Renowned for its comprehensive coverage of genres and styles in Western music from antiquity to the present, A History of Western Music has secured its place--through six editions and for almost half a century--as the definitive resource for every musician. In this latest edition, J. Peter Burkholder has renewed and updated the book to suit the ways in which instructors teach and students learn today, all while maintaining the authority and comprehensive coverage that has defined this classic text. In a shift of emphasis, this edition places people making choices at the center of the story. Linking historical and social context directly to musical practice and styles, this edition calls attention to what's important, where it fits, why it matters, and who cares.