Customer Reviews

Planet Drum: A Celebration of Percussion and Rhythm

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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.

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.

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."

I wanted to write about Drums, not in the fashion as other poets do, but from a more culturally diverse angle and this book gave me the variations needed to succeed with my attempt. The poem that I wrote (for performance) is entitled "God is a Drummer". As a performance poet and author, I wanted to move from my comfort zone of writing, challenging myself on a new level to combine culture and spirituality to educate and inspire others with this subject matter. "PLANET DRUM" really helped a great deal. Thanks for a well written and easy to digest work.

Kyle Morris of PHYREnEYCE (PHILADELPHIA,PA)

A celebration of Percussion & Rhythm. Origin Stories & original paintings of drummers, singers, dancers, clappers & all manner of rhythmic instruments from the four corners of the world & distant times, illuminate this passionate, enchanting tour. There is a tape that accompanies the reading of this lovely book.