What is the 'Garland Encyclopedia of World Music'?

The 'Garland Encyclopedia of World Music' is indeed a comprehensive 10-volume series that was launched in 1988, dedicated to providing an extensive overview of the music traditions of diverse cultures around the world. Each volume of this encyclopedia focuses on a different geographical section, offering analytical scholarly articles, descriptions of musical practices, and discussions of cultural contexts, which makes it an invaluable resource for understanding global music traditions.

This origin and structure of the encyclopedia make it distinct from other options. While a comprehensive dictionary of musical terms could be useful, it would not cover the breadth of world music traditions in the same way. Similarly, a series of documentaries would provide visual and auditory insights but would not serve as an academic text. Lastly, a collection of musical scores would focus solely on written music rather than the broader cultural and contextual understandings of music across different societies. Thus, the choice accurately captures what the 'Garland Encyclopedia of World Music' represents and serves as a foundational resource for music scholars and educators.