Scotland's music - John Purser

John Purser's major work encompasses the whole of Scotland's music, from the third millennium BC to the present day. Describing both classical and traditional music, Scotland's Music pursues the fascinating relationship between them through the centuries and shows how they illuminate Scottish history and culture.

The book is generously illustrated and, with over 200 music examples, provides a unique resource. Early Celtic plainchant, ballads in Scots and Gaelic, Renaissance masterpieces by Carver and others, rare music for lutes and virginals, and many under-appreciated and beautiful works by composers such as John Clerk of Penicuik, James Oswald, the Earl of Kellie and John Thomson are all discussed. Scotland's Music's range is wide, and it concludes with a survey of the diverse contemporary music of today, from operatic and symphonic to Gaelic, folk and pop.

Scotland's Music is a tremendously entertaining and stimulating book. This new edition builds on its award-winning predecessor, substantially updated and taking account of new discoveries and research. It has both a general and a scholarly appeal, not only in Scotland but worldwide; it is an all-embracing account of one of Europe's most remarkable musical cultures.