Series: Yale Musical Instrument Series

A rich and fascinating account of one of music history’s most ancient, varied, and distinctive instruments From its origins in animal horn instruments in classical antiquity to the emergence of the modern horn in the seventeenth century, the horn appears wherever and whenever humans have made music. Its haunting, timeless presence endures in jazz and film music, as well as...

The Recorder tells the fascinating story of a hugely popular instrument, detailing its rich and varied history from the Middle Ages to the present. The recorder is perhaps best known today for its educational role. Although it is frequently regarded as a stepping-stone on the path toward higher musical pursuits, this role is just one recent facet of the recorder’s...

The oboe, including its earlier forms the shawm and the hautboy, is an instrument with a long and rich history. In The Oboe, two distinguished oboist-musicologists trace that history from its beginnings to the 21st century, discussing how and why the oboe evolved, what music was written for it, and which players were prominent. Geoffrey Burgess and Bruce Haynes begin...

The story of the trumpet from prehistory to the present day, written by two of its outstanding performers and teachers In the first major book devoted to the trumpet in more than two decades, John Wallace and Alexander McGrattan trace the surprising evolution and colourful performance history of one of the world's oldest instruments. They chart the introduction of the...