Here is a comprehensive collection of writings on music, spanning the ages from ancient Greece to the close of the twentieth century. All seven sections boast introductory essays in which the period editors present new perspectives on the music of their separate eras. A headnote for each reading provides some background on the writer and places the selection in broader musical and historical context. Finally, a master index brings together names, concepts, and musical genres from the two millennia of music history covered in the book.