"A comprehensive encyclopedia of musical instruments, covering all sections of the orchestra: 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 classical composers, from Bach to Xenakis, encompassing all styles of composition from medieval times to the present day. The text features concise, at-a-glance fact boxes that summarize key information about instruments, performers and composers' key works. Fully illustrated with over 1,000 photographs and illustrations of musical instruments and composers, the places where they lived and worked, scenes from their ballet or operas, and examples of their handwritten manuscripts."