From custom and conception, through craftsmanship and construction, to playing and performance, The New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments is the definitive guide to musical instruments from around the world. Covering over 12,000 musical instruments, Instrument Grove describes each instrument individually and in the context of instrument families. Charting the history, development, musical function, and intercultural links of each instrument, this is the most comprehensive collection of information on the topic: "it is difficult to imagine a more complete reference work on musical instruments ... its scope is immense, both historically and geographically" (Music Educators Journal). Instrument Grove also explores the cultures, societies and religions which have created these instruments and the various extra-musical functions of certain instruments. It presents ethnological and anthropological surveys as well as analyses of song, dance, and ritual. Includes over 12,000 instruments fully described, over 14,000 entries, and 2,000 rare photographs and drawings.