Rhythm and Beauty

Photographs by Chris Brown



Foreward by Evelyn Glennie



Tonal percussion...drums...shakers...rattles...noisemakers... all are part of the percussion tradition. In this exploration of the sounds, shapes, and histories of more than 50 percussion instruments, Rocky Maffit takes readers on a journey through the lore and traditions behind everything from the ancient sistrum to the new metal anklung, the nail marimba, and the waterphone. Photographer Chris Brown then brings each instrument to life with vivid, evocative photographs. This new paperback edition, which follows a 1999 hardback, includes an Afterword that addresses changes in the world of percussion since the original publications, as well as an updated and expanded list of Percussion Sources.



• Winner of Chicago Book Critics award of excellence for special trade books, pictorial


• Paperback edition of the popular guide to percussion through the ages and around the world


• Introduction to sounds, shapes, and histories of over 50 percussion instruments






"This is a book for the eyes, ears, and imagination..."

-The Orff Echo