The work was never completed; after the author's death, v. 4 was edited from the MS. by G. Nottebohm and C.F. Becker. A continuation, by W. Langhans, appeared in 1882-87 under title Die Geschichte der Music des 17., 18., und 19. Jahrhunderts.
Vol. 1 edited by B. von Sokolovsky; v. 2. by H. Reimann; v. 3 and 5 by O. Kade, v. 4. by H. Leichtentritt.
Vol. 5 consists of settings in modern notation of works of the best known composers cited in v. 3.