An Early Music Dictionary
Musical Terms from British Sources 1500–1740

Definitions are grouped in chronological order under the relevant head-word so that changes in meaning can be easily traced.

Graham Strahle (Edited by)

9780521106900, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 2 April 2009

512 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.6 cm, 0.75 kg

'Strahle has produced a work that is authoritative, satisfyingly comprehensive, well laid out and presented.' Classical Net

In this dictionary of early music, Graham Strahle has compiled definitions of musical terms in English as used and understood during the Renaissance and Baroque periods. He includes terms relating to instruments, performance, theory and composition and draws entirely from original printed and manuscript sources in Britain in the period 1500–1740. The first group of sources are lexicographic works, mainly general English dictionaries but also Latin, Italian, French and Spanish dictionaries published in England. These give a representation of continental as well as English music traditions. The second group of sources are musical treatises, performance and composition books and other musical writings. The dictionary reveals how terms and definitions were understood by musicians using their own words. Definitions are grouped in chronological order under the relevant head-word so that changes in meaning can be easily traced.

Introduction
Dictionary
Appendices
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: Baroque music [c 1600 to c 1750 AVGC3], Medieval & Renaissance music [c 1000 to c 1600 AVGC2], Western "classical" music [AVGC]