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by James Britt.
Original Post: The Musical Intruments Museum
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It’s fantastic. I had been there before, for a concert (and saw the amazing Fishtank Ensemble), but this was the first time I saw the exhibitions. The building is beautiful, the place is huge, and the content expansive.
When you buy your ticket you are given an audio device to wear around your neck or clip on your belt. Almost all of the exhibits have a flat-panel display (24” NEC monitors, I think) and as you approach your device tunes in to the audio for what’s playing. You’re then able to hear examples of practically all of what you see.
The exhibits are broken up by geography. I started out in Asia, made my way over to Eastern Europe, and the Middle East through Oceania, South America and Central America, then on to Africa. There’s a lot to see and hear. After about three hours of strolling around I finally got over to Europe and North America, and fatigue was setting in.
The problem was not so much physical but mental. When I started out I was keen to note the the details and differences in various flutes and lutes and gamelans. Midway through, the differences among assorted bowed things or bang-on-them things become less interesting; it took more effort to continue noting assorted regional nuances.
In retrospect, a better plan would be to split up the wandering, stopping for lunch at the museums cafe. The menu looks pretty interesting and changes weekly.
There’s also a terrific gift shop. Looking for that bass mbira or miniature theremin? Your quest is over.
Some nitpicks: After seeing how many different video clips they had for the hojillion instruments, I was surprised that none of them seem to be available for viewing on the museum Web site. It would be nice, after a vist, to be able to replay a video or look up some details.
The was a section for electronic instruments, but the A/V examples focused on using electronics to either replicate natural sounds and instruments, or to provide quirky variations on traditional music. I’d much prefer an emphasis on the use of electronic instruments used to make electronic sounds, used in ways that more conventional instruments fail. For example, how synthesizers have been used by Brian Eno or Allen Ravenstine. Worse, in the section on electronic keyboards, they had a video of Rick “I have no concept of taste or restraint” Wakeman. On the other hand, there was also a short clip of Nico. Go figure. And, much to the museum’s credit, they had a small section on Hip Hop, showing a set of Technics SL-1200 turntables as the instruments.
Go to this museum. Plan on a lot of walking and listening. It’s extremely well done and worth your attention.
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