by Norman Lebrecht

Twentieth century music has been remarkable for its pluralism. The various styles—atonality, neo-classicism, nationalism, serialism, jazz, computer music, minimalism, electronics, folklorism, “happenings,” sheer chance—have been far from monolithic, and experimentation has been, perhaps, the century's only defining feature. With over 2500 entries, The Companion to 20th-Century Music is the first book to comprehensively define and applaud this diversity. Norman Lebrecht celebrates variety and innovation, assessing composers and musicians according to artistic merit rather than ideological or institutional eminence. He states that his purpose is “to demythologize, to enlighten, and to entertain,” so he writes in a readable, narrative style, free of jargon and abbreviations. The end result is the perfect companion to the music of our time.