The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians: Sources of instrumental ensemble music to Tait

The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians is a landmark reference work in musicology, first published by Macmillan in 1878 as A Dictionary of Music and Musicians. The specific volume focusing on sources of instrumental ensemble music to Tait represents a segment of the monumental 1980 second edition, which was edited by Stanley Sadie. This edition aimed to provide a comprehensive and scholarly mapping of global musical history, transitioning the publication from a Victorian-era compendium into a rigorous, modern academic standard that synthesized decades of new research.

Stanley Sadie’s editorial direction prioritized depth, accuracy, and the inclusion of a wide array of musical traditions, moving beyond Western art music to acknowledge broader contexts. The design and structure of the entries were intended to serve researchers and libraries, utilizing a systematic categorization that allowed for the tracking of specific musical sources and instruments. Upon release, the second edition was widely lauded as an indispensable authority, setting a high benchmark for musicological reference materials that persists in the professional community today.