Denis and I had wanted to go back to the
Musical Instrument Museum (hereafter referred to as MIM), which is located 'way up in northeast Phoenix on Mayo Boulevard, but I'd been reluctant to do so. When we'd gone before, we still had our own wheels, and I was afraid that a trip of that distance on the Dial-a-Ride bus would rattle me around so much that I'd just want to find a hidden corner where I could sit and cry. (And I hate being a wuss.)
But I thought going was worth the risk because I thought our two nieces from England, Daisy and Suzanne, would really enjoy the place. I am so glad we went! Being a party of four with two of us on scooters meant that no one else was picked up and/or dropped off. We went straight to MIM on the freeway system, so no stop-and-go with mashing of gas pedal or slamming of brakes. Now that I know that, it means Denis and I will be able to go there more often. Yippee!
I'll shut up now and share some of the photos I took of our trip there. Come along on a virtual tour of MIM!
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Daisy and Suzanne with the slot drums outside the entrance to MIM. I love those slot drums!
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| Suzanne and Denis checking out one of the first galleries. |
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| A slide guitar from West Bengal, India. |
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Detail. I was appreciating the craftsmanship so much on many of the instruments that I took several closeups of details. Don't worry, I won't subject you to them.
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| A gong-chime from Thailand |
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| A whistling water vessel from Peru |
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| A Swiss musical picture frame. |
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| Prince
used this custom-finished grand piano during the Jam of the Year Tour
(1997-1998) following the release of his triple album Emancipation. |
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| First Nations rattle from British Columbia, Canada |
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| Venetian glass orchestra |
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| Orchestra detail |
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| Kukeri
costumes from Bulgaria. Costumed dancers adorned with jangling bells
went house to house to scare away evil spirits and bring good health and
harvest to the community. |
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| Balinese shadow puppet theater |
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| Balinese shadow puppets |
Daisy and Suzanne in the Experience Gallery where there are many instruments you can play.
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| Denis banging a gong. This one is my favorite, and I gave it several good whacks. |
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| Time for a duet. |
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| Lunch outside MIM in the Cafe Allegro. |
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My haul from the MIM gift shop. That elephant makes me smile. The round ball is an Indonesian rattle, and the basket is from South Africa.
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I hope you enjoyed your virtual visit!
Love it all.The guitar from India is amazing. And the Experience Room is great, where people can actually have hands on instruments. I'm sure a great time was had by all. I wish a museum like that was in NYC. Phoenix sure is a treasure trove. Glad you got some goodies to take home.
ReplyDeleteThat is one museum shop that I find impossible to stay out of.
DeleteI would also not be able to stay out of that museum. I am always amazed (happily) to learn about what people around the world can do to make music with whatever materials are available. If we read a study about instruments made worldwide for hundreds of years, we would learn about so many more. It is chilling.
DeleteI learn so much every time I visit.
DeleteWhat a wonderful place, Cathy! I absolutely love the painstaking detail on the instruments, and of course, I love music, so I know I'd be enthralled by a visit. Maybe someday. Anyway, those photos are wonderful, and I'm so glad you had a good visit. And extra glad the trip there was so much more pleasant than you'd feared.
ReplyDeleteThat was one of the best parts of the whole thing-- finding out that it was actually an easy drive to get there.
DeleteThere are some truly beautiful instruments in that museum. I'm so glad you got to go (and that it was such a good trip).
ReplyDeleteI think it would be impossible to see everything in that place. It's constantly growing.
DeleteWonderful tour. Thank you for it.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteWhat a wonderful trip! I would've been taking photos of details, too; the surround on that gong is gorgeous. And the Experience Gallery is *such* a good idea for this kind of museum.
ReplyDeleteIt's perfect-- and very popular!
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