Chapters are followed by pictures, musical examples and suggestions for further reading. James Briscoe's, Historical Anthology of Music by Women, serves as a companion to this work. Sadie, Julie Anne, and Rhian Samuel. An excellent reference source of over 900 women composers of the Western music tradition born before 1955. The name offers assurance of scholarly research first apparent in the extensive prefaces contributed by each of the editors which discuss the historical background of women in music.
Biographical entries vary in length and include a bibliography and list of works.
This work was published in England under the title, New Grove Dictionary of Women Composers. Entertaining quotes from various periods regarding women's place are included. Greenwood Press, 1980. This work covers the history of American women musicians from the late 1700's to the 1970's and includes instrumentalists, composers, conductors, and teachers. Singers are omitted because they are well documented in other sources.