Modern Composers

By the end of the 19th century, its was clear that Romanticism had run its course; in its place came post-impressionism and the onset of electronic instruments and sampling techniques. This illustrated guide to the most influential composers of the 20th and 21st centuries encompasses detailed biographies as well as placing the most important works into historical context. At-a-glance fact boxes summarize key works and specialist genres. From the work of Debussy to the post-war compositions of Hans Werner Henze, discover the composers that have shaped the music we hear today.