Rhythm and Beauty

By Rocky Maffit

Book Overview

Winner of the Chicago Book Critics award of excellence, this popular guide is a beautifully illustrated introduction to the sounds, shapes, and histories of over 50 percussion instruments. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0823079775
• ISBN13: 9780823079773
• Release Date: April 2005
• Publisher: Billboard Books
• Length: 135 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 10.5" x 10.5"

Customer Reviews

A real winner

I simply love this book and CD and so have the many other people I have given this book to. I am a former student of ethnomusicology and I recognise many of the resources Mr. Maffit has drawn upon but he has managed to make a beautiful and readable introduction to a vast subject. Kudos to the photographer as well. As to the reviewer on these pages that gave this book such a negative review, well you can't please evrybody can you? I give this book my strongest recommendation

WOW! This book and the cd really capture the soul! :)

I didn't hear of Rocky Maffit till I saw him preform at Borders in Champaign/Urbana with another preformer named Chad. They were WONDERFUL! I quickly bought the book mainly for the cd. However, I found the book very wonderful indeed and am almost through with it! Not only does this book discuss the instruments themselves, but the purpose behind them from the culture from which they came! The cd is WONDERFUL to dance to and lift the spirits. Both are a wonderful collection for anyone who enjoys the sounds of percussions!

Terrific all the way around

This book caught my eye in the bookstore and the more I looked at it the more I realized how special and important a work it is. Maffit's text is unfailingly clear and on point. Brown's photographs are splendid. The book is organized very effectively. I can't imagine a library that should not have one of these included in its collection. The hidden treasure in the package is the music, contained in a cd inside the back cover. Maffit's compositions and performances are truly world class. Although the book itself is well worth the cover price, the cd makes it an unbelievable bargain. Besides being a marvelous educational tool, it would not be an overstatement to say that the book "Rhythm and Beauty" may well contain some of the most astounding music released this year. A tour de force. Check it out.

Excellent exploration of percussion through sight and sound.

A delight to behold, the photographs are exciting and the layout of the book makes the reader want to touch and hear all the instruments described. The CD is an added bonus for lovers of world music.