I had been reading a lot about The Musical Instrument Museum in the paper ever since it opened up this past April. Since it is still pretty hot outside, I decided to have another Artist Date in an air conditioned venue. All I can say is WOW! This museum will not disappoint. This was also a great Artist Date to go on alone since you are given a wireless headset to wear throughout the museum. As you approach different displays, you can hear the instruments being played, either solo or as an ensemble. Video playing on high-resolution flat screens gives you an opportunity to see instruments being performed.
The museum includes instruments from around two hundred countries and territories in the world. Some larger countries such as India, China, Russia, the United States, Congo, and others have multiple displays with subsections for different types of ethnic, folk, and tribal music. The instruments have both historic and artistic merit and many are more than fifty years old.
The Orientation Gallery showcases the artistry, diversity, and movement of musical instruments from around the world. The upright Steinway piano on which John Lennon composed his anthem Imagine in 1971 is on display.
The museum offers a unique hands-on Experience Gallery where guests of all ages are invited to touch and play exotic instruments from cultures around the world. Here you can pretend you are a Japanese taiko drummer.
Music is something all humans share, a source of beauty and comfort in our daily lives, a means to give voice to our joy in times of celebration and a powerful force that brings us all together. Music is the lifelong friend that we all have in common. The Musical Instrument Museum celebrates music as all of these things—a sustaining human gift and wellspring of global culture.
Music is the language of the Soul, and I could not have picked a better place to go to than this magical and enchanting place to help me journey to my creative heart center.
Develope interests in life as you see it;
in people, things, literature, music -
the world is so rich, simply throbbing
with rich treasures, beautiful souls
and interesting people. Forget yourself.
HENRY MILLER
