Joseph P. Swain

As a longtime teacher and director of early music, Swain undoubtedly knows his subject matter. The 400-plus brief entries in this dictionary, ranging from one sentence to two pages, cover the... — ChoiceMore…

Swain's study should convince even the skeptic that the musical can be seriously and usefully analysed...an essential book for those concerned with drama, song, and popular arts....Swain has... — The TimesMore…

Expanding on the first edition published a decade ago, this second edition adds definitions for over 100 new terms, a portion of which address expressly non-Christian sacred music topics. The... — ChoiceMore…

With 45-plus years as a music educator and director of period ensembles, Swain is well versed in baroque music. This new edition of his dictionary features 100 new entries (roughly 500 total),... — ChoiceMore…