A further purchase of percussion instruments has been made from James Blades, OBE. These are examples from the percussionist's "kit" of former times. In addition, one of the most widely heard of all musical instruments, the Chinese tam-tam used by Dr Blades over many years for recording the introduction to J. Arthur Rank films, was presented to the Collection by James Blades.
The main activity has been the organisation of the exhibition Brass Roots: 150 years of Brass Bands in conjunction with the City of Bradford Art Galleries and Museums. The University's contribution has been most of the research and text origination; some of the planning and administration were also undertaken by the Honorary Curator. The exhibition has so far been shown in Bradford, Edinburgh and Llangollen. For the Edinburgh showing, a programme of gallery talks and two concerts were organised. Financial support for the Edinburgh showing was given by the Museums & Galleries Commission and the Hope Scott Trust.
The Honorary Curator represented the University at the CIMCIM (The ICOM Committee on Musical Instrument Museums) meeting in The Hague. He is a member of the Documentation Working Group of CIMCIM.
Plans for re-housing the Collection have progressed: building work was started on new premises immediately to the north of St Cecilia's Hall in Niddry Street. The plan to move to this new building has replaced the earlier plan to move the Collection to Morton House in Blackfriars Street.
The Scottish Museums Council's Antiquities Conservation Officer undertook work on one of the instruments in the Collection, the work being grant-aided by the Council.
The New Violin Octet was used for the first time in Edinburgh in a demonstration recital organised by Dr Christopher Field for the Galpin Society. The viola da gamba by Matthias and Augustinus Kaiser purchased last year was played by Alison Crum in a concert organised by the Faculty of Music in June.
Several brass instruments and drums have been lent in conjunction with the exhibition Brass Roots: 150 Years of Brass Bands which will be touring until the summer of 1990. A small number of violins were lent for an exhibition in Drymen organised by Stirling District Library Service.
The Collection has been used for teaching purposes by University Staff, in particular for courses in the Faculty of Music on the History of Instruments, Ethnomusicology and Musical Acoustics. Several parties, including the Galpin Society, have made organised visits, and various scholars and instrument makers have visited to study particular instruments.
Arnold Myers, 31st December 1989
[ Report for 1990 ] [ Report for 1988 ]
© Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, 1989.
This article was re-published on 23 December 2022