Valued by scholars for its literary significance, this book preserves its original format, including any marks or annotations from its first publication. This intentional choice ensures that future generations can appreciate its authentic nature and the knowledge it imparts, solidifying its place in the literary canon.
Offering a thorough exploration of the history of European musical instruments, this classic work is essential for music enthusiasts. It provides detailed insights into the evolution of instruments, showcasing original text and artwork from early editions. As many early publications are rare and costly, this modern reissue makes valuable historical knowledge more accessible to a wider audience.
Thirty-six different forms of ancient instruments are described here and illustrated from contemporary representations and extant examples, the place that music occupied in temple ritual and civil life is discussed, and the musical scale in use is examined. For the first time a staff translation of the cuneiform notation is presented, the example being a harp accompaniment to a Sumerian hymn of about 2000 B. C. Out of his wide knowledge of the ancient distribution of musical instruments, Dr. Galpin suggests points of contact with other cultures that may help to elucidate the origin of the Sumerians and their place in the history of art.