Musical Instruments: History, Technology, and Performance of Instruments of Western Music

This book explains musical instruments in their various forms: how they work, what they can do, and how they came to be the way they are. It concentrates on instruments of western music built to play in musical traditions transmitted in large part by notated scores and parts. The recent growth of early music performance is reflected in an emphasis on the historical development of the main types of instrument. For each class of instrument, the underlying acoustical principles are outlined and the commonly found members of the family are described. Their manufacture, playing techniques, and performance practice are treated. A full glossary and index also contain definitions of technical terms and notes on instruments not included in the text, making this the essential reference for everyone researching and working with musical instruments and performance. -- Publishers description.