LibGuides: Western Music History: Encyclopedias and Dictionaries

Starting Place

Oxford Music Online Search Box

There are four resources within Oxford Music Online

Grove Music is the major English-language music encyclopedia. Coverage is comprehensive; lengthy articles include lists of composers' works, extensive bibliographies, illustrations. Also include the New Grove Dictionary of Jazz and New Grove Dictionary of Opera.
Oxford companion to Music
Oxford Dictionary of Music
Encyclopedia of Popular Music

New Grove dictionary of music and musicians
Call Number: Music Reference ML100 G885 2001
The major English-language music encyclopedia. Coverage is comprehensive; lengthy articles include lists of composers' works, extensive bibliographies, illustrations. Also available online as part of Oxford Music Online

Encyclopedia of music in Canada
Call Number: Music Reference ML106 C3E63 1992
overs music and musical life and the course of their development in Canada through articles on Canadian individuals, organizations, instruments, genres, etc. Includes valuable bibliographies and discographies. French edition, 1983.
Also available Online
New Harvard dictionary of music
Call Number: Music Reference ML100 N485 1986
The standard North American dictionary of music. Provides concise information on all musical topics. Non-biographical. Useful for illustrations and musical examples, bibliographies, cross references to related articles, excellent historical articles.
Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart
Call Number: Music Reference ML100 M932 1994
Also know as the MGG, it is the major German-language music encyclopedia. It is international in scope and coverage, and although written in German, it has extensive bibliographies which include works in English.