The Oxford Companion to Musical Instruments

ISBN-13: 9780193113343 / Angielski / Twarda / 1992 / 416 str.

Anthony Baines

Opis

Musical instruments, from the simplest pipes and drums to those of the utmost complexity, have formed an integral part of the cultures of all peoples of the world from the beginning of time. Their range and diversity have inspired the skill and genius of maker, composer, and player. This book is a celebration of that achievement, examining in one alphabetical sequence the astonishing variety of Western and non-Western acoustic musical instruments. Individual entries encapsulate the essential information about the instrument considered. Each entry offers a concise description and, with the aid of numerous line drawings, illustrates details of its construction. Playing techniques are also discussed and major entries draw attention to significant developments in the history of the instrument. Dr Baines also deftly conveys the sound of the instrument and highlights characteristic examples of its use within the orchestral repertoire or, for ethnomusicological instruments, within rites of passage. Musical examples elucidate these points and the whole text is beautifully illustrated with over one hundred photographs. There are general articles on the instruments of specific periods, such as the Renaissance or Baroque, and the instruments of individual continents are considered as an entity. Instruments are also treated by family (woodwind, etc.) and by other common groupings, such as orchestra, brass band. In addition the book deals with a whole range of related subjects, for example acoustics, pitch, chord symbols; methods of playing, such as harmonics, circular breathing; and also such topics as fakes and forgeries and oddities like walking-stick instruments. There is an Appendix of makers mentioned within the text and full bibliographical details are provided for the books and other sources cited. In all, this book bears witness to the author's lifelong passion for musical instruments in all their splendid variety and is distinguished by his elegant prose and scholarship.

Recenzje

Many scholarly books exist about the history and development of musical instruments, but seldom does one encounter a single volume which covers this vast subject quite so comprehensively and in such an accessible manner as Anthony Baines' carefully researched volume ... has covered virtually every aspect of this vast field, and few music lovers or musical scholars will find a lack of any of the basic information they might be seeking ... excellent value ... this is the perfect ready reference guide for any music lover or music student, all of whom should have a copy on their music bookshelf - but don't merely turn to it when you need to look up a reference - it is also enourmous fun to dip into at random since one can glean a great deal of truly fascinating information. On every page one senses the author's passion and love for his subject.

O autorze

Anthony Baines is the retired Curator of the Bate Collection of Historical Instruments in the University of Oxford. The author of several books and articles on instruments, he co-founded the Galpin Society, formed in 1946 to promote the study of musical instruments, and edited its journal 1956-63, and from 1971.