In the history of the Western musical tradition, the Baroque period traditionally dates from the turn of the 17th century to 1750. The opening of the period is marked by Italian experiments in composition that attempted to create a new kind of secular musical art based upon principles of Greek drama, quickly leading to the invention of opera, and the closing of the period is marked by the death of Johann Sebastian Bach on 28 July 1750 in Leipzig and George Frideric Handel's last English oratorio, Jephtha, completed the following year in London.

Historical Dictionary of Baroque Music, Second Edition contains a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has more than 500 cross-referenced entries on composers, instruments, cities, and technical terms. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about baroque music.