Books like The Classic Fm Guide to Classical Music by Jeremy Nicholas

Explore the evolution of Western music through the lives of composers from Monteverdi to the 1990s tonalists, as biographical insights reveal how each artist was shaped by predecessors and the world around them.

The Facts on File Dictionary of Music provides in-depth explanations and examples of more than 3,000 musical terms and topics, including biographies of composers. Covering all major subjects, from technique and musical styles to instruments and notation to history and much more, the dictionary is an authoritative reference. It offers accessible coverage of a wide range of music-related subjects, from early history up to the present day, and is enhanced with more than 250 illustrations.

"This new online-only edition of The Oxford Companion to Music is a partial revision that focuses on living composers and their music, and adds some terms, works, and cross-references to the original text. Bibliographies have also been substantially revised and updated. This classic reference work includes articles that range from clear, concise definitions of musical ideas and terms to extended surveys of musical forms and styles, with specialist coverage of virtually every musical subject. It places music in its social and cultural context, with a range of new entries on topics such as politics, religion, psychology, and computers. The book covers current research in and approaches to music, including analysis, theory, ethnomusicology, and performance practice. All varieties of musical forms are covered, including jazz, popular music, and dance."