The Encyclopedia of Percussion is an extensive guide to percussion instruments, organized for research as well as general knowledge. Focusing on idiophones and membranophones, it covers in detail both Western and non-Western percussive instruments. These include not only instruments whose usual sound is produced percussively (like snare drums and triangles), but those whose usual sound is produced concussively (like castanets and claves) or by friction (like the cuíca and the lion’s roar).
The expertise of contributors have been used to produce a wide-ranging list of percussion topics. The volume includes: (1) an alphabetical listing of percussion instruments and terms from around the world; (2) an extensive section of illustrations of percussion instruments; (3) thirty-five articles covering topics from Basel drumming to the xylophone; (4) a list of percussion symbols; (5) a table of percussion instruments and terms in English, French, German, and Italian; and (6) an updated section of published writings on methods for percussion.
Table of Contents:
Preface Contributors Abbreviations I. Glossary II. Illustrations of Percussion Instruments III. Articles IV. Symbols V. Table of Percussion Instruments and Terms in English, French, German, and Italian VI. Published Writings on Methods for Percussion Index
About the Author :
John H. Beck is Professor Emeritus of Percussion and has been a member of the Eastman faculty since 1959. The Percussive Arts Society inducted him into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame (1999) and presented him with an Outstanding Service Award (2002). He received both the Eastman School of Music Eisenhart Award for excellence in teaching (1997) and the Edwin Peck Curtis Award for excellence in undergraduate teaching (2003). Since retirement in 2008, he has been awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the New York State School Music Association (2009), The President’s Award from Rowan University (2010), the Lifetime Achievement Award from KOSA International Percussion (2010) and the Life Time Achievement Award from Giornate della Percussione, Fermo, Italy (2010). His book Percussion Matters: Life at the Eastman School of Music was published in December 2011 by Meliora Press an imprint of the University of Rochester Press. The John H. Beck Composition Prize was established by Percussion Rochester in 2012.
Review :
'There is much useful information.... Music libraries would no doubt find it a helpful addition to books on the subject.' - Reference Reviews
'Well illustrated with clear, black-and-white photography. Information is well indexed and organized for fast access... a welcome addition to a rather sparse list of percussion reference books that have become somewhat dated... complete and up-to-date... Recommended highly for academic libraries at all levels.' - Choice
'Of particular interest are the superb articles... a valuable addition to percussion reference textbooks.' - Percussive Notes
'Impressive, attractive, and authoritative.' - 20th Century Music'A welcome addition to the meager shelf of percussion reference books... an invaluable contribution to the professional and the student, as well as to the scholar and the performer, along with anyone interested in pursuing a greater knowledge of percussion in general.' - Notes
'...one of those delightful finds that'll keep you flipping pages, scanning articles and testing your knowledge against that of its authors.' - Victory Review'The Percussion Encyclopedia is a must-have for college libraries... This book is practical, informative, scholarly, yet with a basis in performance... In summary, this second edition Percussion Encyclopedia is reader-friendly, comprehensive, relevant, up-to-date, even historical. The publisher, editor, authors and associated personnel are to be congratulated on this very fine book that I am sure will prove to be most valuable to its fortunate readers now and in the future.' - NACWPI Journal
