The best book on music history I have read. Goodall does a magnificent job of showing how musical styles and trends involved within their respective cultural contexts. Of particular interest is how the notation and scale system evolved as musicians liberated themselves from church dominated patronage to asserting themselves as individuals. Though it is now often consigned to elite or at least esoteric status, the author takes pains to show that "Classical Music" was the mainstream preference for centuries and still leaves its stamp on many genres. It also keeps the technical music talk to a minimum so the narrative flows in an enjoyable manner. ( )