The cataloguing programme continued to advance: one further fascicle of descriptive text was published, by Darryl Martin covering Lutes, Citterns and Guitars. In addition to the printed edition, it was also published electronically. Further pictures of Collection instruments have been added to the Collection's website
bringing the total number of images freely available to 209 pictures (of 205 instruments).
Two further technical drawing has been published, of one of the french horns by John Christopher Hofmaster, prepared by Raymond Parks, and the small Iberian guitar (1740-1750), prepared by Darryl Martin. These bring the total number of instrument workshop drawings on sale to 45.
EUCHMI published the book, Making a Natural Trumpet: an Illustrated Workshop Guide by Richard Seraphinoff, Raymond Parks, and Robert Barclay; also a booklet, John Donaldson and the Reid Concert Hall by Raymond Parks.
EUCHMI has published its first recording on CD, Plucked Instruments in the Edinburgh University Collection played by Rob MacKillop. These recordings using instruments from the Collection show off a lute and three guitars. The recording session had been supported by a grant from the University of Edinburgh Collections Committee and the project was managed by Darryl Martin.
A kiosk-mode computer has been installed in the Reid Concert Hall Museum of Instruments providing further information about 47 instruments in the Collection and video clips of them being played. The demonstrations are given by 19 historical instrument specialists. The Collection's website gives a sample of these. The kiosk and the website were designed and edited by Arnold Myers and the kiosk interface was created and implemented by the Edinburgh University Library Systems development team.
A conference in Oxford, London and Edinburgh on musical instruments was held in conjunction with the Galpin Society, the American Musical Instrument Society and CIMCIM. The conference was attended by 152 participants from 20 countres: Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Uganda, UK, and the USA. Several delegates, especially those from overseas, took the opportunity to study instruments in the two Edinburgh University collections in detail. 45 papers were given in the GS/AMIS sessions and 6 presentations were given in the CIMCIM session.
The Director/Curator represented the University at the meeting and conference of CIMCIM (the International Committee of Musical Instrument Museums and Collections) in London.
The Collection has been used for teaching purposes by University Staff, in particular for courses in the Faculty of Music on Organology, Ethnomusicology and Musical Acoustics. Several parties made organised visits, and various scholars and instrument makers have visited to study particular instruments. An increasing number of enquiries were answered, many by e-mail.
In June the Collection was awarded the status of Fully Registered Museum (Phase 2) by Re:Source (the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries) in recognition of long-term commitment to good practice. Additionally the Collection was commended for "its activities in developing new and innovative interpretation facilities such as Sound Lab".
Items were lent for exhibitions in Paris (Inde du Nord: Glorie Des Princes) and Edinburgh (Object Lessons at the Talbot Rice Gallery, Eden's Orchestra at the Royal Botanic Garden, and Keeping the Score in the University Library).
Condition monitoring of 492 instruments and 347 cases in storage was carried out and the instruments were re-packed.
The Collection's slide library was reorganised. This work was carried out by Emily Peppers.
The entrance to the Museum of Instruments at the Reid Concert Hall has been remodelled to improve access and facilities for the disabled.
Further information about the activities of EUCHMI can be found on the website:
Arnold Myers, Director and Curator, 31st December 2003
[ Report for 2004 ] [ Report for 2002 ]
© Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, 2003.
This article was re-published on 23 December 2022