The Harvard Dictionary of Music : Fourth Edition

Rating:
Summary: Indispensable
Review: One has to appreciate the thoroughness and range of this new edition of the well-known reference source for all things musical save biographical data which this dictionary has traditionally excluded, but then it is not a biographical dictionary of which there are many that can be consulted. This dictionary is not just for information, but also primarily for education. Therefore, don't stop reading just because the information you are looking for is getting too detailed; try to learn from it.

Rating:
Summary: Useful for everyones
Review: This book is usefull for eveyone , specially music stdudents.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful production values
Review: This is a joy to read, hold and behold. The first thing that struck the bibliophile in me was that lovely quality paper. It gives the book heft but is a pleasure to read. I got this as well as the Groves/Norton. Why? Because I set out to buy the Oxford Companion but saw that I could get 2 reference books for the price of the Oxford. The Harvard omits all the biographical entries so the 2 are complementary. The Harvard uses all that space to provide great in-depth articles. If I had to go for one I would choose the Harvard - nowadays the Bios can be had in an instant on the net, whereas the Harvard assimilates a lot of learning in its entries.