Guides, Encyclopedias, and Dictionaries

Cooke, Deryck et al. New Grove Late Romantic Masters: Bruckner, Brahms, Dvorák, Wolf. 1st Amer. ed. New York: Norton, 1985.

401 p. ISBN 0-393-01697-8 (hbk.), 0-393-30101-X (pbk.). Found in Music Library stacks [ML390.N484 1985]. Also available at Duke University Library Service Center [780.903 N532 1985].

This book contains a somewhat simplified overview of Brahms's life and works. It does contain some good information with a few illustrations, though it should probably be used more as an introduction to biographical research than a source to be cited. Look to pp. 77-109 for biographical information from this source.

Sadie, Stanley, ed. New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians . 2nd ed. London: Macmillan Pub., Ltd., 2001.

Volume 4 (Borowski to Canobbio): [xxxviii], 938 p. ISBN 1-561-59239-0. Found Music Library Reference Shelf [ML100.N48 2000 v.4]. Also available online: http://eresources.lib.unc.edu/eid/ - Select Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (New), Second Edition, and at Duke University Music Library Reference [780.3 N532 2001].

The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians is a resource that should be consulted while researching nearly any topic in the field of Music. Though it calls itself a dictionary, it is much more of an encyclopedia of music in both its size and treatment of entries. The Brahms entry is found in vol. 4 pp. 180-227, though pp. 180-188 will be the most useful from a biographical standpoint. Though it draws upon many of the sources listed below, it is a useful place to look to get an overview of Brahms's life and works. The online version of New Grove contains full text entries, as well as links to some illustrations, RealAudio clips, related articles in New Grove, as well as links to external articles.

Slonimsky, Nicolas. Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. Centennial ed. New York: Schirmer, 2001.

6 vols. Found in Davis Reference and Music Library Reference [ML105.B16 2001]. Also available at Duke University Perkins and Music Libraries [780.922 B168 2001].

This resource is much more of a biographical dictionary. Volume 1 (AALT – Cone) contains two pages of text about Brahms's life with a listing of his compositions. It does not have any illustrations.