This collection of essays explores the breadth and depth of the British Library's music collections through scholarly analysis and biographical insights. The book gathers contributions from prominent musicologists across Europe and North America, focusing on manuscripts and printed music spanning the 14th to the 20th centuries. Dedicated to O.W. Neighbour, the essays highlight 16th-17th and 20th-century studies, but also feature analyses of composers like Handel and Mozart, whose works are significantly held by the library.

This volume is presented as a scholarly tribute, dedicated to O.W. Neighbour and featuring contributions from established musicologists. The collection's focus on the British Library's holdings suggests a resource for specialists in music history and archival research. The range of periods and subjects indicates a comprehensive overview of musical scholarship related to significant collections. The emphasis on specific centuries and composers points to detailed, in-depth analyses rather than broad surveys.