-making, typical instruments, important technical terms, and emerging musical forms, including the symphony and opera. Indeed, with a 1,000 cross-referenced entries, there is information on most matters of interest. This is prefaced by an extensive chronology, tracing the course of this period from year to year, and an introduction taking a careful look at the period as a whole. Finally, there is a substantial bibliography. Surely, this is a book which will appeal not only to students and researchers but all music-lovers.