The scientific cultivation of music-history and the vigorous development of its literature are of rather recent date. Some histories began to appear before 1800 and much detached work on special topics was undertaken, but all the comprehensive treatises belong to the 19th century, especially to its latter half. In fullness of research and in scholarly method of presentation many of these are fully abreast of works in other fields of historical study.
For convenience of reference, a condensed summary of the general
histories and cyclopædias is here inserted.
Histories.—Without reckoning the innumerable monographs on particular periods and topics, at least 125 somewhat comprehensive Histories of Music may be named. The pioneers were, in German, Printz (1690); in Italian, Bontempi (1695); in French, the brothers Bonnet, using materials gathered by Bourdelot (1715); and in English, Roger North (c. 1728, but not published till 1846).
Of the older books about 30 were prior to 1850, those of the most importance being by G. Martini, 3 vols., 1757-81; J. Hawkins, 5 vols., 1776 (revised in 2 vols., 1853-75); C. Burney, 4 vols., 1776-89; J. N. Forkel, 2 vols., 1788-1801; R. G. Kiesewetter, 1834 (2d ed. 1846, Eng. trans. 1848); A. L. de Lafage, 2 vols., 1844 (unfinished).
Of the many works since 1850 some are based upon original research and aim at scientific thoroughness, while others are concise and popular. Several examples of the latter are here included:—F. Brendel, Gesch. d. Musik in Italien, Deutschland u. Frankreich, 2 vols., 1852 (7th ed. 1888, 636 pp.); A.W. Ambros, Gesch. d. Musik, 5 vols., 1862-82 (3d ed. extensively revised, 1887-93; also continuation by Langhans, below); A. Reissmann, Allgem. Gesch. d. Musik, 3 vols., 1863-5; A. von Dommer, Handbuch d. Musikgesch., 1867 (2d ed. 1878, 625 pp.); F. J. Fétis, Hist. gén. de la musique, 5 vols., 1869-75; E. Naumann, Die Tonkunst in d. Culturgesch., 2 vols., 1869-70; Paul Frank, Gesch. d. Tonkunst, 1863 (3d ed. 1878, 219 pp.); B. Kothe, Abriss d. Musikgesch., 1874 (7th ed 1904, 351 pp.); Heinrich Köstlin, Gesch. d. Musik im Umriss, 1875 (5th ed. 1899, 636 pp.); Robert Músiol, Katechismus d. Musikgesch., 1877 (3d ed. 1905, 412 pp.); Wilhelm Langhans, Musikgesch.—12 Vorlesungen; 1878 (2d ed. 1879, 215 pp., Eng. trans. 1886, 184 pp.); E. Naumann, Illustrirte Musikgesch., 2 vols., 1880-5 (Eng. trans. n. d.); Laure Collin, Hist. abrégée de la musique, 1881 (7th ed. 1891, 364 pp.); W. Langhans, Gesch. d. Musik d. 17., 18. u. 19. Jahrhunderts (continuing Ambros), 2 vols., 1882-6; F. Clément, Hist. de la musique, 1885, 819 pp.; J. F. Rowbotham, Hist. of Music, 3 vols., 1885-7 (abridged, 1893, 419 pp.); W. S. Rockstro, Gen. Hist. of Music, 1886, 535 pp.; H. Riemann, Katechismus d. Musikgesch., 2 parts, 1888-9 (5th ed. 1914, Eng. trans. n. d.); J. C. Fillmore, Lessons in Music Hist., 1888, 215 pp.; W. S. B. Matthews, Pop. Hist. of the Art of Music, 1889, 534 pp.; J.E. Matthew, Manual
