Harvard Brief Dictionary of Music

by Willi Apel, Ralph T. Daniel

A compact, illustrated guide.

Genres: Music, Reference, Nonfiction, Collections, Art

341 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1944

About the author

Apel studied mathematics at the Universities of Bonn and Munich and the University of Berlin. Although pursuing mathematical studies, Apel continued to stud piano and gave music lessons.

Apel became a renowned musicologist and became a professor of musicology at Indiana University in 1950. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the university in 1972.

He died in Bloomington, Indiana in March 1988.

Reviews

[Matthew]

I haven't actually sat through and read this thing in a while and am mainly taking inventory of my bookshelf and found this scrunchy-wrapped and binding gone small pocket paperback. However, if you like, play, and study music, music theory, and music history, I think you could easily do much worse. A good reference when delving into other music study and you find yourself wanting to know what a glissando is when some critic talks about Vince Guaraldi's fingers spitting out glissandos like a dragon breaths fire.

[Robert]

Very simple this is a wonderful reference for those who are classical music lovers who understand all aspects of classical music, chamber and opera; It is in like dictionary format, so reading this book comes i handy when you wish to make reference to musical terms, composers and understanding opera; A must have!

[Lisa (Harmonybites)]

This was one of the required texts for a required Music Appreciation class in college. That class actually did inspire an interest in and love for classical music, so I found this book very useful beyond the class and have kept it on my bookshelves. Very handy if you have any interesting in music.

[Ron Me]

I've played piano my whole life, but now I'm taking voice lessons, so there are things I don't know...I feel that this book has filled in some holes in my knowledge. Recommended.