This book is a summary regularly updated on all basic concepts in music theory. It starts with necessary notions allowing to decipher a sheet music (notes, rhythm, expression) then links on the definition of ranges, intervals, chords... His strong point, it is to be rather exhaustive and to more definite. He allows to find very easily the definition of a term, the signification of a symbol. On the other hand, he is very often illustrated with summary pictures very useful as reminder (list of chords, intervals, cycle of fifthes). He offers many methods to be applied to determine the tonality of a piece, to transpose an instrument...

The counterpart of this condensed writing is its absence of pedagogy. It is not apparently about a book for beginner wanting to start to learn about the music theory. Book does not stay over concepts and examples to make understand them. It is rather a question of delaying some notions on memo.

This book is from now on a reference book in the training of the music theory. It is very regularly reissued and supplemented to put on fashionable (with contemporary notations for example). Although some themes would have been able more to be itemised (modulation for example), it is a book which they keep readily under the hand and in that they often refer.