Music is one of those universal languages that unites people, crossing the borders of time and cultures. The history of musical instruments is a kind of symphony of diversity and technical skill.
The collection of musical instruments of the Metropolitan Museum of Art includes about 5,000 exhibits found in different parts of the world. Starting with the oldest, dating back to the 3rd century BC, they reveal not only the sound and technical possibilities, but also the history of the cultures that created them.
The first items from this collection entered the museum almost immediately after its foundation. Many of them were given along with other antiquities donated by the eminent archaeologist Luigi Palme di Cesnola. Later, in 1885, Joseph Drexel donated 44 musical instruments to the museum, which became an important addition to the already existing exposition.
In 1941, the Metropolitan Museum of Art hired the outstanding Austrian scientist Emanuel Winternitz, who became an organizer of exhibitions and concerts, and also actively engaged in publications about the collection. Thanks to his activities, the public's attention to the collection increased, and its importance in the world of culture became recognized.
Today, these musical instruments can be seen in the halls of the museum, which create a unique atmospheric environment for immersion in the world of music.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection of musical instruments is a living history of musical art that continues to resonate in the hearts of millions of people around the world.
metmuseum.org
Source: metmuseum.org
