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Metropolitan Museum of Art - Instrument catalogs online
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zynthetix



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PostPosted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 7:12 pm    Post subject: Metropolitan Museum of Art - Instrument catalogs online
Subject description: View the instrument collection of one of the largest museums in the world from the Internet
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art has put it's catalog of instruments online to be accessed by the general public.

There are over 800 instruments in their database, available here:
http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/collection_database/listview.aspx?page=1&sort=0&sortdir=asc&keyword=&fp=1&dd1=18&dd2=0&vw=1

As an appeal to the online community, they announced this via their Twitter feed some days ago:
http://twitter.com/metmuseum

And last, but not least, here is a link to their main musical instruments department:
http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/department.asp?dep=18&vW=1


I went to check out the department in person today since I live several avenues from the museum. The brevity of this collection is amazing. While actually reading through the descriptions and examining each instrument in particular, I only made it through one hall of the collection across my two hour visit. I'll have to go back again in an upcoming weekend to take it all in.

Some of the items on display are models from time-periods that musicians such as Beethoven and Haydn owned themselves. Pictured is one such piano.

Definitely check out their collection online. It is not only a great way to see the evolution of our common instruments and musical systems, but also the unique and beautifully crafted instruments you may not otherwise be exposed to. If you are ever in the New York metropolitan area, I highly recommend visiting this exhibit as well. You will be able to see the evolution of various instruments across several hundred years take place in front of you.


DSCF3659.jpg
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Erard piano, the same maker as those used by Beethoven and Haydn. http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/collection_database/musical_instruments/erard_et_cie/objectview.aspx?page=1&sort=0&sortdir=asc&keyword=piano&fp=1&dd1=18&dd2=0&
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DSCF3659.jpg


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Wout Blommers



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PostPosted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 11:05 pm    Post subject: Re: Metropolitan Museum of Art - Instrument catalogs online
Subject description: View the instrument collection of one of the largest museums in the world from the Internet
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zynthetix wrote:
... I went to check out the department in person today since I live several avenues from the museum. ...
Oh! Shame on you! You never went before? Wink

Once members of this community held a meeting in the Dutch collection of musical instruments, see http://nm-archives.electro-music.com/010_NordModular/014_Interesting_Threads/Folder/NMD2001/NMDay2001.htm

Attached a Erard piano once belonged to Napoleon's sister in law (first Dutch Queen) now in possession to the Dutch Royal family. Special to this instrument, although build around 1800, it is almost as goo as new, because only a few ever played it... (Well, I thought I saw Dave Peck plinking it sneaky)
Noteworthy is the pedels are left-right mirrored in compared to taday, so many now-a-days pianist would play it 'legs-crossed'!


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seraph
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

I should consider buying a Seraphine Exclamation
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Wout Blommers



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PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

seraph wrote:
I should consider buying a Seraphine Exclamation
Or do you mean a painting of the French painter? Wink

Wout
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seraph
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 5:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Wout Blommers wrote:
Or do you mean a painting of the French painter? Wink


nah, I should go for the keyboard Cool

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zynthetix



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PostPosted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:01 pm    Post subject: Re: Metropolitan Museum of Art - Instrument catalogs online
Subject description: View the instrument collection of one of the largest museums in the world from the Internet
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Wout Blommers wrote:
zynthetix wrote:
... I went to check out the department in person today since I live several avenues from the museum. ...
Oh! Shame on you! You never went before? Wink


Actually, I've been there 9 times so far in the past year Very Happy

I've been taking advantage of the fact that I live a short bus ride from it. Each day I go, I only do one section though... e.g. only Rome or Modern Art.

The music section is going to take me far longer though. I want to look at each instrument very closely. I read all the text. Then I think about the year it was made and examine others from nearby time periods for functional differences, country of origin, etc.

I think I saw the serafine keyboard. Some of the lights were out in that room, I want to go back to examine the one side again.

This one was really neat and well crafted:

http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/collection_database/musical_instruments/jean_goermans/objectview.aspx?page=2&sort=0&sortdir=asc&keyword=keyboard&fp=1&dd1=18&dd2=0&vw=1&collID=18&oID=180015707&vT=1

It's a harpsichord that was converted to a piano after the harpsichord went out of style! In this time period, the craft that went into the instrument made it far too expensive to throw away... I like this type of hacking.
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