Musical Instruments: Highlights Of The Metropolitan Museum Of Art

This insightful catalogue features more than one hundred extraordinary musical instruments from ancient cultures to the present, created by gifted artists from across the globe. The broad spectrum of works presented in this book ranges from Bronze Age cymbals and sistra and violins made by Stradivari to monumental slit drums from Oceania and iconic twentieth-century American guitars.

Whether created to entertain a royal court, provide personal solace, or aid in rites and rituals, these instruments demonstrate the universal resonance of musical expression and the ingenuity and skill of their makers. Stunning new photography and lively texts reveal these objects to be works of both musical and visual art, as well as marvels of technology and masterpieces of design. Depictions of…See More