Diether de la Motte's book has become a classic among harmony texts. It illuminates nine different historical musical situations - from 1600 to the 20th century - and their harmonic language. The historically limited rules are derived from a wealth of concrete examples. At the same time, it becomes clear that harmony has always been a significant field for compositional imagination. A music history in examples, written in an understandable way and indispensable for anyone who wants not only to make music but also to understand music and think in music.