The Musical Imperative, 4th Edition, is intended for use as a college-level music appreciation course textbook. The book discusses: 1) how music is put together, including covering the components of music, such as tone, rhythm, melody, etc., 2) how different pieces are designed (as a collection of short selections, as a narrative, etc.), 3) types of instruments and instrument combinations, 4) instrumental forms, such as the suite, and the sonata, 5) vocal classifications and singing styles, such as jazz, country, rock, 5) choral groups and ensembles of all sizes and types (both secular and religious, including song cycles, opera, the oratorio, etc.), and 6) overviews of classical music, jazz, Broadway musicals, country music, and rock and roll based on the theory that all of the styles of music listed have their own Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern periods.