Introduction. Interlude - the basis of western harmony; medieval music, Albert Seay and Denis Stevens; interlude - music at the court of Emperor Maximilian; the Renaissance, Alex Harman; Monteverdi, opera and oratorio, John Whenham; Baroque music in Germany before Bach, Frederick Hudson; Baroque music in Italy, Arthur Hutchings and Eric Cross; interlude - Baroque stage machinery; the Baroque in France, Roger Blanchard and Wilfrid Mellers; interlude - Purcell and the court masque; J.S. Bach - life and works, Basil Lam; interlude - the Baroque organ; G.F. Handel - life and works, Anthony Ford; the classical style, David Wyn Jones; interlude - the orchestra in the eighteenth century; C.W. Gluck and the new opera, Julian Rushton; interlude - the keyboard concerto; W.A. Mozart - life and works, Julian Rushton; Joseph Haydn - life and works, Peter Brown. A-Z of composers, Malcolm Boyd and Brian Richardson. Credits and index.