Customer Reviews

Musical Instruments (Illustrated Encyclopedias)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I looked at several books before deciding. Max Wade-Matthews Encyclopedia of Music: Instruments of the Orchestra and the Great Composers is the best for providing history and overall information on major instruments and composers and uses limited photos. Musical Instruments of the World is organized by instrument with volumes of black and white illustrations of variations and changes over time. It shows how they are held and played and gives a brief history. Robert Dearly's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Musical Instruments is organized by major instruments with a small section of non-western. It covers the history in text but does not picture the derivatives. Contains limited pictures and illustrations. I chose The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Musical Instruments: From All Eras and Regions of the World as the most comprehensive and visual. It does not cover the composers. It is organized by time periods and continents showing the 4 families of instruments and their variations. Brief texts discuss history, how to play, and how they were used. Over 1000 excellent illustrations are a great reminder of the University of South Dakota's National Music Museum's thousands of worldwide instruments displayed. This book is a substitute for all the photos I could not take and the stories behind them. Once you see this book you won't be satisfied with another. I was initially concerned that the illustrations would not be as detailed as photos. They are better. The best features of all the other books seemed to be combined in this one.

We set out to learn more about the instruments in the orchestra and this book along with "Can You Hear It?" (which we bought at the same time) answer our need. This book is fine in all respects but the print is sort of small. We are glad we got both of the books. It seems confusing when one is looking for books that will teach at a level one can understand but these two books are exactly what we needed.

This book was exactly what I was looking for. It arrived promptly and in excellent condition. Both my wife and I are enjoying it.