Planet Drum: A Celebration of Percussion and Rhythm [Paperback]

Mickey Hart (Author), Fredric Lieberman (Author), D. A. Sonneborn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1998

Mickey Hart's dazzling companion to his bestselling Drumming at the Edge of Magic is a captivating chronicle of our global fascination with drums and the primal rhythms and spells of percussion, dramatically illustrated with 350 photographs and illustrations, 200 in full color.ra tour.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Acid Test Productions (August 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888358203
• ISBN-13: 978-1888358209
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #157,060 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty Good, Has Some Flaws, July 11, 2000

By 

"skapunkbluesjazzrock" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Planet Drum: A Celebration of Percussion and Rhythm (Paperback)

This book is great for an overview of percussion instruments around the world. The history of these percussion instruments is show through facts and folklore. The massive amounts of photographs in this book help with the indentification of the many, many instruments. This book is great if you want a brief overview of the history of percussion, but if you want something that is a little deeper than that I would find another book. This book is rather simple and relies on the pictures to do most of the work. Still, this is a cool book.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Primal Sound...., June 16, 2003

By 

Zekeriyah (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Planet Drum: A Celebration of Percussion and Rhythm (Paperback)

Mickey Hart goes into a global exploration of percusion instruments in this particular book. The interplay between sound and mysticism is explored, with lavish photographs and numerous quotations to boot. Although this book isn't much on words, theres a lot of good stuff in here. Breaking it down into various regions, Hart shows some wonderful examples of musical instruments used in Africa, Oceania, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas. Aside from more familar instruments (bullroarers, clap sticks and various drums), he also gives examples of exotic instruments like the shekere, mbira, shawm, skull drums and gamelan orchestras. In addition, he explores numerous non-western cultures, such as the Rashaida, Ethiopians, Tutsis, Nepalis and Ojibwa. Aside from this are little side-bars on various related subjects such as Shamanism, Capoeira, Carnival, drums and warfare and the "dance of the dead". Theres even a whole list of names various cultures around the world have for the bullroarer, which is considered sacred in cultures as far away as the Australian aborigines and the Apache of North America. And, of course, it explores the process of sound, from the big bang to the end of time itself, complete with a lot of cultural notes and tidbits that are great to know. For instance, did you know tht Ethiopian soldiers used to be accompanied by trumpters and drummers who symbolized the drummers who will herald the Apocalypse? Or that in some parts of the world drums really were used to communicate? Or that early Christians were summoned to church with a "sound board" instead of a bell? All of these small little notes, and many other historical facts and curiousities are contained within this book. And, finally, there are also a handful of illustrated myths and legends retold in the book. These include a Sioux legend of the origin of the powow drum and a Koori story about how the bull-roarer came to earth, as well as a grisly tale of what the Inca did to captured foes (made them into drums) and a Siberian tale of creation.
This is really an amazing book. Those with an interest in anthropology, music or shamanism should take a brief look at this book. Heck, everyone should. It may not be a lot of reading, but it is wonderful to flip through and learn about the history of sound, mysticism and the pulse of the world itself. Just buy it and you'll see what I mean.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Made me want to become a drummer, June 30, 2006

By 

Catherin A. Gumpert "A wild and crazy chick w... (the boonies of New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Planet Drum: A Celebration of Percussion and Rhythm (Paperback)

I have read this before, and enjoyed it so much that I purchased it for two wonderful drummers that I know, one a young man who is in my congregation who has a real gift as a drummer, and who I wanted to affirm and encourage, and one a friend of mine who is as enthusiastic as Mickey Hart is. This is a fabulous and magical book that will turn even those who are lukewarm about drumming into people who "get it."