Noted lexicographer Thomsett here dissects more than 1,400 terms, a buttula to zither, with clarity and precision; 383 high quality original illustrations render concepts that make verbal explanation difficult. Fully cross referenced, this dictionary is an authoritative source for researchers, musicologists, professional musicians, teachers and students of music, and educated members of the public. The richly detailed and comprehensive dictionary proper is followed by a five-language glossary of instruments. An illustrated notation guide provides identification of symbols used in musical scores. The final section comprehensively covers scales, keys and chords.

It is the aim of this "Dictionary of Musical Terms" to furnish an accurate and concise explanation of any technical word or phrase which the student is apt to meet with. The English vocabulary will be found practically exhaustive. Want of space forbade making the foreign vocabulary equally so; but the editor has endeavored to preserve a proper balance by giving any term, appearing in either German, French, or Italian, in each of those languages, thus maintaining a consistent polyglot character so far as necessary limitations permitted. The scope of the work, which is rather a dictionary than a lexicon, rendered the editor's task more that of a compiler than of an original investigator. Most of the material here presented has been gleaned from numerous standard works of reference, such as those of Grove (Dictionary), Riemann (Musik-Lexikon), Gevaert (Instrumentation), Weitzmann (History of Pianoforte-Playing), Stainer and Barrett, Ambros (Geschichte der Musik), Paul (Handlexikon), Soullier (Dictionnaire), Helmholtz (Tonempfindungen), Niecks, The Century Dictionary, many English, German, French, and Italian periodicals and musical journals, etc., etc. Literal quotations are duly credited to their sources; condensations and adaptations, however, are, for obvious reasons, not so credited, and must, therefore, be included under this general acknowledgment. The information so gathered has been carefully sifted, and supplemented by the personal researches of over ten years.

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.

From the PREFACE. It is the aim of this "Dictionary of Musical Terms" to furnish an accurate and concise explanation of any technical word or phrase which the student is apt to meet with. The English vocabulary will be found practically exhaustive. Want of space forbade making the foreign vocabulary equally so; but the editor has endeavored to preserve a proper balance by giving any term, appearing in either German, French, or Italian, in each of those languages, thus maintaining a consistent polyglot character so far as necessary limitations permitted. The scope of the work, which is rather a dictionary than a lexicon, rendered the editor's task more that of a compiler than of an original investigator. Most of the material here presented has been gleaned from numerous standard works of reference, such as those of Grove (Dictionary), Riemann (Musik-Lexikon), Gevaert (Instrumentation), Weitzmann (History of Pianoforte-Playing), Stainer and Barrett, Ambros (Geschichte der Musik), Paul (Handlexikon), Soullier (Dictionnaire), Helmholtz (Tonempfindungen), Niecks, The Century Dictionary, many English, German, French, and Italian periodicals and musical journals, etc., etc. Literal quotations are duly credited to their sources; condensations and adaptations, however, are, for obvious reasons, not so credited, and must, therefore, be included under this general acknowledgment. The information so gathered has been carefully sifted, and supplemented by the personal researches of over ten years.