Through her compelling and well-crafted body of work over almost five decades, Joan Tower has become one of the world's most admired and celebrated composers. Joan Tower: The Comprehensive Bio-Bibliography celebrates her achievements and compositions, whether works for orchestra, symphonic band, chamber ensemble, or solo instrument. Author Ellen Grolman gives a full biography of the composer, supported by extensive personal interviews and family history dating back to 1637. She explores the experiences and influences that have shaped Tower's musical voice, from her upbringing in South America to her establishment of the Da Capo Chamber Players, and from her flight from serialism to her maturation into one of the most sought-after composers at work today. The book also gives extensive analysis of the composer's style, composing process, musical influences, and passionate advocacy of contemporary music. Many of the talented and esteemed soloists, chamber ensembles, and symphonic organizations with whom Tower has worked, including Leonard Slatkin, Zubin Mehta, the Emerson String Quartet, David Shifrin, Tania León, and Jennifer Higdon, speak candidly about their experiences with Joan Tower in the Peer Reflections section of the book. The bibliography of works lists each composition with date of publication, duration, dedication and commissioning data, and when available, premiers and selected performances. The discography entries include both commercial and non-commercial recordings, and an annotated bibliography precedes a comprehensive index.

"Grolman (music, Frostburg State U.) presents a bio-bibliography of contemporary composer Joan Tower. Following a biography of the composer that spans from her family history to her work with the Da Capo Chamber Players and her current career, an analysis of her musical voice is provided, including her compositional aesthetic and process and ideas about feminism and musical citizenship. Her compositions are listed by genre, with date of publication, duration, dedication and commissioning information, and premieres and selected performances, if available. The final section consists of brief reflections from many of her peers. A discography that includes both commercial and noncommercial recordings is provided." - Reference and Research Book News, August 2007