Book excerpt: Concert Music of the Twentieth Century is about "concert music"--music for contemplation rather than for atmosphere. The repertoire discussed in these pages was written by composers with something important to say and with skills to do so. Many of the works discussed tie in with a long-standing, Western European tradition of art music, but an equal voice is given to culturally and ethnically diverse composers active during the past several decades. Radice provides data about the pieces, the composers who wrote them, and the contexts in which they originated. Our understanding and evaluation of music is a dynamic process and one that is subject to change. Music only has meaning within its social contexts, and these are expanding daily. Many non-Western nations have long-standing musical traditions and practices that have entered into the Western mainstream just as Western practices and traditions have influenced the musical cultures of the world to produce new and exciting possibilities for music making. Diversity has been a key element in the selection of topics for discussion, and the examples included here can serve as gateways for other investigations by interested readers. This book is a survey presenting a broad array of representative works. The personalities explored include composers, performers, theorists, teachers, and organizations. In many cases, the information comes directly from composers whom the author has interviewed. The discussions in this book demonstrate that the world of contemporary music is a fascinating one that offers rich rewards to those interested in understanding the vibrant dynamics of concert music.