This lively and highly informative contribution to the Menuhin Music Guides covers all aspects of percussion - the instruments, the percussion section within the orchestra and the use of percussion in chamber music and as a solo instrument. James Holland is not afraid to attack composers, conductors and music publishers as he puts the percussionist's point of view. Among his comments on how to interpret a percussion score and lay out and play a vast array of complex instruments are detailed analyses of Walton's 'Facade' and works by Gerhard and Stockhausen.
Foreword by Pierre Boulez, Preface by Yehudi Menuhin, Author's Introduction, Part One - The Timpani or Kettledrums, 1. A Little History, 2. Timpani Construction, 3. The Student Timpanist, Part Two - The Percussion Instruments, 4. General Percussion Instruments, 5. Keyboard Percussion, 6. Stands and Accessories, Part Three - In Performance, 7. The Percussion Section, 8. The use of Percussionin Chamber Music and as a Solo Instrument, Appendices: Percussion Pleas, Percussion Addresses, Acknowledgements, Book List, Discography, Index
