Which encyclopedia focuses on Western music according to the material?

• A. The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
• B. The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music
• C. Encyclopedia of Popular Music
• D. Encyclopedia Britannica of Music

Answer: (A)

The core idea here is identifying a reference work that concentrates specifically on Western art music. The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians is the standard, authoritative resource devoted to Western classical music, its history, forms, composers, and terminology. That focused scope makes it the best fit for a question asking which encyclopedia centers on Western music.

In contrast, the Garland Encyclopedia of World Music surveys musical traditions from around the globe, not just Western art music, so its emphasis is world music rather than a Western-only focus. The Encyclopedia of Popular Music targets popular music genres and artists, which again shifts away from Western classical music. The other options aren’t dedicated Western music encyclopedias, so they don’t match the specific focus described in the material.