. . . supported by a wealth of information -- often novel and fascinating -- which the author has collected from a great variety of sources. Admirable industry, sound judgement, and excellent style have produced a book that ought to be in the hands of every conductor.

List of Figures
List of Tables
Acknowledgments

1. Introduction

Part One: Eighteenth-Century Precedents: From Baroque to Classic
2. Constitution of the Orchestra in the Eighteenth Century
3. Size and Numbers in the Eighteenth-Century Orchestra
4. Eighteenth-Century Seating Plans
5. Conducting in the Eighteenth Century

Part Two: The Emerging Conductor and His Changing Forces
6. Conducting as a Métier
7. New Sonorities: The Romantic Orchestral Palette

Part Three: Size, Numbers, and proportions in the Nineteenth-Century Orchestra
8. Expansion-Ideas and Reactions
9. Some Particular Nineteenth-Century Orchestras
10. Relative Strengths and Proportions

Part Four: Seating in the Nineteenth Century
11. Principles of Seating
12. Concert Seating Plans
13. Seating in the Church
14. Opera Seating
15. Festival Seating
16. Summary of Seating Practices

Part Five: Nineteenth-Century Music and Current Performance Practices
17. Toward a "Standard" Orchestra
18. Postscript

Notes
Bibliography
Name Index
Subject Index