Konye (music, Siena College, New York) explores the origins, growth, individual expression, and general character of Nigerian art music, a modern genre of Nigerian music that expresses the traits, peculiarities, and characteristics of Nigerian music through Western music notation and its attendant peculiarities. Konye first identifies 20th-century Nigerian art music as a genre distinctly different from the art music tradition that existed in Nigeria before the arrival of missionaries in the 19th century. He then examines the political, social, and cultural factors contributing to its evolution and practice, and considers the stylistic development and transition of the genre from the Christian church in the 19th century to the concert hall of the 20th century. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)