Origins and Development of Musical Instruments

Reviews / Votes

...it is a concise, intelligent, contemporary equivalent, evincing the benefits of six decades of thought on the place of musical instruments in human life. It is also an antidote to flash but vapid presentations...as a readable organological treatise of modest size, this book is unsurpassed. Essential. -- . * Choice Reviews * It is a pleasure to read a comprehensive book on the subject of the origin and development of musical instruments, especially when written by an expert on the subject....I highly recommend this volume... * American Reference Books Annual * A welcome addition to the field of organology.... It is clear that he not only loves his subject, but also has knowledge of it from many different vantage points.... A fine textbook for a semester survey of musical instruments...as well as a fine resource for laypersons who wish to know more about musical sounds in many cultures throughout many periods. -- Susan Forscher Weiss * Notes: Quarterly Journal of the Music Library Association * Montagu's publication is broad in its scope, and represents a study of the cultural, social and technological developments of the world's instruments. The quality of writing keeps the reader fully engaged. Each chapter introduces the terminology relating to instruments of a specific type and provides explanations that should be comprehensible to a non-specialist. This book contains material that will be widely referenced and will be of immense value to anyone wishing to gain an informed overview of the field. * Galpin Society Journal * Montagu provides an exceptional discussion....Montagu is masterful in his presentation of intricate organological material that crosses boundaries of time and space....Beautifully written and chocked full of a lifetime of research. * Music Research Forum *