The book is a guide to every aspect of the long and ongoing story of Western classical music, revealing in astimulating and lively way the exceptionally gifted individuals who have shaped the musical landscape over amillennia – from the chanting monks of the middle ages to the bold exponents of minimalism in the 20th century.Personal and creative profiles of composers, both major and minor, form the heart of the book and offer rich insightsinto the qualities of their music and an ideal introduction to the range and diversity of the Classical repertoire.