The first A-Z of its kind, this indispensable reference on performance practice is a concise and convenient volume that enables musicians to easily find information on musical performance and how it has changed over the centuries. A leading scholar in the field takes the far-reaching research from hundreds of specialized studies and condenses it into discrete, alphabetized topics which make an excellent guide to a complex and daunting field. Throughout the volume the information is subdivided into historical periods, or elements of composers' performance, and this information is presented side-by-side with established, earlier known information, up-to-date bibliographies and key questions which guide the reader to what is most essential. Including entries on: important composers, musicians/performers, specific instruments, technical terms, tempo, thorough bass, dynamics and tuning, this is an excellent and incredibly useful reference for students, listeners and both professional and amateur musicians.