This volume investigates the evolution and stylistic shifts of Western music during the twentieth century through a curated selection of primary source scores and analytical commentary. The authors, a team of distinguished musicologists led by Richard Taruskin, utilize a comprehensive selection of musical compositions to illustrate the transition from late Romanticism to the diverse experimental movements of the modern era. The text provides a framework for understanding how socio-political changes and technological advancements influenced compositional techniques and aesthetic values across the century.

Experts and musicology students frequently cite this anthology as a standard reference for academic study due to its rigorous selection and scholarly commentary. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which is designed for those with a foundational understanding of music theory and history.