New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-18
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
AN ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF MUSIC.

a DICTIONARY OF MUSIC AND MUSICIANS (145o-
1887 Edited BY Sir George Grove Vol. w.
and Appendix. London and New-York; Macmillan
1t has seldom happened that work of reference
has been received with such general enthusiasm as
has greeted the encyclopaedia which is concluded with
this volume The Is clear 1t is not often that
4 work appears which covers so much virgin soil as
iocs Sir George Groves Dictionary" Practically,
musical students without a knowledge of the French
and German languages have hitherto had no single
work to go 10 repository of historical, critical
and theoretical information concerning their art There
have been few English encyclopedias and dcdon-
aries of music but they have been woully incomplete
and Enthusiastically. This was something TO be won
aered at In view of the fact that Burney and Hawkins
were practically the pioneers In historical research OF
the modern knd, and that tho German historians who
arc now looked upon as speaking with authority owe
much TO the two Englishmen. Sir George Grove, by
undertaking this truly monumental work. has won
the right to a place beside those worthless, even though
critical review discovers that after year his four
volumes stand much in need of a revision as the
popderous histories of Bmney and Hawkins do after
a century His is the credit OF having recognized
great need. and of having laborcd zeaousy to supply
It.
The editor of the appendix is J. A. Fuller Maitland.
who since the death of Dr. Francis Hucer, has been
the music reviewer of "The London Times" The
appendix fills 300 pages of the volume,
It's editors, 1t must be said that It suggests an
unnattering commentary on the preceding volumes
A large portion-we are tempted TO say the larger
poronis devoted correction of errors IN the body
of the work The reference here is 10 Measurements
Of fact and to omissions. This is bad enough, but
the fact that a score or of contemporary Hu-
sicians of eminence and many more men OF the
past whose works cannot fairly be overlooked IN
review of the development Of music as an art ngure
for the first time in the appendix is proof either OF
great carclessness in the planning OF the work. or OF
a veous expansion of its scope it grew. lie
cent and porary musical history and biography
In Franco and the United states supply ooNsderaDie
portion of the added material and the essays written
respec lively by NJ. Adolphe Julien and Mr.. f. H.
jerks are exceedingly interesting contributions, none
deficiency in the earlier volumes. SO far as this
country is concerned full justice IS not yet done even
In the appendix but IA work peppered With EVIL
dences of partially for everything English, even
though 1t be but a foreign composer, conductor or
artist whose claim the adjective is based solely
IN a shorter or longer residence in Great Britain,
America must be glad of even the little recognition
she has received. In spite of this and mich moro
that might be said against the want of proportion and
the inability of many of the writers employed on the
work to realize the difference between transient
record and an encyclopedias, must repeat thai the
Dictionary, is on the whole superb monument to
English musical scholarship interest and earnestness