Early 19th century English Glasschord by Chappell & Sons. According to Wikipedia, the glasschord is a crystallphone that uses keyboard-driven hammers to strike glass bars instead of metal bars. photo: Yale School of Music — *Early 19th century English Glasschord by Chappell & Sons. According to Wikipedia, the glasschord* *is a crystallphone that uses keyboard-driven hammers* *to strike glass bars instead* *of metal bars.* *photo: Yale School of Music*

The Yale Collection of Musical Instruments was established in 1900, when Morris Steinert, an entrepreneurial figure who played an important role in shaping New Haven’s music scene, gave his private musical instrument collection to Yale, consisting primarily of keyboard instruments, seeding the Collection.

The acquisition of the Belle Skinner Collection (1960) and the Emil Herrmann Collection (1962) established the Yale Collection of Musical Instruments as one of the world’s most important such repositories. It was once called a “collection of superlatives” by an enthusiastic admirer of the Skinner Collection.

In 1961, the Collection was moved from its original location under the dome of Woolsey Hall to its present location in a Richardsonian Romanesque building at 15 Hillhouse Avenue, New Haven, CT.

The Growth of the Collection

Since 1970, the Collection has nearly tripled in size after acquiring the Robyna Neilson Ketchum Collection of bells (1972) and the Andrew F. Petryn Collection of string instruments and bows (2013).

Today, the Collection is comprised of nearly 1,000 instruments and focuses on western European and North American art-music traditions, yet its holdings from musical cultures all over the world, including Asia, Africa, and Latin America, are continually growing. Many of the instruments in the Collection have been restored and are maintained in playing condition, allowing for their use in performances, demonstrations, and lectures, and on tour.

Early English and Irish settlers introduced rhythm bones into North America. They were used primarily as an accompaniment to jigs and reels to keep the beat steady by duplicating the rhythm of the music. Rhythm bones gradually became associated with the music of African-Americans, and grew to be a cornerstone of the music of blackface minstrel shows, which were hugely successful and popularized the bones during the Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries. In this image: American 19th century minstrel bones circa 1860, maker unknown, engraved. photo: Yale School of Music — *Early English and Irish settlers introduced rhythm bones into North America. They were used primarily as an accompaniment to jigs and reels to keep the beat steady by* *duplicating the rhythm of the music. Rhythm bones gradually became associated with* the music of African-Americans, and grew to be a cornerstone of the music of blackface minstrel shows, which were hugely successful and popularized the bones during the Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries. In this image: American 19th century *minstrel bones circa 1860, maker unknown, engraved. photo: Yale School of Music*

Stringed Instruments

A ca. 1865 Zogbaum & Fairchild American guitar. The makers were active in New York City Ferdinand Zogbaum and Rufus Fairchild established their manufacturing and importing company in Charleston, South Carolina in 1845. By 1853, Zogbaum & Fairchild had relocated to No. 10 Maiden Lane in New York City and continued to manufacture guitars through the 1870s. — *A ca. 1865 Zogbaum & Fairchild American guitar. The makers were active* *in New York City Ferdinand Zogbaum* *and Rufus Fairchild established their* *manufacturing and importing company* *in Charleston, South Carolina in 1845.* *By 1853, Zogbaum & Fairchild had*
*relocated to No. 10 Maiden Lane in*
*New York City and continued to*
*manufacture guitars through the 1870s*.

The art of the luthier is showcased in the Collection’s selection of string instruments from the Italian, German, French, and English schools of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. Many of the violin family instruments in the Collection are in playing condition, as are some of the viols and plucked-string instruments. Some highlights of the string instrument collection include violins by Nicolò Amati, Andrea Guarneri, Antonio Stradivari, and Jakob Steiner, a viola by Lorenzo Storioni, a viola d’amore by Joseph Gagliano, viols by Pietro Guarneri of Mantua and Richard Meares, a lute by Sebastian Schelle, and guitars by Joachim Tielke and Antonio de Torres.

Wind Instruments

Bugle in G made in the early 19th century. During the War of 1812, there was a variety of shapes and sizes of the bugle. Typical shapes included the coiled, half-moon, and the elongated coil similar to the one shown. During the war, the bugle was included in the major U.S. military music ensembles. photo: Yale School of Music — *Bugle in G made in the early 19th century. During the War of 1812, there was a variety of shapes and sizes of the bugle. Typical shapes included the coiled,* *half-moon, and the* *elongated coil similar to the one shown. During* *the war, the bugle*
*was included in the* *major U.S. military* *music ensembles.*
*photo: Yale School of Music*

The Collection’s holdings also include many 19th-century American wind instruments, in addition to a core collection of instruments built by important 18th and 19th-century European makers. Highlights include a Deutsche schalmei by Richard Haka, oboes by Jacob Denner, Johann Ferdinand Floth, and Guillaume Triébert, cors anglais by Henri Brod and Guillaume Triébert, flageolets by William Bainbridge, and Firth, Pond & Co., flutes by Thomas Cahusac, Sr., Thomas Stanesby, Jr., and Asa Hopkins, clarinets by Martin Frères and Johann Tobias Uhlmann, bassoons by William Milhouse, and Martin Lempp, a natural trumpet by Michael Sauerle, Sr., a circular cornet by Graves & Co., and a serpent by D’Almaine & Co.

Percussion Instruments

In the percussion section, the Collection features more than 180 bells, gongs, clappers, temple blocks, and rattles from around the world. The Collection is also home to late-18th century military drums from France and the United States, a West African kalangu (a double-headed hourglass drum), a Chinese hua gu (“flower drum”), a set of mid-19th century American minstrel bones, and an English town crier’s bell.

The Collection also includes instruments from the indigenous cultures of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and aims to increase its holdings by acquiring more instruments from various cultures.

When You Go

Gallery tours and class presentations are offered to University and non-University groups interested in the history, design, construction, and preservation of musical instruments, although the Museum is currently closed due to CIVID-19.
A typical tour visits the museum’s three galleries and focuses on select instruments. Staff members place the instruments in a historical context and discuss their roles in the cultural life of the period. Specialized tours that focus on distinct groups or families of instruments may be arranged.

To learn more about the collection, upcoming programs, and to schedule a tour visit https://music.yale.edu.

Great Collections

Great Collections: The Yale Collection of Musical Instruments

The Growth of the Collection

Stringed Instruments

Wind Instruments

Percussion Instruments

When You Go

Categories of Interest

©2024 The Journal of Antiques and Collectibles

The Growth of the Collection

Stringed Instruments

Wind Instruments

Percussion Instruments

When You Go

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Categories of Interest

©2024 The Journal of Antiques and Collectibles