Yale University Library Research Guides: Music Dictionaries: Concise Dictionaries and Companions to Music

Online Dictionaries

The Oxford Dictionary of Music
more...less...
Includes information on "musical terms, musical works, musical instruments, composers, librettists, musicians, singers, and orchestras. Earlier editions also available in print under the title The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music
Harvard Dictionary of Music
more...less...
"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." Also in print, Music Library Reference ML100 A641 2003
The Oxford Dictionary of Music
more...less...
Included in this impressive work are entries on composers, performers, conductors, musical terms and forms, instruments, works, venues, and a host of other topics.
The Penguin Dictionary of Music, 5th Edition
more...less...
Entries on composers, music history, performers, theory and jargon, instruments, etc.

The concise Oxford dictionary of music. by Michael Kennedy and Joyce Bourne Kennedy
ISBN: 0199203830
Derived from the classic Oxford Dictionary of Music, this is an authoritative dictionary of music available online (but also physically at the music library) Covers most periods and styles.
The Norton/Grove concise encyclopedia of music by ed. Stanley Sadie
Call Number: ML100 N884 (1988)
ISBN: 0393026205
A little dated but this is not an issue with that type of work. Intended for a student and music lover readership. Scope similar to Grove's (composers, performers, terminology, etc.) but obviously less details!
The Harvard concise dictionary of music and musicians by ed. Don Michael Randel
Call Number: Ref ML100 H339 (1999)
ISBN: 0674000846
Primarly a book devoted to Western classical music. Includes performers of classical but also some jazz and pop, terms, instruments, titles of works, etc.
The Oxford companion to music by ed. Alison Latham
Call Number: ML100 .S36 (2002)
ISBN: 0198662122
Mostly on Classical music composers, performers,, etc. There was a serious effort to include as much ethnological topics as possible. Pop is surveyed very lightly.

Random House encyclopedic dictionary of classical music by ed. David Cummings
Call Number: Ref ML100 R194 (1997)
ISBN: 0679458514
Only classical music is covered. Intended for a wide audience. Lost of illustr. and famous quotes. Good intro to composers and topics but only at a superficial level.
Baker’s dictionary of music by Nicolas Slonimsky
Call Number: Ref ML100 B168 (1997)
ISBN: 0028647912
Slonimsky needs no introduction. This work will give you access to a great mind's thoughts on music (composers, performers, etc.) Covers classical but also some pop/jazz/folk/gospel. General audience. Very readable with nice illustr.