An 8-key flute by Renton, Edinburgh, 1817, was purchased with funds from the Thomson-Dunlop Bequest. In the course of the year, the Collection was given instruments and other items by Charles Kennedy (a Heckelphone and a bass clarinet), Nophachai Cholthitchanta (an SK model clarinet), the National Museums of Scotland, and Bernard Emery.
An 809-page printed catalogue of the Sir Nicholas Shackleton Collection was published. The text was written by Heike Fricke and other authors, the extensive photography was undertaken by Raymond Parks, and the publication was edited by Arnold Myers. A Guide to St Cecilia's Hall Museum of Instruments giving concise descriptions of early keyboard instruments was compiled by Sheila Barnes and published by the Friends of St Cecilia's Hall and Museum.
A centenary memorial volume celebrating the contribution of Professor Sidney Newman (1906-1971) to the University edited by Anne Stirling-Whyte was published in conjunction with the Friends of St Cecilia's Hall.
On August 9th the Chancellor of the University, HRH Prince Philip, visited St Cecilia's Hall Museum of Instruments and was given a guided tour of the early keyboard instrument galleries.
The woodwind instruments of the Sir Nicholas Shackleton Collection were packed in bespoke boxes; this was organised by Emily Peppers. Melanie Piddocke commenced a project to organise the archival documents in the Sir Nicholas Shackleton Collection.
In June 2007 an exhibition curated by Heike Fricke at the Reid Concert Hall showing some of the treasures of the Sir Nicholas Shackleton Collection was opened by the Principal.
A Clarinet & Woodwind Colloquium (Celebrating the Collection of Sir Nicholas Shackleton) was successfully held at the Reid Concert Hall. 33 papers were presented and the meeting attracted an attendance from 12 countries.
SMC funded a pilot education project involving Edinburgh schools, this was carried out by Emily Peppers and Eugenia Mitroulia. A bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund to develop education work in EUCHMI was successfully made: the case for HLF funding was prepared by Jacky MacBeath.
The "Doors Open Day" on September 29th was very successful in both Museums, with visitors welcomed by the Friends and by a team of organology and other students.
A series of wall panels illustrating the mechanisms and social history of keyboard instruments, drafted by John Raymond, were mounted in the Newman Gallery at St Cecilia's Hall. A series of large print guides providing interpretation for both galleries at the Reid Concert Hall were produced by Emily Peppers and Eugenia Mitroulia with the support of a grant from the University of Edinburgh Collections Committee. An improved security regime at St Cecilia's Hall, including CCTV, together with enhanced interpretation and orientation, were installed with grant aid from the Scottish Museums Council.
John Raymond carried out all necessary maintenance, re-voicing and tuning of the playing early keyboard instruments used in concerts throughout the year.
Several members of staff were awarded East of Scotland Museums Training grants, allowing them to travel to professional meetings and on study trips. Eugenia Mitroulia and Arnold Myers presented a joint paper at the Historic Brass Society meeting in Paris. Arnold Myers presented a paper at the quinquennial meeting of the International Musicological Society in Zürich. Arnold Myers, Darryl Martin and Heike Fricke (and four doctoral students) gave papers at the American Musical Instrument Society conference at Yale University, New Haven. Arnold Myers presented a paper at the triennial International Congress on Acoustics in Madrid.
The Collection has been used for teaching purposes by University Staff, in particular for courses on Organology 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.
The international significance of the Collection was recognised by the Scottish Executive, EUCHMI being one of only ten Scottish museums awarded Recognition status in the first round of the Significance scheme. The successful case for Recognition status was prepared by Jacky MacBeath. Postgraduate student and EUCHMI volunteer, Eugenia Mitroulia, received the Terence Pamplin Organology award for 2006-2007 and Undergraduate student and EUCHMI volunteer, Eleanor Smith, received the first Pamela Weston award, allowing her to travel to undertake a research project. Arnold Myers received the Curt Sachs Award of the American Musical Instrument Society at a ceremony at Yale.
Further information about the activities of EUCHMI can be found on the website:
Arnold Myers, Director, 31st December 2007
[ Report for 2008 ] [ Report for 2006 ]
© Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, 2007.
This article was re-published on 23 December 2022