The Penguin Companion to Classical Music

"From one of the most respected experts on the subject, an authoritative A-to-Z reference guide covering some 1,000 years of Western music. In this impressive volume, music critic Paul Griffiths offers a succinct and comprehensive guide to the history, forms, and personalities of classical music. Biographies of thousands of composers from Albinoni to Zappa, with in-depth treatment of major figures ; Coverage of individual works, including plot summaries of operas and ballets ; Articles on the history of music and instruments ; Entries on musical forms, from medieval plainchant toz contemporary minimalism ; Clear definitions of technical terms and jargon."--Publisher website (Sept. 2006).