Full Description
This definitive encyclopaedic work explores the origins of percussion through the development of the early drums and xylophones right up to the wide range of modern instruments and the sounds they make. James Blades covers these early developments globally from China and the Far East, India and Tibet, the early civilisations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome and Persia through to mediaeval and renaissance Europe. He continues to examine the role of percussion in the classical and romantic orchestras and finally looks at the ways composers have pushed the boundaries in modern music. Each chapter has its own photographs, illustrations and bibliography and there are comprehensive indices referencing all the composers and works discussed.
This extended edition includes two important new chapters. The first covers the rise of the solo percussionist and is written by the world's leading practitioner and one of Blades' former pupils, Dame Evelyn Glennie, who also contributes a new Foreword, while recent developments in orchestral percussion are covered by Neil Percy, Head of Timpani and Percussion at the Royal Academy of Music and Principal Percussionist of the London Symphony Orchestra.
Contents
Foreword to the first edition by Benjamin Britten, Author's Preface, Foreword to this enlarged edition by Evelyn Glennie, 1. Origins of Percussion, 2. The Drum, 3. The Primitive Xylophone, 4. Percussion Instruments of China and the Far East, 5. Japan, 6. India and Tibet, 7. Mesopotamia and Egypt, 8. Greece and Rome, 9. Arabia and Persia, 10. Mediaeval and Renaissance Europe, 11. Nakers and Kettledrums, 12. The Classical Orchestra, 13. The Romantic Orchestra - 1, 14. The Romantic Orchestra - 2, 15. Techniques of Contemporary Percussion, 16. Composers' Use of Modern Percussion, 17. The Modern Solo Percussionist by Dame Evelyn Glennie, 18. The Modern Orchestral Percussionist by Neil Percy, Appendices: 1. The Americas, 2. The Latin American Orchestra, 3. Changing Styles in Light Music, 4. Use of Percussion in Education, 5. Inventions and Patents, Recommended Technical and Recital Literature, Discography, Glossary of Principal Terms, Indices
