"The Concise Oxford History of Music", a book by English author Gerald Abraham, offers a synthetic overview of the complex issue of the development of music in different cultures around the world. The author approaches this gigantic topic by assuming the role of an observer who is capable of defining not only the main and subsidiary streams of development but also detecting the initial subtle manifestations of new compositional styles or new musical practices from a distance. The book captivates readers with its abundance and reliability of presented facts, and it serves as a suitable introduction not only for students of conservatories and music departments but also for anyone who is drawn to the study of music history.