The History of Music in Fifty Instruments - by Philip Wilkinson (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"Although the title makes it sound like a reference book, it is so much more than that. The style of writing is engaging and informative. The layout is attractive, with beautiful illustrations, photos, period paintings, quotes, and interesting inserts on every page. Wilkinson's history unfolds like a symphonic work with instrument makers, composers and virtuosic performers picking up these incredible creations and exposing their beauty and capability. To open it up is to be instantly hooked."
-- Publishers Weekly

The 400-year story of music told by the instruments that make an orchestra.

The History of Music in Fifty Instruments outlines musical history in well-written nuggets of information. Profiling one instrument at a time, it describes the history of music since the 1700s, when orchestras first took the formal shape familiar to us. The concise text explains the role of each instrument in the orchestra and its importance in the development of music in general.

The book lists the 50 instruments chronologically in the woodwind, brass, percussion and string sections of an orchestra. The classic instruments are included -- violin, cello, flute, oboe, clarinet, harp and more. Some instruments reflect the musical period or context in which they were most popular, such as the harpsichord in the Baroque period, and the snare drum in military parades. Among the unusual instruments is the otherworldly theremin.

A wide range of modern and archival photographs and paintings show the instruments. Entries outline their historical and country origins and the era in which they were played (e.g. Classical, Modern). Annotated illustrations explain the instrument's construction, how it is played and tuned, and its musical range. Composers, musical compositions and musicians that highlight the particular instrument are examined. For example, Baroque composer Antonio Vivalidi's contribution to the violin; inventor Adolphe Sax's tenacious promotion of his saxophone in the 1840s; and 20th century pianist Glenn Gould's controversial recordings of Bach's Goldberg Variations.

For musicians, teachers and students, and all who enjoy music, this book is a beautiful and informative tour of the orchestra and beyond.

Review Quotes

[Review of hardcover: ] A fascinating read about orchestral instruments. It begins with the development of the lute in the 1300s and ends with the synthesizer in 1965. Illustrations, photos, sidebars, and fact boxes make this a great reference book.-- "DIG Magazine" (4/1/2018 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of hardcover: ] For both seasoned classical music lovers and newbies to the genre, Wilkinson's book has elements that will likely surprise, delight and impact the way they hear, see and experience the symphony. As the author works his way through the fifty instruments of the orchestra -- the strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion -- tracing their origin and evolution from their earliest forms in remote locations to modern day versions in orchestral settings, Wilkinson creates an intimate relationship with each and every instrument, and with the composers and the works they created for them. His inclusion of electronic instruments such as the ondes Martenot, theremin and synthesizer rarely heard in orchestras may inspire readers to search the Internet to hear works in which they are featured. Although the title makes it sound like a reference book, it is so much more than that. The style of writing is engaging and informative. The layout is attractive, with beautiful illustrations, photos, period paintings, quotes, and interesting inserts on every page. Wilkinson's history unfolds like a symphonic work with instrument makers, composers and virtuosic performers picking up these incredible creations and exposing their beauty and capability. To open it up is to be instantly hooked.-- "Publishers Weekly" (11/14/2014 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of hardcover: ] From the serpent to the synthesizer, readers will find something they didn't know about their favorite instruments.--Steven York "Booklist" (12/15/2014 12:00:00 AM)

About the Author

Philip Wilkinson is a freelance writer and an author in a range of subject areas, particularly history, architecture and music. His achievements include the award-winning book Amazing Buildings, What the Romans Did for Us, and several TV tie-ins, including three for the BBC's major series Restoration.