Music Reference

Bach to Zappa, Banjo to Xylophone, this handy dictionary features definitions and pronunciations of musical terms; composer biographies; sections on music theory, notation, and transposition; instrument listings; and more. 336 pages, softcover from Alfred.

Take a visual journey through the world of music and the science behind it!

The book looks at music throughout history, beginning with the first known melody from the Fertile Crescent and covering modern music phenomena, from K Pop to hip-hop. Instruments and genres from across the world are featured, with "playlists" of key pieces encouraging kids to look up pieces to hear for themselves. STEAM spreads delve into the psychology and math behind music, from how it affects our mood to how it can improve our minds.

96 pages, hardcover.

Here's the most contemporary music dictionary on the market! Conveniently divided into three main sections: The Dictionary of Music Terms defines over 2,000 music terms concisely, including notation and theory terms, instruments and terms used in pop music, electronic music and the music business; The Dictionary of Musicians provides more than 400 capsule biographies of composers and other musicians; and Reference Charts give instant, at-a-glance summaries of the essentials of music, encompassing instrumental and vocal ranges, notation signs and symbols, and scales, modes and key signatures. 240 pages.

Preeminent cornetist, feature soloist, bandmaster, and composer Herbert L. Clarke (1867–1945) lays the foundation for a lifetime of trumpet mastery in this beginner’s guide. Clarke presents a thorough exploration of trumpet dynamics, artistry, and the subtle nuances of musical expression using thirty lessons and 116 simple exercises designed to build up the “embouchure,” a term applied to forming the lips, positioning the mouthpiece, strengthening and training the facial muscles, and acquiring endurance to produce a pure tone. Perfect for honing skills and building a solid repertoire, these annotated studies are arranged in order of complexity — crucial for players of all ages, from students to teachers and anyone serious about trumpet performance.

Ernest Frederick Wagner's Foundation to Flute Playing is an exceptional instructional guide that caters to the needs of both novice and seasoned flutists. This comprehensive book offers technique drills and musically challenging short pieces to help learners progress from medium-easy exercises to more complex compositions. The book provides a detailed guide on fundamental adjustments and care for the instrument and meticulously outlines lessons on fingering, rhythm, and tuning. Various lessons, including scale studies, articulate tonguing exercises, syncopation rhythms, staccato practices, and embouchure strengthening exercises, will help train agility and precision. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced flutist, this book is designed to help you achieve technical excellence and musical mastery.

Now available in paperback and with over 10,000 entries, the Oxford Dictionary of Music (previously the Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music) offers broad coverage of a wide range of musical categories spanning many eras, including composers, librettists, singers, orchestras, important ballets and operas, and musical instruments and their history. Over 250 new entries have been added to this edition to expand coverage of popular music, ethnomusicology, modern and contemporary composers, music analysis, and recording technology. Existing entries have been expanded where necessary to include more coverage of the reception of major works, and to include key new works and categories, such as multimedia.

Entry-level web links are listed and regularly updated on a dedicated companion website, expanding the scope of the dictionary. The dictionary now also includes two useful appendices, one listing French, German, and Italian musical terms with their English translations, and an abbreviations list for letters commonly used in musical scores and musical writing.

The Oxford Dictionary of Music is the most up-to-date and accessible dictionary of musical terms available and an essential point of reference for music students, teachers, lecturers, professional musicians, and music enthusiasts..