This volume serves as a comprehensive reference and analytical supplement to the broader body of musical criticism established in the preceding volumes of the series. Donald F. Tovey, a noted musicologist and composer, utilizes his extensive background in formal analysis to provide technical clarity on complex compositions. The text functions as a structural anchor, offering a glossary of terms and an index that synthesizes the analytical methodologies employed throughout his work.

Musicologists and students of music theory frequently cite this volume as a critical reference tool for navigating Tovey's analytical framework. Experts highlight the text for its precision and its utility in contextualizing the technical discussions found in the primary volumes of the series.