Studying Music History: Learning, Reasoning, and Writing about Music History and Literature

This is an excellent review and condensation of Western Music History. I recommend it in particular for: 1. Master's students preparing for music history placement tests. 2. Doctoral students in music, preparing for comprehensive exams. 3. Any music teacher who would like a concise description of musical styles, in a more condensed format that traditional music history books (such as those by Grout or Stolba). I would not recommend it for anyone studying the History of Music for the first time.

As a music graduate student, I don't think I would have passed my oral or qualifying exams if not for this book. Poultney takes the major details of the major musical periods and boils them down to broad strokes. If you've studied a lot of music history but need a way to pull it all together, this book is a great tool.