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Early Recordings and Musical Style: Changing Tastes in Instrumental Performance, 1900-1950

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For what it does, this is an excellent study. Who else would take the time to document in utmost metronomic detail the subtle shifts of tempo in a wide variety of compositions, performed by an extremely varied group of performers so that we can now have a 'performance practice' of early 20th century performers instead of just that of the 16th-18th centuries and earlier?
This book will give back-up to those present day performers who recognize the need for extricating concepts of tempo from the limitations of the late 20th century which Philip discusses in this book and for re-creating in modern interpretations the tempo rubato taken for granted in the late 19th century, to say nothing of earlier centuries.
The reader certainly does not have to agree with all his conclusions to recognize that Philip has done his chosen task very, very well indeed.