Practical Percussion: A Guide to the Instruments and Their Sources, Revised Edition

The second half of the twentieth century saw vast changes in all aspects of percussion - the instruments themselves, playing techniques, and percussion writing - plus the huge influence of pop music, jazz, and film scores. Additionally, the revolution in travel and communications has meant that composers have become much more aware of a seemingly endless variety of ethnic instruments from around the world. Holland aims to show the world of percussion as it is today, and to answer some common questions about it. Today's professional players frequently find themselves performing in many countries where the availability of percussion instruments can vary widely. Practical Percussion contains a section on manufacturers and suppliers all over the world. In addition to this list of manufacturers, the percussion requirements - both instruments and players - for some 1500 works are also listed. The foreword by Pierre Boulez further assists the reader in appreciating and understanding the richness, variety, and function of percussion instruments the world over.

Table of Contents:
Part 1 Foreword Part 2 Acknowledgments Part 3 Introduction Part 4 The Instruments Part 5 The Orchestral Percussion Section Part 6 The Percussionist as Soloist and in Ensembles Part 7 Writing and Publishing Music for Percussion Instruments Part 8 Percussion in Education Part 9 Percussion Manufacturers and Suppliers Part 10 The Percussive Arts Society Part 11 List of Works Part 12 Index Part 13 About the Author

About the Author :
James Holland was co-principal percussionist with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and principal percussionist with the London Symphony Orchestra for ten years before moving to the B.B.C. Symphony Orchestra. He was also solo percussionist with the London Sinfonietta for twenty-six years.

Review :
This encyclopedia inventories approximately 250 percussion instruments and effects, addressing new developments, particularly in the second half of the twentieth century, and consisting of instruments from all parts of the world. Entries are sometimes brief and sometimes more than a page and contain illustrations and range, if applicable. Other chapters are on the percussion in the orchestra, as soloist and in ensembles, composing and publishing percussion music, use in education, an alphabetical directory of manufacturers and suppliers, and information on the Percussive Arts Society. Half the book is a catalog of works and their instrumentation, listed alphabetically by composer. It includes a brief foreword by conductor and composer Pierre Boulez. There is no bibliography. Holland is an experienced percussionist who performs with the BBC Symphony. Understandable to general readers, Practical Percussion would be particularly helpful to young adult musicians exploring musical options and careers. This 2005, revised, hardbound 201-page tome has...six chapters...[and] There are also appendices that deal with information regarding PAS, a listing of percussion instrumentation included in selected orchestral, ensemble, and solo repertoire (103 pages), a six-page index, and information regarding the author. ...provides insights into percussion topics.