What makes Mozarts music so great Why does a minor chord sound sad and a major chord sound happy Whats the difference between opera and operetta From Bach to Bernstein this definitive guide offers a complete survey of the history of classical music.Whether you already love classical music or youre just beginning to explore it The Complete Classical Music Guide invites you to discover the spirituality of Byrds masses the awesome power of Handels Messiah and the wonders of Wagners operas as well as hundreds more composers and their masterpieces. This guide takes you on a journey through more than 1000 years charting the evolution of musical instruments styles and genres. Biographies of major and lesserknown composers offer rich insights into their music and the historical and cultural contexts that influenced their genius.The book explores the features that defined each musical era from the ornate brilliance of the Baroque through the drama of Romantic music to contemporary genres such as minimalism and electronic music. Timelines quotes and colour photographs give a voice to this music and the exceptionally gifted individuals who created it.