musicologyn.
/ˌmjuːzᵻˈkɒlədʒi/, U.S. /ˌmjuzəˈkɑlədʒi/ The branch of knowledge that deals with music as a subject of study rather than as a skill or performing art; academic research in or scholarly study of music. More generally: writing about music; musicography.In its strict sense musicology is often equated with the German Musikwissenschaft (lit. ‘science of music’). The subject includes disciplines such as musical theory, critical analysis of music, the history of music, etc. More recently, increasing emphasis has been given to the study of individual compositions, using textual criticism, palaeography, etc., in an attempt to trace the creative process and intentions of the composer. See also ethnomusicology n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > study or science of music > [noun]
musicology1845
musicography1901
ethnomusicology1950
1845 Musical World Sept. 452 Musicology has never sunk so low as it has from the pen of Mr. Clare!
1909 M. S. Logan (title) Musicology: a text-book for schools and for general use.
1915 W. S. Pratt in Music Q. 1 3 ‘Musicology’, if it is to rank with other comprehensive sciences, must include every conceivable scientific discussion of musical topics.
1928 Music & Lett. Apr. 108 The most valuable piece of musicology is the treatment of the six motets.
1937 R. H. Lowie Hist. Ethnol. Theory xiv. 255 Comparative musicology..rose to a new plane with phonographic recordings.
1969 Harper's Mag. Sept. 14 Students interested in musicology, junk sculpture, the Theater of the Absurd.
1991 CD Rev. Oct. 64/1 John Humphries's notes are explicit on the history of the concertos but tell us virtually nothing about the musicology involved in the reconstructions.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1845