Product Description

This illustrated encyclopaedia offers a comprehensive look at the world's musical instruments from the oldest inventions of ancient and primitive societies to the most modern high-tech means of musical expression

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1600290 in Books
• Published on: 2000-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 320 pages

Customer Reviews

Great overview coffeetable reference book for musicians, composer, artists...
A great gift for musicians and artists.

Great overview book --- cool little painted illustrations of all the instruments --- they kind of look somewhere between photos and paintings -- it gives the whole book a nice consistent look.

Professionals might think the tone/text content a little remedial (primarily on the 'contemporary' instruments like Electric Guitars/Synthesizers, etc. -- the text sounds a little corny to a pro "yeah, yeah, I know what a volume knob is and what a pick-up is...") -- but overall a great way to reference all the world's regions and cultures and their instruments.

I gave one of these to a composer friend who does soundtracks for films/TV -- and he's used it several times to quickly zero in on an odd or unique instrument he'd may not have been able to research quite as easily.

Subtitle misleading, big disappointment
I bought this book based on a description of it, and only looked cursorily at the inside of the book as offered on Amazon. If I had looked more closely, I would have never bought it. "All eras" and "all regions" are simply too vast to be included in this encyclopedia. The Balkan region with its frulas, zurnas, zurlas, gajdas, tamburicas, etc. was badly underrepresented. Many instruments are known by more than one name or have more than one spelling, and these should have at least been listed in the index. The spellings of instruments in the captions do not always match the spelling given in the index either. And how did the authors miss the cimbalom, hammered dulcimer, autoharp, and kazoo? Don't waste your money on this book.

Well Done
We bought this for our sons 12th birthday -- he is really into music. It is a great book for him with good visuals and variety to expand his perspective beyond modern day gear. Of course, it is not exhaustive, but we are very pleased considering the reason we purchased it. Informational but not overly academic, there is enjoyment in the learning with enough content to provide a good stepping stone for a person wanting to 'graduate' to something more intensive.