With Daisy & Suzanne at the Musical Instrument Museum

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!

Daisy and Suzanne with the slot drums outside the entrance to MIM. I love those slot drums!

Suzanne and Denis checking out one of the first galleries.

A slide guitar from West Bengal, India.

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.

A gong-chime from Thailand

A whistling water vessel from Peru

A Swiss musical picture frame.

Prince used this custom-finished grand piano during the Jam of the Year Tour (1997-1998) following the release of his triple album Emancipation.

First Nations rattle from British Columbia, Canada

Venetian glass orchestra

Orchestra detail

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.

Balinese shadow puppet theater

Balinese shadow puppets

Daisy and Suzanne in the Experience Gallery where there are many instruments you can play.

Denis banging a gong. This one is my favorite, and I gave it several good whacks.

Time for a duet.

Lunch outside MIM in the Cafe Allegro.

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.

I hope you enjoyed your virtual visit!

Legendary Musical Instruments at MIM

 On December 8, Denis and I went to the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) to see the Treasures: Legendary Musical Instruments exhibit. The range of instruments showcased was incredible, and-- you know me-- I thought I'd share some of them with you.

Let's get started!

In the Target Gallery to see the Treasures: Legendary Musical Instruments exhibit.

"Zendegi" kamancheh, a bowed spike lute from Iran, 1750-1794. Made from mulberry, rosewood, apricot, and fufel woods with camel bone, silver, and fish skin.

This long, thin ceremonial trumpet may not look like much, but it's a salpinx made of bone and bronze and is about 2,300 years old. It may very well have been played at one of the original Olympic Games to introduce the athletes.

This Chinese paigu (goblet drum) is 6,000 years old and is the oldest instrument in MIM's collection.

A Mayan conch shell trumpet made from shell and cinnabar. It dates from 250-400 AD.

A sitār from northern India made in the early 1899s of wood, calabash, bone, and brass.

Sitār detail. The detail on some of these instruments simply blows me away.

The exhibit on Native American instruments.

An Apache fiddle from Arizona. Made in the early 1900s of agave plant, horsehair, and pigment.

A kelutviaq (bowed lute) made by the Yup'ik people of Alaska in the late 1800s of wood and pigment.

This pochette (pocket fiddle) was made in Paris, France, in 1671 of ebony, boxwood, and silver wire. It was a status symbol used by dance masters to teach dance steps to aristocrats and was made to fit in the master's large pocket.

A Kumu model ukulele made in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 2021. Koa wood, mahogany, ebony, mother-of-pearl, abalone, reconstituted stone, turquoise, onyx. The shimmering abalone shell framing the koa wood body symbolizes the ocean surrounding the islands, and the fingerboard inlays depict a coral reef complete with red kumu fish. This instrument is GORGEOUS.

Detail of ukulele fingerboard.

Khatam tonbak (goblet drum) from Iran made from mulberry and rosewood, animal skin, camel bone, and brass.

This Ottoman tanbur (plucked lute) was made in Turkey in the early to mid-1700s of wood, mother-of-pearl, tortoiseshell, gold leaf, and ivory.

Tanbur detail.

Tanbur detail. This tanbur and the ukulele were my two favorites in the exhibit. You should see how they both glow in the lighting!

Harp made by the Mangbetu people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1875-1900, of wood, fiber, brass tack, copper, and goatskin. The harp was a praise-singer's instrument, played to elevate the status claims of  important individuals.

A bell made by the Mangbetu people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was ceremonially sounded to accentuate a chief's speech or actions.

Now... if we could only hear all of these instruments being played!

Meanwhile, Back at MIM...

I just realized that I never finished our tour of the second floor of the Musical Instrument Museum, and I definitely have to get us caught up because Denis and I went back for a special exhibit so I have even more to show you.

This time, we'll be wandering through the Geographic Galleries pertaining to the USA and Europe. I've got my photos ready. Let's get started!

The first thing I saw when I walked through the door was the section for the Pacific Northwest. As you can see, there are many musical instruments and cultural items on display as well as video monitors where you can see and hear the instruments being played.

Here is the exhibit all set up for a pow wow. I had to stand there to watch and listen for awhile.

I've mentioned the Phoenix Indian School before when I've taken you on virtual tours of the Heard Museum. The school's band has an exhibit here at MIM.

An exhibit for Native American flutist R. Carlos Nakai.

A stage gown worn by Ella Fitzgerald in the 1960s.

True to my roots, I'll glare at anyone who says that the bagpipes are a horrible noise.

A beautiful lute guitar from England.

No exhibit on England would be complete without some Beatles memorabilia.

Costume (a kroj) from the Czech Republic.

Look at the detail!

A xorgan (barrel organ) from Ukraine.

A guitarra from Seville, Spain. Have I ever told you that I love flamenco music and dance?

A grand piano made for Tsar Nicholas I of Russia.

But I prefer the balalaika.

This has been a very abbreviated tour of the Geographic Galleries for the USA and Europe, but I think you can see that there are treasures to be found there, as there are all over this fabulous museum.