The Larousse Encyclopedia of Music

Providing a synopsis of all the major composers and giving examples of how music evolved from the music of the middle ages in europe to the grand musical accomplishments of western society though the twentieth century. Sometimes overstating the case with superlatives (the great composer "XXXX"), even so the book introduces music to the novice that only the scholar or collector might otherwise know about. This book with it's noble picture under the title page of Frederick the Great playing the flute with C.P.E. Bach at the harpsichord is something worthy of keeping on your coffee table for guests to peruse.