This first definitive reference resource to take a broad interdisciplinary approach to the nexus between music and the social and behavioral sciences examines how music affects human beings and their interactions in and with the world. The interdisciplinary nature of the work provides a starting place for students to situate the status of music within the social sciences in fields such as anthropology, communications, psychology, linguistics, sociology, sports, political science and economics, as well as biology and the health sciences.

Features:

• Approximately 450 articles, arranged in A-to-Z fashion and richly illustrated with photographs, provide the social and behavioral context for examining the importance of music in society.
• Entries are authored and signed by experts in the field and conclude with references and further readings, as well as cross references to related entries.
• A Reader's Guide groups related entries by broad topic areas and themes, making it easy for readers to quickly identify related entries.
• A Chronology of Music places material into historical context; a Glossary defines key terms from the field; and a Resource Guide provides lists of books, academic journals, websites and cross-references.
• The multimedia digital edition is enhanced with video and audio clips and features strong search-and-browse capabilities through the electronic Reader's Guide, detailed index, and cross references.