This collection investigates the core ontological and aesthetic questions defining the philosophy of music at the turn of the twenty-first century. Stephen Davies, a prominent philosopher of art, synthesizes two decades of research to examine how musical works are defined, performed, and received in a modern context. By rejecting reductive theories that force all music into a single category, the author provides a framework that accounts for the diverse nature of musical expression and the evolving role of technology in performance.

Experts recognize this collection as a significant contribution to contemporary aesthetics, noting that Davies provides a clear and rigorous overview of the field. Readers frequently highlight the accessibility of the prose despite the complex philosophical subject matter.