Berlioz called his Roméo et Juliette, which blended musical and extra-musical elements, a "dramatic symphony." Musicologist Laudon treats this new style in musical genres of 1839-1851. He discusses debates at the time over whether music should act purely on the senses (the German view), or can also describe scenes or express passions (the French view). Liszt's embrace of the dramatic symphony led to program music and symphonic poems that later became the accepted style. The book includes year-by-year season highlights; illustrations; and notes on parodies of these "monster" orchestras, and on the revolutions of 1848 and subsequent exodus to America. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)