Dictionary of Music - Birding America

AUTHOR’S NOTEThe entries in this dictionary include the most commonlyused musical terms. In addition, they includeconsiderable material on music history, with a viewto explaining the background of musical practice.The biographical articles also reflect this historicalorientation, including relatively little detail aboutcomposers’ lives, which is readily available in booksdevoted entirely to this subject, but rather concentratingon the composer’s works.Additional historical information is provided inthe form of charts that briefly identify the composersassociated with important styles and periods, rangingfrom the Middle Ages to the twentieth century.At the end of the book, an Index of Composers listsall of the composers whose names appear in thesecharts, along with those who have separate entries,as well as an Index of Instruments for which thereare entries. A second kind of chart is used to presentnotable examples of major musical forms, such asoratorio and opera. Further, the articles on musicalinstruments generally list some of the repertory foreach instrument, in order to assist readers interestedin hearing recordings featuring an instrument and,for those considering the study of a particular instrument,to indicate something about its repertory.The terms in this dictionary, whether they consistof one word or of several words, are listed instrict alphabetical order, letter by letter, up to thecomma in the case of inversion. In the case of identicalterms in different languages and with differentmeanings, they are listed under a series of numbereddefinitions in one article, along with closelyrelated terms. Terms mentioned in one entry butfurther explained in another, where the reader isadvised to seek them out, are printed in small capitalletters, as, for example, ADAGIO or AEOLIANHARP.Pronunciations for foreign words are as close anapproximation as possible of how the words are pronouncedin the respective languages, and a pronunciationkey appears on page viii.Titles of compositions are given in the originallanguage except when that language is judged unfamiliarto most readers (for example, Russian andHungarian) or when the English translation of afamous title has come into very common use (forexample, Bach’s The Art of Fugue and his The Well-Tempered Clavier). Dates usually refer to the date offirst performance, unless indicated otherwise.This considerably expanded fourth editionincludes new developments in both classical andpopular music. It incorporates recent research anddiscoveries in early music, as well as revised andexpanded information about technological advancesin sound reproduction and creation. The most importantcontemporary composers have been added, andthe repertory for instruments and musical forms aswell as all of the tables have been brought up to date.The author is deeply indebted to the many friendsand acquaintances who have unstintingly answeredquestions, given advice, lent musical instruments andphotographs, and otherwise donated invaluable supportand assistance. Special thanks are due to DavidAmmer for his patient explanations and knowledgeableanswers to numerous detailed questions. The dictionaryhas been vastly improved through their help;its faults and errors and shortcomings are entirely theauthor’s own responsibility.vii