Library Research Guides: Music: References

Oxford Music Online

The most authoritative and extensive encyclopedia for music is Grove Music Online, now available through Oxford Music Online.

Gateway to Grove Music Online and other Oxford music reference works, with more than 20,000 subject entries and 30,000 biographies, covering all genres of music.

Oxford Music Online Tutorial
A brief video showing the basic features and functions.

Music Bibliographies

Oxford Bibliographies Online This link opens in a new window
Annotated bibliographies for a variety of subject areas.

Reference Collection

CREDO Reference
An interdisciplinary research tool that allows you to search over 300 reference works simultaneously, limiting to audio or visual materials.
Gale Virtual Reference Library
Search across more than 100 encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other reference books.

Music Encylopedia

Grove Dictionary of American Music
A comprehensive encyclopedia on all genres of music in the United States. 2nd edition, 2013.
Garland Encyclopedia of World Music Online
A comprehensive encyclopedia devoted to music of all the world's peoples. Available via the Boston Public Library; first-time users must register online with the BPL for an eCard, which is good for two years.
Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments
A comprehensive encyclopedia on music instruments, worldwide. 2nd edition, 2015.
Oxford Companion to Music
Short articles on musical terms, composers, works, librettists, performers.