EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY COLLECTION OF HISTORIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

PROGRESS REPORT 1983

In the last year, the University has been given instruments by Mrs B. Swales, H. Cameron and Mrs J. Rasch. The latter gift includes the cello and the bassoon played by her father, Lyndesay Langwill. Several individuals have lent items, including Dr P.R. Cooke who has lent his extensive collection of Ugandan instruments.

Two clarinets have been purchased from Mrs D. Whewell. The most important acquisition has been the purchase of the Glen Collection of wind, string and percussion instruments from Mrs V.M. Elliot-Ross (widow of the late Andrew J. Ross) and the Ross Collection of percussion instruments from David Ross (son of the late Andrew J. Ross). These instruments had previously been on loan to the collection. The bagpipes belonging to Mrs Ross have been purchased by the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland, but remain on loan to the Collection. The funds for the University's purchase of the Glen and Ross Collection have been provided by the Government's Local Museums Purchase Fund and the University of Edinburgh General Council Trust.

The initial phase of cataloguing the Collection has been completed by the publication of the last of the series of check-lists. The Collection was given one of the "Scottish Museum of the Year" awards for its publications: the award money was used for the purchase of instruments from Mrs Whewell.

A new storage area for the Collection has been built and furnished as part of the University's programme of minor works.

Equipment for the mounting of exhibitions in the main gallery of the Collection has been provided with grant-aid from the Council of Museums and Galleries in Scotland. These facilities were used for the first major exhibition to be mounted by the Collection, The Proud Bassoon. This exhibition, mounted in collaboration with Mr William Waterhouse, former part of the Edinburgh International Festival 1983. Associated with this were a recital and the publication of an illustrated catalogue.

The Collection contributed to the University's 400th Anniversary celebrations with extra periods of opening and a series of conducted tours.

The Collection has been used for teaching purposes by the University of Edinburgh and the Open University, and for research by a number of visitors. Instruments from the Collection have been used for several concerts and stage publications, including one by Scottish Opera.

A record number of visitors have seen the Collection, largely at the time of the Festival Exhibition. A formal visit was made by The Galpin Society, and individual visits have been made by organologists from Holland, Germany, Japan, the United States and other countries.

Arnold Myers, 17th December 1983

[ Report for 1984 ] [ Report for 1982 ]