Tim Blanning is Professor of Modern European History at the University of Cambridge and the author of The Pursuit of Glory: Europe 1648--1815.

* Introduction 1. Status: 'You Are a God-Man, the True Artist by God's Grace' * The Musician as Slave and Servant * Handel, Haydn and the Liberation of the Musician * Mozart, Beethoven and the Perils of the Public Sphere * Rossini, Paganini, Liszt--the Musician as Charismatic Hero * Richard Wagner and the Apotheosis of the Musician * The Triumph of the Musician in the Modern World 2. Purpose: 'The Most Romantic of All the Arts' * Louis XIV and the Assertion of Power * Opera and the Representation of Social Status * Bach, Handel and the Worship of God * Concerts and the Public Sphere * The Secularisation of Society, the Sacralisation of Music * The Romantic Revolution * Beethoven as Hero and Genius * Problems with the Public * Wagner and Bayreuth * The Invention of Classical Music * Jazz and Romanticism * Rock and Romanticism 3. Places and Spaces: From Palace to Stadium * Churches and Opera Houses * Concerts in Pubs and Palaces * Concert Halls and the Sacralisation of Music * Temples for Music * Two Ways of Elevating Music--Bayreuth and Paris * The Democratisation of Musical Space * Places and Spaces for the Masses 4. Technology: From Stradivarius to Stratocaster * Musical Gas and Other Inventions * Pianos for the Middle Classes * Valves, Keys and Saxophones * Recording * Radio and Television * The Electrification of Youth Culture * The Triumph of Technology 5. Liberation: Nation, People, Sex * National Pride and Prejudice * Rule Britannia? Aux Armes, Citoyens! * Liberation in Italy * Deutschland, Deutschland uber Alles, Especially on the Rhine * From the Woods and Fields of Bohemia * A Life for the Tsar * Race and Music * Sex * Conclusion * Chronology * Further Reading * Notes * Illustrations Credits * Index

Chronicles the rise of music and musicians in the West from lowly balladeers to masters employed by fickle patrons, to the great composers of genius, to rock stars. This title considers music in conjunction with nationalism, race, and sex.