This original, graphic-led book explores and explains the key ideas underpinning the world's greatest classical compositions and musical traditions, defines their importance to the musical canon, and places them into their wider social, cultural, and historical context. The nineteenth title in DK's bestselling Big Ideas series, The Classical Music Book combines accessible, authoritative text with bold explanatory graphics to make the subject of classical music approachable to readers with an interest in the subject who want to learn more while still offering enough to appeal to music aficionados.

Includes index.

Early music, 1000-1400 -- Renaissance, 1400-1600 -- Baroque, 1600-1750 -- Classical, 1750-1820 -- Romantic, 1810-1920 -- Nationalism, 1830-1920 -- Modern, 1900-1950 -- Contemporary.