The Heritage of Music by
Anca Seidlova and
Katherine Binney Shippen
I picked this out of the going to the garbage bin from a junior high library and it stayed in my to read closet for about a decade. It starts with ancient music from around the world then quickly jumps to the Ancient Greeks and ends with
Stockhausen on the final page. I love the way the authors are so enthusiastic about every composer they cover.
It was published in 1963. Jazz was only mentioned in regards to how it informed classical music with what seemed like a careful omission of any names. Quite a bit was written about negro spirituals but nothing at all on the blues and rock’n’roll. Despite the uncomfortable omissions without even a slight nod to mention it’s out of the purview of the book it’s still a fantastic authoritative resource on the history of western music.
I can see using this book to help with new additions to Freak Fighter.