This beautifully illustrated reference is a guide to the history of music and the instruments of the orchestra. An extended introduction provides a history of music-making around the world and outlines the evolution of the orchestra. It also features famous players, orchestras and concert halls, and the role of the composer and the conductor. A visual directory then follows, organised according to families of instruments: strings, woodwind and brass, percussion and keyboards, and the voice, as well as rare and historical instruments. Comprehensively written and beautifully illustrated with over 450 photographs, the book is an indispensable reference for music lovers everywhere.

This beautifully illustrated reference is a guide to the history of music, instruments of the orchestra and the most influential classical composers. All sections of the orchestra are covered: strings, woodwind and brass, percussion, keyboards and the voice, as well as historical, rare and non-Western instruments. An authoritative guide to over 100 of the most famous classic composers then follows. From Bach to Xenakis all styles of compositions from medieval times to the present day are included. The fascinating lives of the great composers are detailed, the places where they lived and worked, scenes from their ballets or operas, and examples of original scripts. This comprehensively updated new edition is illustrated with over 1000 photographs and illustrations.