The History of Music in Fifty Instruments
2014
First Published
3.32
Average Rating
224
Number of Pages
The 400-year story of music told by the instruments that make an orchestra. The History of Music in 50 Instruments outlines musical history in well-written nuggets of information. Profiling one instrument at a time, it describes the history of music since the 1700s, when orchestras first took the formal shape familiar to us. The concise text explains the role of each instrument in the orchestra and its importance in the development of music in general. The book lists the 50 instruments chronologically in the woodwind, brass, percussion and string sections of an orchestra. The classic instruments are included—violin, cello, flute, oboe, clarinet, harp and more. Some instruments reflect the musical period or context in which they were most popular, such as the harpsichord in the Baroque period, and the snare drum in military parades. Among the unusual instruments is the otherworldly theremin. A wide range of modern and archival photographs and paintings show the instruments. Entries outline their historical and country origins and the era in which they were played (e.g. Classical, Modern). Annotated illustrations explain the instrument's construction, how it is played and tuned, and its musical range. Composers, musical compositions and musicians that highlight the particular instrument are examined. For example, Baroque composer Antonio Vivalidi's contribution to the violin; inventor Adolphe Sax's tenacious promotion of his saxophone in the 1840s; and 20th century pianist Glenn Gould's controversial recordings of Bach's Goldberg Variations. For musicians, teachers and students, and all who enjoy music, this book is a beautiful and informative tour of the orchestra and beyond.
Avg Rating
3.32
Number of Ratings
41
5 STARS
10%
4 STARS
29%
3 STARS
44%
2 STARS
17%
1 STARS
0%
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Author
Philip Wilkinson
Author · 33 books
Philip Wilkinson (born 1955) is the author of non-fiction books for children and adults. He was educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He worked as an editor prior to becoming an author. He specializes in works on history, the arts, religion, and architecture and has written over forty titles.
