The "General Music Theory" by Hermann Gabler (1886 - 1969), with "necessary additions" by Diether de la Motte, represents perhaps the last attempt to understand and describe music as a whole from a general theoretical basis. The deliberately concise chapters of the book are equipped with numerous musical examples and graphical representations, making the material vivid and comprehensible despite its brevity. Hermann Gabler's "General Music Theory" serves as the foundation for the essential theoretical instruction of professional musicians and is also an ideal reference work for the interested music enthusiast.