Book excerpt: This publication is unique in its comprehensiveness and recognision of cultural diversity and a broad notion of community. It covers the history of concert music, opera, ballet, music teaching, composition, instruments, venues, union activity, Aboriginal music, and all forms of popular and folk music and dance. It embraces the wide variety of immigrant influences from Europe, America and particularly the Pacific. There's sound art, computer music, electroacoustics, belly dance, debutante balls, subcultures, music videos and much more. Over two hundred academics, practitioners and private researchers from all parts of Australia and beyond are among this book's contributors.