The Art of the Trumpet-Maker: The Materials, Tools, and Techniques of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries in Nuremberg (Oxford Early Music) [Paperback]

Robert Barclay (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 23, 1996 | ISBN-10: 0198166052 | ISBN-13: 978-0198166054

This book is a study of the manufacture of brass instruments, particularly trumpets, in Nuremberg during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Barclay discusses the history of the instrument, the metals used, their chemical and physical structure, solders used, the tools and workshops involved, and techniques of fabrication. He also touches on the philosophy, ethics, and practicality of using historical instruments or accurate facsimiles in modern performance.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Highly recommended for its important, and unique, contribution to our better understanding of the natural trumpet itself and also for identifying many issues that require and merit further enquirya and investigation."--Music & Letters

"An essential book for makers which will also stimulate and enlighten players. It is very well worth reading from cover to cover, although readers will find themselves dipping into it again and again."--Historic Brass Society Journal

About the Author

Robert Barclay is Senior Conservator, Ethnology, Canadian Conservation Institute, Ottawa.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (May 23, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198166052
• ISBN-13: 978-0198166054
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,453,956 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good content, terrible print quality, April 6, 2006

By 

Charles P. Guzis "Tubastuff" (Eugene, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art of the Trumpet-Maker: The Materials, Tools, and Techniques of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries in Nuremberg (Oxford Early Music) (Paperback)

Robert Barclay surveys the processes and methods that went into the making of 16th, 17th and 18th century trumpets, mostly by German and Austrian makers. There is a great deal of information about the early metallurgy of brass as well as some detail on the actual construction techniques used by the early builders. Reproductions of illustrations from Agricola, Diderot, and Weigel are most welcome.

Don't expect this book to be a "how to build your own trumpet" guide, however--fully half the book surveys early metallurgy and tools and only the last half skims over construction techniques.

However, for a paperback of 186 pages, this book is very much overpriced. At $55, one would expect high-quality graphics, but instead what is delivered is blurry, low-contrast black-and white photographs. In addition, several pages in my copy were all but unreadable due to dropouts in the printing process.

In balance, this is an interesting read, but poor production and high price detract from this book's appeal.