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Brass Instruments: Their History and Development
In this readable, well-researched history, a distinguished authority on musical instruments offers a concise survey of the evolution of trumpets, trombones, bugles, cornets, French horns, tubas, and other brass wind instruments. The story begins with such primitive contrivances as bark trumpets, conch shells and perforated animal horns, bronze trumpets used by the ancient Danes and Celts, large Roman horns, and other devices.
During the medieval period, a large number of curved instruments or horns of various shapes and sizes developed, including trumpets, looped horns, the sackbut (forerunner of the trombone) and others, while the Renaissance saw the introduction of the slide trumpet. In the nineteenth century, the advent of valved instruments ushered in yet another new era.
In this extensively revised and updated edition, Mr. Baines documents the various states of the evolution of brass instruments with immense learning and a wealth of detail. The text is supplemented by over 140 black-and-white illustrations as well as 48 music examples. The result is a scholarly yet accessible account that remains an indispensable resource for any brass player or music historian.
During the medieval period, a large number of curved instruments or horns of various shapes and sizes developed, including trumpets, looped horns, the sackbut (forerunner of the trombone) and others, while the Renaissance saw the introduction of the slide trumpet. In the nineteenth century, the advent of valved instruments ushered in yet another new era.
In this extensively revised and updated edition, Mr. Baines documents the various states of the evolution of brass instruments with immense learning and a wealth of detail. The text is supplemented by over 140 black-and-white illustrations as well as 48 music examples. The result is a scholarly yet accessible account that remains an indispensable resource for any brass player or music historian.
320 pages, Paperback
Published April 19, 2012
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 3, 2021
I never knew that a sackbut was a trombone! (This is what happens when you read the KJV Bible). This is really an interesting book--it can get technical, but there are lots and lots of illustrations to help you process.
August 24, 2021
I was attracted to this book because I am a trumpet player. I'm no professional, but I play every day across several bands/groups and am interested in learning more about my instrument - so this was a no brainer. Sadly, I have some mixed feeling about this book.
It heavily focuses on primitive/ancient iterations of 'trumpets' and 'horns' and 'trombones'. I use quotes because they don't really resemble their modern counterparts. Which is fine - this book is chalked full of well researched information that I probably would never have learned if I hadn't read this book. It's just not what I went in trying to learn... but that's a personal problem. Can't blame it on the book. That being said, the writing was pretty dry. It wasn't an exciting or transformational read, but an informative one... and I suppose that means that it did its job.
It heavily focuses on primitive/ancient iterations of 'trumpets' and 'horns' and 'trombones'. I use quotes because they don't really resemble their modern counterparts. Which is fine - this book is chalked full of well researched information that I probably would never have learned if I hadn't read this book. It's just not what I went in trying to learn... but that's a personal problem. Can't blame it on the book. That being said, the writing was pretty dry. It wasn't an exciting or transformational read, but an informative one... and I suppose that means that it did its job.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews