All aspects of music are evolving and driven by culture, experience, star performers, better instruments and concert halls, plus access to international musical styles offered by recordings and broadcasting. Musical expectations have risen and our appreciation is more diverse and flexible. Composition has matched these developments. Sounds of Music explores driving forces from new instrument designs, cult of personality, and the immense impact of electronics and recording. Each and every change means we never experience older music in the way that it was first heard. Even from the same CD. Musical experience is highly personal. It differs with mood, and seating in a concert hall or room. In addition to describing past changes and influential innovations, the book offers thoughts on where we are heading, electronic influences, and the reasons why current CD and MP3 formats may become obsolete, plus new instruments and styles that could appear.