Donald Jay Grout
university teacher · musician
- September 28, 1902
- March 9, 1987
- 84 years
About Donald Jay Grout
Donald Jay Grout, 84, American musicologist, author of A Short History of Opera.
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Full Biography
|Donald Jay Grout (September 28, 1902 – March 9, 1987) was an American musicologist. He is best known as the author of A Short History of Opera, first published in 1947. The fourth edition was published by Columbia University Press in 2003.
Early life and education
Grout was born in Rock Rapids, Iowa. He attended Syracuse University and graduated with a degree in philosophy in 1923. He took his Ph.D. at Harvard University in 1939. He taught at Harvard from 1936 to 1942, at the University of Texas from 1942 to 1945 and at Cornell University until 1970.
Career
Early in his career, Grout's main body of research was in opera. After 1960 he became more interested in philosophies of music history, due in large part to his publication of a general music history textbook, A History of Western Music. A ninth edition of the book was published in 2014; after Grout's death, the new editions were revised by Claude Palisca and J. Peter Burkholder.
Grout also performed as a pianist and organist until the early 1950s. He served as editor of JAMS from 1948 to 1951, and was president of the American Musicological Society (1952–1954, 1960–1962) and the International Musicological Society (1961–1964).
A reassessment of Grout's historiography was published in 2011 in the inaugural volume of Journal of Music History Pedagogy.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Jay_Grout
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 28, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Donald Jay Grout's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what city was Donald Jay Grout born?
- A.Ithaca, New York
- B.Rock Rapids, Iowacorrect
- C.Cambridge, Massachusetts
- D.Syracuse, New York
Donald Jay Grout was born in Rock Rapids, Iowa.
Source: Early life and education section
2.What was the subject of Donald Jay Grout's 1923 degree from Syracuse University?
- A.Piano performance
- B.Musicology
- C.Philosophycorrect
- D.History
Donald Jay Grout graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in philosophy in 1923.
Source: Early life and education section
3.In what year did Donald Jay Grout earn his Ph.D. from Harvard University?
- A.1947
- B.1939correct
- C.1936
- D.1942
Donald Jay Grout took his Ph.D. at Harvard University in 1939.
Source: Early life and education section
4.Donald Jay Grout taught at Cornell University until what year?
- A.1962
- B.1954
- C.1970correct
- D.1987
Donald Jay Grout taught at Cornell University until 1970.
Source: Early life and education section
5.When was A Short History of Opera by Donald Jay Grout first published?
- A.1960
- B.1947correct
- C.1939
- D.1972
Donald Jay Grout is best known as the author of A Short History of Opera, first published in 1947.
Source: Biography introduction
6.Which instrument did Donald Jay Grout perform until the early 1950s?
- A.Flute
- B.Organcorrect
- C.Violin
- D.Cello
Donald Jay Grout performed as a pianist and organist until the early 1950s.
Source: Career section
7.For which publication did Donald Jay Grout serve as editor from 1948 to 1951?
- A.JAMScorrect
- B.The Journal of Music History Pedagogy
- C.The American Musicological Society Bulletin
- D.Columbia University Press
Donald Jay Grout served as editor of JAMS from 1948 to 1951.
Source: Career section
8.Donald Jay Grout served as president of the International Musicological Society during which period?
- A.1948–1951
- B.1952–1954
- C.1960–1962
- D.1961–1964correct
Donald Jay Grout was president of the International Musicological Society from 1961 to 1964.
Source: Career section
9.What is the title of Donald Jay Grout's 1939 Harvard dissertation?
- A.A History of Western Music
- B.The Origins of the opéra comiquecorrect
- C.Mozart in the History of Opera
- D.Principles and Practice in the Writing of Music History
The dissertation by Donald Jay Grout from Harvard University in 1939 is titled The Origins of the opéra comique.
Source: Bibliography section
10.Which book by Donald Jay Grout was published in 1979?
- A.Principles and Practice in the Writing of Music History
- B.Alessandro Scarlatti: An Introduction to his Operascorrect
- C.Mozart in the History of Opera
- D.A Short History of Opera
Donald Jay Grout published Alessandro Scarlatti: An Introduction to his Operas in 1979.
Source: Bibliography section
11.When did Donald Jay Grout die?
- A.September 28, 1902
- B.December 31, 2003
- C.January 1, 1970
- D.March 9, 1987correct
Donald Jay Grout died on March 9, 1987.
Source: Biography introduction
12.Who helped revise the editions of A History of Western Music after Donald Jay Grout's death?
- A.Claude Palisca and J. Peter Burkholdercorrect
- B.H.W. Williams
- C.The Columbia University Press Editorial Board
- D.Hermine Weigel Williams
After Donald Jay Grout's death, new editions were revised by Claude Palisca and J. Peter Burkholder.
Source: Career section
13.Which university published the fourth edition of A Short History of Opera in 2003?
- A.Harvard University Press
- B.Columbia University Presscorrect
- C.Syracuse University Press
- D.Cornell University Press
The fourth edition of A Short History of Opera was published by Columbia University Press in 2003.
Source: Biography introduction
14.In what year was the inaugural volume of the Journal of Music History Pedagogy published, containing a reassessment of Grout's historiography?
- A.2005
- B.2014
- C.2011correct
- D.2003
A reassessment of Grout's historiography was published in 2011 in the inaugural volume of Journal of Music History Pedagogy.
Source: Career section
15.What subject did Donald Jay Grout focus on after 1960?
- A.The origins of opéra comique
- B.The history of organ performance
- C.The life of Alessandro Scarlatti
- D.Philosophies of music historycorrect
After 1960 Donald Jay Grout became more interested in philosophies of music history.
Source: Career section
16.Where was the work Principles and Practice in the Writing of Music History published in 1972?
- A.Washington DC
- B.New York
- C.Berkeley
- D.Brusselscorrect
Donald Jay Grout's work Principles and Practice in the Writing of Music History was published in Brussels in 1972.
Source: Bibliography section
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