This text investigates the historical development, construction, and usage of percussion instruments within European musical traditions from the medieval period through the Baroque era. James Blades, a renowned percussionist, and Jeremy Montagu, a curator and expert in musical instruments, synthesize organological research and historical performance practice to define the role of rhythm and timbre in early music. The authors argue that percussion instruments were integral to the sonic landscape of these periods, despite often being overlooked in traditional musicological texts.

Experts and musicologists frequently cite this work as a foundational reference for understanding the evolution of percussion in Western art music. Readers often note the technical precision of the prose and the authors' ability to bridge the gap between historical research and practical performance application.