The site integrates content from Norton Publishers and Sony Classical to create a comprehensive Internet resource for both casual listeners and serious students of music.

Developed by W.W. Norton & Company in cooperation with Sony Classical, Essentials of Music Online provides access to nearly 200 musical excerpts from various points within the site. The resource features:

• Eras: Cultural overviews of the six main periods in music history: Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classic, Romantic, and Twentieth-Century
  
• Composers: Brief biographies of nearly 70 composers, which bring to life the artists and their works
  
• Glossary of Musical Terms: 200 definitions, numerous musical examples.
  

"The publication of fine books in music is one of Norton's cornerstones," says Steve Hoge, Producer. "We're delighted that Sony Classical has agreed to work with us on this project - one that combines our expertise in musicology with theirs in recording. We are developing Essentials of Music Online for all people seeking to enrich their understanding of music and striving to achieve a broader cultural perspective through the study of various periods in music history. Visitors will benefit from the integration of the online audio and textual components."

W. W. Norton & Company, which celebrated its seventy-fifth anniversary in 1998, is the nation's largest independent, employee-owned publishing house. In music, Norton is perhaps best known for The Enjoyment of Music, A History of Western Music, The Norton Scores, Music in Western Civilization, The Music of Black Americans, and Source Readings in Music History.

For more information, contact Steve Hoge, Norton Electronic Media: shoge@wwnorton.com