Directions in the musical avant-garde in the past fifty years seem as numerous and diverse as the com-posers and their works. Yet these directions have historical motives and aesthetic values, traceable and uniquely observable due to their singularly radical nature. Building on the success of previous editions, the Seventh Edition of New Direc-tions in Music explores the history, philosophy, composers, and works of the avant-garde since the late 1940s, emphasizing works depart-ing radically from tradition. Outstanding features include extensive bibliographies of written works and recordings; interviews with important avant-garde composers, showing readers firsthand the thought behind their works; in-depth analyses of specific works relevant to each chapter; and addresses, with websites, of publishers of avant-garde music.