Woodwind Instruments and Their History
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Book Overview
"This excellent book ought to be in every library." -- Musical Times
Widely acclaimed for its scholarship, comprehensiveness, and originality, this superior study by a leading authority is considered the definitive work on woodwind instruments. Author Anthony Baines -- musicologist, conductor, instrumentalist, and curator of the Bate Collection of Historical Wind Instruments at Oxford University -- combines a discussion of design and construction with a detailed history of the evolution of woodwinds from earliest times to the present.
Part One introduces the woodwinds, describing their basic components, construction, variations, and idiosyncrasies as well as playing technique, matters of acoustics and pitch, and types of reeds. Part Two traces a variety of technical changes, particularly in terms of recent processes of mechanization. This profusely illustrated survey features 75 photographs and drawings, 25 musical examples, and 16 fingering charts.
Widely acclaimed for its scholarship, comprehensiveness, and originality, this superior study by a leading authority is considered the definitive work on woodwind instruments. Author Anthony Baines -- musicologist, conductor, instrumentalist, and curator of the Bate Collection of Historical Wind Instruments at Oxford University -- combines a discussion of design and construction with a detailed history of the evolution of woodwinds from earliest times to the present.
Part One introduces the woodwinds, describing their basic components, construction, variations, and idiosyncrasies as well as playing technique, matters of acoustics and pitch, and types of reeds. Part Two traces a variety of technical changes, particularly in terms of recent processes of mechanization. This profusely illustrated survey features 75 photographs and drawings, 25 musical examples, and 16 fingering charts.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0486268853
ISBN13:9780486268859
Release Date:April 2012
Publisher:Dover Publications
Length:432 Pages
Weight:1.00 lbs.
Dimensions:0.8" x 5.4" x 8.5"
Customer Reviews
2 ratings
Woodwinds Explained
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
"Woodwind Instruments And Their History" was chosen to be recorded for the blind and dyslexic by RFB & D. The book was written in the 1950s but apart from some British usages which may be strange to American readers, the book remains fresh and informative. The author's "voice" is often quite funny, deliberately so for the most part which is a refreshing change in what is essentially a textbook. As recommended by another reviewer, it is an excellent book for musicians. At the same time, anyone interested in the history of music can enjoy and learn from what is written. I am not musical, but I was delighted to learn while helping to record it.
Wonderful book over all types of wind instruments!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
This is one of the best books that I have ever seen written on this subject. It was this book that got me really hooked on the possibilities that exist within the woodwind section. I particularly enjoy some of the time spent on the more obscure members (e.g. sarrusophone). The only thing that one may say it lacks is a more comprehensive section on the saxophone which is grouped as an exotic form of the clarinet. All in all this is a great book and a must have for all musicians.
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