Big Bangs

Looking back down the corridor of a thousand years, composer and broadcaster Howard Goodall guides us through five seismic developments in the history of Western music: the invention of notation, of opera, of equal temperament (the vital gaps between notes), of the piano, and of recorded sound. Big Bangs is the riveting story of 1000 years of musical endeavour, from a breakthrough by an 11th-century monk to Edison's first recording, from Bach to the Beatles, and beyond. A dazzling and important book, it is a passionate account of how humankind has made brilliant musical advances. Vivid and alive, it also gives us the key to understanding the culture of trial, error and competition which has allowed progress to take place.

Howard Goodall has written the theme tunes to many TV programs including Blackadder and Mr. Bean. He is the host of the TV series, Big Bangs, on which the book is based.