Tim Rutherford-Johnson has worked for the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians since 1999 and until 2010 was the editor responsible for the dictionary's coverage of 20th- and 21st century music. He has published and lectured on several contemporary composers, and regularly reviews new music for both print and online publications.

Michael Kennedy was chief music critic of The Sunday Telegraph from 1989 to 2005. Before that he was a staff music critic on The Sunday Telegraph from 1950 and its Northern Editor from 1960 to 1986. He is an authority on English music of the 20th century and has written books on Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Britten, and Walton as well as on Mahler, Strauss, Barbirolli, Boult, and the Hallé Orchestra. He was awarded the OBE in 1981 and the CBE in 1997, and is a member of the Board of Governors of the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester. The honorary degree of Doctor of Music was conferred on him in 2003 by the University of Manchester.

Joyce Bourne practised for almost 30 years as an anaesthetist and general practitioner until her retirement in 1990. She has a lifelong interest in and love of music and has assisted Michael Kennedy with his works since 1978, both as researcher and typist. Her book Who's Who in Opera was published in 1998.

• Preface


• Abbreviations


• Designation of Notes by Letters


• Dictionary


• Appendices


• Appendix 1: Directions and expression markings in French, German, and Italian


• Appendix 2: List of abbreviations found in musical scores