James Blades traces the history of the percussion instrument from its primitive origins through the Orient, Asia, Africa and Europe and explores the percussion techniqes ofthe great Classsicla composers. techical possibilities of contemporary percussion are closely examines, with notes on the use of the tuned percussion. Bratok and Britten are discussed in detail and there are observations on many younger composers including Boulez and Stockhausen. The book ends with a survey of Latin-American percussion, performers' styles, inventions, and the possiblities of percussion for children in schools.
