This work serves as a comprehensive, single-volume reference tool designed to provide accessible and authoritative information on the vast spectrum of musical history, theory, and practice. Percy A. Scholes, a noted musicologist and critic, compiled this extensive resource to bridge the gap between academic musicology and the general public. The text utilizes a systematic alphabetical arrangement to organize a massive collection of entries, ranging from biographical sketches to technical explanations of musical forms and instruments.

Experts and music historians recognize this volume as a foundational reference text that remains notable for its clarity and breadth of information. Readers frequently note the dense, encyclopedic nature of the prose, which balances technical accuracy with an engaging narrative style.