LibGuides: Pronunciation (Music): Home

Learn how to pronounce musical terms and names from genres around the world!

Online Resources

The Ever-Controversial WWUH Jazz Pronunciation Guide
Brief list of frequently mispronounced jazz names (and some tunes and places). From WWUH at the University of Hartford.
Forvo
Pronunciation audio examples and definitions for composers, artists, musical titles and terms, and more.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
American pronunciations (text and audio examples) for major terms and composers. Not comprehensive but easy to use.
Naxos Music Library Pronunciation Guides
Pronunciation audio clips of artists, composers, and musical terms.

Schirmer Pronouncing Pocket Manual of Musical Terms by Laura Kuhn; Theodore Baker (Editors)
Call Number: ML109 S35 [Allen reference]
Publication Date: 1995
Also available free online.
The first and best pocket dictionary of musical terms, updated and revised.
The Well-Tempered Announcer by Robert Fradkin
Call Number: ML109 F73 [Allen reference]
Publication Date: 1996
Pronunciation of over 2,000 personal names, titles of works, and musical terms.

Foreign language dictionaries in the Allen Library are located near the end of the Reference section, with call numbers beginning PA to PF.

For English, see:

Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary by Daniel Jones
Call Number: PE1137 .J55 2011 [Mortensen reference]
The definitive guide to contemporary English pronunciation, with over 230,000 pronunciations of words, names and phrases.

Allen Library
by Lisa Read Last Updated Feb 15, 2024 113 views this year
Music Citation and Writing
by Lisa Read Last Updated Mar 18, 2024 201 views this year
Vocal Music Translations
by Lisa Read Last Updated Feb 6, 2024 118 views this year

Lisa Read

Lread@hartford.edu
860.768.4840