Beckwith's career as a composer, performer, teacher, administrator, author, editor, and promoter of Canadian music is unparalleled. It is fitting, then, that this group of papers, organized as a tribute to him, reflects not only his contribution, but also the current major directions of Canadian music.

The contributions fall under the heading of composers and compositions, music education, comparative studies of music in Canada and the United States, and general views of music in Canada. The composers discussed include Bruce Cockburn, Istvan Anhalt, John Hawkins, and of course, John Beckwith.

The essays reflect the variety of musical culture in our country. The music of Canada - past and present; popular, folk, and classical; its creators, collectors, and educators - is presented, discussed, and analysed by prominent scholars. Collectively the essays summarize the current state of research on Canadian music; individually they provide standards, patterns, approaches, and directions for future research.