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This volume offers an overall view of a period which witnessed a proliferation of music in all genres, highlighting the musical landmarks and masterpieces of the age. It discusses the ode and oratorio in England, secular song in Europe, and the whole range of baroque instrumental music from keyboard music and the solo sonata to the orchestral suite and concerto grosso.

Together with volume 5, this volume of the New Oxford History of Music series covers the Baroque period. While the previous volume focused on opera and church music, the present one includes odes, oratorios, and vocal and instrumental music. As is the custom in this series, each chapter is written by a specialist, and volume 6 is up to the high standards set by previous volumes. The sections, well written and generously illustrated with musical examples, provide a detailed historical overview coupled with analytical discussion of exemplary compositions. An excellent book for serious students of music history. Timothy J. McGee, Faculty of Music, Univ. of Toronto Kirk, Elise K. Music at the White House: a history of the American spirit. Copyright 1986 Cahners Business Information.