MGG Music Encyclopedia: Evolution from MGG1 to MGG Online
The MGG (Musikwissenschaftliches Lexikon des Musikgeschehens) stands as a cornerstone of musicological research, evolving through three distinct iterations to reflect the changing landscape of musical knowledge. From its origins as a massive print undertaking in the postwar era to its current state as a dynamic digital resource, the MGG has consistently aimed to provide a comprehensive, scholarly overview of music history, theory, and practice.
MGG1: The Foundational First Edition
Edited by Friedrich Blume, the first edition (MGG1) was an ambitious project designed with a generous scope. Blume expanded the traditional boundaries of reference works by including not only personal names and common topics but also keywords related to genres, cities, countries, theorists, and medieval research. To ensure a multidisciplinary approach, the encyclopedia integrated terms from philosophy, acoustics, theology, and literature.
The publication was a significant logistical feat of the postwar period. While it faced challenges related to the era—including some continuities from the Nazi period seen in certain autobiographies—it also embraced a global outlook. This was exemplified by the inclusion of émigré scholars, most notably Hanoch Avenary's extensive 60-column article on Jewish music published in 1958.
MGG1 was characterized by its rich visual documentation, featuring 7,100 images across the first 14 volumes. Due to its success and high subscription rates, an unaltered paperback reprint was released in 1989 through a collaboration between Bärenreiter-Verlag and dtv Verlagsgesellschaft.
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MGG2: Specialization and Expansion
By the early 1980s, the rapid specialization of musicology necessitated a new version. MGG2 was developed as a collaboration between Bärenreiter and Metzler, led by editor-in-chief Ludwig Finscher and editorial director Andreas Jaschinski (who was succeeded by Ilka Sührig in 2005). Unlike its predecessor, MGG2 was structured into two distinct parts: a topical part and a persons part.
The second edition shifted toward more comprehensive, encyclopedic articles and expanded significantly into music anthropology, popular music, dance research, and music ethnology. It also modernized the treatment of musical epochs, treating them as subjects of reflection rather than simple chronological categories. The persons part was similarly updated, with a particular focus on the 20th century and a more transparent address of political entanglements and perpetrations.
MGG2 was a global effort involving over 3,500 authors from more than 55 countries. Its completion was celebrated in 2007 at the 18th Congress of the International Musicological Society in Zurich.
MGG Online: The Digital Transformation
Launched in November 2016, MGG Online is not merely a digitized version of the print edition but a living digital encyclopedia. Developed in partnership with RILM (Répertoire International de Littérature Musicale), the project combines Bärenreiter-Verlag's editorial expertise in Kassel with RILM's digital infrastructure in New York City.
MGG Online utilizes the keyword inventory of MGG2 but operates on a continuous update cycle. This allows for the addition of new entries, major updates to existing articles, and minor revisions to biographical data. The platform has expanded its coverage of contemporary performers and popular music while completely reorienting its entries on countries and cities.
To maintain scholarly rigor in a digital medium, MGG Online employs strict editing principles, including individual authorship, sophisticated control mechanisms by supervisory boards, and clearly defined hierarchies of knowledge. Through its partnership with RILM, person-specific data is linked to global authority data and library systems, enhancing bibliographic research.
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Key Facts
- MGG1: Pioneered a multidisciplinary approach, including acoustics and theology; featured 7,100 images in the first 14 volumes.
- MGG2: Divided into topical and persons parts; included over 1,300 subject headings and 18,000 keywords for persons.
- Global Contribution: MGG2 featured contributions from over 3,500 authors across 55 countries.
- MGG Online: A dynamic resource launched in 2016 in partnership with RILM, offering content in German and English with translation options for over 100 languages.
- Digital Features: Includes a timeline feature, "article of the day," and annual update cycles for new and revised content.
| Feature | MGG1 | MGG2 | MGG Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Print (Subscription) | Print (Topical/Persons) | Digital Subscription |
| Primary Editor | Friedrich Blume | Ludwig Finscher | Laurenz Lütteken / Ilka Sührig |
| Scope | Foundational/Broad | Specialized/Expanded | Dynamic/Living |
| Key Focus | Postwar synthesis | Ethnology & Popular Music | Digital integration & Updates |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does MGG Online replace the print editions?
MGG Online is a new digital encyclopedia based on MGG2, but it does not render the print versions obsolete. MGG2 is viewed as a further development of MGG1, and many older articles remain historically relevant to the development of the discipline.
How is the quality of MGG Online maintained?
The platform follows strict scholarly editing principles, including individual authorship with assigned responsibilities and a rigorous system of testing and regulation by editorial staff, editors, and advisory boards.
What is the role of RILM in MGG Online?
RILM provides the technical expertise for software development, sales, and marketing. They also link person-specific data to RILM's authority data and various library databases to improve bibliographic research.
In what languages is MGG Online available?
The user interface is available in German and English. Additionally, an integrated Google translation program allows content to be translated into over 100 languages.
How often is MGG Online updated?
The encyclopedia follows annual update cycles where new articles are added, existing ones are rewritten or fundamentally revised, and biographical data is continuously updated.