h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

All power to your elbow for taking on such a task as this Gnomon - trying to condense classical orchestral music into an introduction short enough for a Guide entry is a phenomenal task, and one which I couldn't have done half as well, especially where the modern era is concerned. I think it would help the entry to include some mention of composers such as Debussy and Ravel who forged such a distinct style of their own (I was going to say Satie too, but then I remembered that this entry covers orchestral music only ), and those who were strongly associated with their own country's music, such as Bartok, Dvorak, and Sibelius, as well as the folk music-influenced music of, for example, Vaughan Williams. It's a real tough one this - just where do you stop? I know that if I was looking to get into classical music though, I'd find your entry an excellent first rung on the ladder

Thanks! You are right. It was very hard to come with something this short without making it meaningless. But if it was any longer, the casual guide reader would get bored and skip it. There's plenty of scope for more detailed entries the Guide, if you want to try your hand at it.

Well, I've been looking for a subject to write an entry about, but a more detailed entry about classical music is beyond my knowledge I think I'm sure there a researchers out there who know much more about it than I do.