"Fortissimo!" is a key stage 4 music course to fit the initiatives of the national curriculum with performing, composing, listening and appraising being an integral part. The material in the Fortissimo! Student's Book covers a wide variety of music from the 13th century to the 1990s and offers the chance to study musical styles and instruments from a variety of cultures. At regular intervals throughout the book, there are double-page colour spreads displaying fascinating visual stimulus material to spark off original ideas for composing and improvising.