It should be said straight away that this book has been worth waiting for. Not only is it handsomely produced...and well illustrated, it is also beautifully written...it is extraordinary that this long-awaited book is the first comprehensive account of its origins and development...this book is a fine achievment, and will surely remain the standard work on the subject for a long time to come. Anyone interested in 17th and 18th-century music will get a lot out of it, and it will be required reading for everyone interested in that fascinating institution, the orchestra.