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Music: Encyclopedias/Dictionaries

A guide of recommended resources for research in music

Encyclopedias and Bio-Bibliographic Sources

Grove Music (Oxford Music Online)
The online edition of New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, and New Grove Dictionary of Opera.

Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of Musicians
   Main and Music Ref.  ML105 .B16 1991  
   Centennial edition online

Classical Music Reference Library
Online editions of reference sources and books.

Fétis, François-Joseph, 1784-1871.
Biographie universelle des musiciens et bibliographie générale de la musique.
A historic biographical dictionary of composers and musicians living in Europe prior to the 19th century. 
   Also available: Main Ref.   ML105 .F42 1963

The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.  
    Music Ref. ML100 .N48 2001 

The New Grove Dictionary of Opera.
   Music Ref.  ML102.O6 N5 1992

Oxford Companion to Music.
   Music Ref.  ML100 .O94 2002 

Music Terminological Dictionaries

Definitions, pronunciations, and translations of musical terms.

 

A Musical Dictionary. James Grassineau.

    Music Ref. ML108 .B7 1740a  

 

Music Translation Dictionary. Carolyn Doub Grigg.  
   Main Ref.  ML108 .G855 

    

The New Harvard Dictionary of Music.
    Main Ref. ML100 .N485 1986; Also online 

 

Oxford Dictionary of Music
   Music Ref.  ML100 .K35 1994; Also online