Music & Musical Instruments - Overview
The Museum's music collections contain more than 5,000 instruments of American and European heritage. These include a quartet of 18th-century Stradivari stringed instruments, Tito Puente's autographed timbales, and the Yellow Cloud guitar that belonged to Prince, to name only a few. Several of these rare instruments can be heard in performances of the Smithsonian Chamber Players and in other public programs. Music collections also include jukeboxes and synthesizers, square-dancing outfits and sheet music, archival materials, oral histories, and recordings of performances at the Museum. The vast Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated Sheet Music is a remarkable window into the American past in words, music, and visual imagery. The Duke Ellington and Ruth Ellington Boatwright collections contain handwritten music compositions, sound recordings, business records, and other materials documenting the career of this renowned musician.
"Music & Musical Instruments - Overview" showing 77 items.
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Chet Atkin’s Haile Guitar
- Description (Brief)
- Hascal Haile of Tompkinsville, Kentucky made this guitar in 1972. Hascal "Hack" Haile (1906-1986) began making guitars professionally after retiring from furniture making in the late 1960s. He made guitars for many classical and country musicians and was considered to be among the world’s top makers of custom guitars. This six course (6x1) guitar has a top of Spanish pine, back and sides of Spanish cypress, and a maple neck. The guitar’s edge and soundhole is inlaid with abalone and ebony. Country musician, Chet Atkins previously owned and played this guitar and owned several Haile guitars throughout his career.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1972
- user
- Atkins, Chet
- maker
- Haile, Hascal B.
- ID Number
- 1980.0681.01
- accession number
- 1980.0681
- catalog number
- 1980.0681.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Benedetto Archtop Guitar
- Description (Brief)
- This guitar was made by Robert Benedetto in Homosassa Springs, Florida in 1978. Robert Benedetto was born in 1946 in The Bronx, New York into a family of artists, cabinet maker s and musicians. Benedetto made his first archtop guitar in 1968. His reputation grew as he crafted guitars for noted guitarists Bucky Pizzarelli, Chuck Wayne, Joe Diorio and Cal Collins. From 1999-2006, Benedetto had a licensing agreement with Fender Musical Instruments to produce his models in a small, controlled manufacturing environment. Following the agreement with Fender, Benedetto joined forces with jazz guitarist and corporate executive, Howard Paul, to manufacture a broad line of more affordable professional instruments without compromising the unparalleled Benedetto quality. In 1977 Benedetto met jazz guitarist, John “Bucky” Pizzarelli and made this 7-string archtop guitar, serial #1678, for him a year later. Pizzarelli played this guitar up until the time he donated it to the museum in 2005.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1978
- user
- Pizzarelli, John "Bucky"
- maker
- Benedetto, Robert
- ID Number
- 2006.0004.01
- accession number
- 2006.0004
- catalog number
- 2006.0004.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Suzuki Violin (1/4 size)
- Description (Brief)
- This violin was made by the Suzuki Violin Company Ltd. in Nagoya, Japan in 1978. The Suzuki Violin Co. in Nagoya made a line of violins specifically for export to Heinrich Roth in the United States, and applied a "RR #" to these instruments at the factory. The Scherl-Roth firm in Cleveland matched these violins with bows supplied by the Glasser Manufacturing Co. of Bronx, New York and thus provided the United States market with a line of pre-packaged instruments in a range of sizes that were appropriate for the small beginner to the mature player.
- The characteristics of Suzuki violins are varied through a range of targeted production quality. Usually the instruments are built on an outside mould, but the archings may either be pressed or carved into their final shape depending on the quality grade of the instrument. Originally the woods employed in production were from Japanese sources, but since 1960 have been imported from Germany. A scroll-carving machine invented by the founder, Masakichi Suzuki, as well as other cutting and shaping machines are utilized in the contemporary mass production process.
- This ¼ size student violin with ebony fittings has a plastic molded scroll and ear relief applied to the plain maple pegbox. Very plain spruce and maple have been used in this instrument with transparent reddish-orange varnish and inked representations of purfling.
- Description
- The Suzuki Violin Co. in Nagoya made a line of violins specifically for export to Heinrich Roth in the United States, and applied a "RR #" to these instruments at the factory. The Scherl-Roth firm in Cleveland matched these violins with bows supplied by the Glasser Manufacturing Co. of Bronx, New York and thus provide the United States market with a line of pre-packaged instruments in a range of sizes that were appropriate for the small beginner to the mature player.
- The characteristics of Suzuki violins are varied through a range of targeted production quality. Usually the instruments are built on an outside mould, but the archings may either be pressed or carved into their final shape depending on the quality grade of the instrument. Originally the woods employed in production were from Japanese sources, but since 1960 have been imported from Germany. A scroll-carving machine invented by the founder, Masakichi Suzuki, as well as other cutting and shaping machines are utilized in the contemporary mass production process.
- In addition to violins a complete line of pernambuco bows have been manufactured by the Suzuki Co., with a total output of more than one million bows. In 1989 the highest quality, hand-crafted Suzuki line of violin was listed at a purchase price of about $7700 while the least expensive, mass production model sold for about $300. Similarly a gold mounted, tortoise shell Suzuki bow listed at about $3800 while the least expensive bow, brazilwood with plastic frog, was about $100.
- This Nagoya Suzuki violin, adjusted and distributed by Scherl & Roth, was acquired in its original Japanese-made, shaped case with yellow fabric interior from the violin shop of Albert Moglie in Washington DC in 1987.
- Two of the identifying trademarks of the Nagoya Suzuki factory are a symmetrical design using three "S" letters in a stylized rosette (incorporated in 1958) and the same "S" design within an outline of a violin bridge (incorporated in 1962).
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1978
- maker
- Suzuki Violin Co., Ltd.
- ID Number
- 1987.0583.05
- catalog number
- 1987.0583.05
- accession number
- 1987.0583
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Suzuki Violin (3/4 size)
- Description (Brief)
- This violin was made by the Kiso Suzuki Violin Company Ltd. in Fukushima, Kiso, Japan in 1973. The earliest makers of violins in Japan were Sadajiro Matunaga and Masakichi Suzuki (b.1859–d.1944). Both were trained as shamisen makers and began making violins based on instruments brought to Japan toward the end of the 19th century from Western sources, using Japanese pine and maple and sometimes sycamore. In 1880, proceeding with a Westernization policy, the Japanese government had instituted teacher training programs for lessons in piano, organ, and violin.
- Masakichi Suzuki established the Suzuki violin manufacturing firm in Nagoya in 1887, adding guitars and mandolins to the firm's production in 1903. The firm received an award at the Japan-British Exhibition in London in 1910, and Masakichi was further cited in 1917 by the Japanese government with a Medal of Honor for his accomplishments in the violin industry. At this time his company was producing thousands of violins each year.
- The “S” logo is employed in the label of this ¾ violin with semi-transparent, dark reddish-brown varnish and ink representation of purfling. The fittings are of dark hardwood, with the fingerboard also stained black to give the appearance of ebony. The spruce and maple are probably local Japanese woods, with interior linings and blocks of a light material similar to basswood.
- Description
- The earliest makers of violins in Japan were Sadajiro Matunaga and Masakichi Suzuki (b.1859–d.1944). Both were trained as shamisen makers and began making violins based on instruments brought to Japan toward the end of the 19th century from Western sources, using Japanese pine and maple and sometimes sycamore. In 1880, proceeding with a Westernization policy, the Japanese government had instituted teacher training programs for lessons in piano, organ, and violin.
- Masakichi Suzuki established the Suzuki violin manufacturing firm in Nagoya in 1887, adding guitars and mandolins to the firm's production in 1903. The firm received an award at the Japan-British Exhibition in London in 1910, and Masakichi was further cited in 1917 by the Japanese government with a Medal of Honor for his accomplishments in the violin industry. At this time his company was producing thousands of violins each year.
- Masakichi Suzuki had nine sons and two daughters. Two of these sons, Kikuo and Shiro established a second factory just after World War II in the city of Fukushima in the region of Kiso, Japan. Another son, Shinichi, founded the Suzuki method of violin teaching.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1973
- maker
- Suzuki Violin Co., Ltd.
- ID Number
- 1987.0583.06
- catalog number
- 1987.0583.06
- accession number
- 1987.0583
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Bellini "Lord Wilton" Violin
- Description (Brief)
- This violin was made by Luiz Bellini of Jackson Heights, New York in 1973. Bellini was born in Brazil in 1935. He first trained as a wood worker and later by a local violin maker. In order to advance his violin making skills, Bellini was encouraged to come to New York City in 1960. He trained with Simone Sacconi for two years and later became an American citizen.
- This violin is a replica of the "Lord Wilton" violin made Guarneri del Gesu in 1742. The original “Lord Wilton” was owned and played by virtuoso violinist Yehudi Menuhin. This vioin is made of a two-piece table of spruce, one-piece back of maple, ribs of similar maple, an original maple neck, and a semi-transparent golden orange-brown varnish.
- Date made
- 1967
- date made
- 1973
- maker
- Bellini, Luiz
- ID Number
- 2002.0330.01
- accession number
- 2002.0330
- catalog number
- 2002.0330.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Roscoe Holcomb
- Description
- Roscoe Holcomb (1911-1981) embodied the "high, lonesome sound" of traditional Appalachian songs. A banjo player and singer, he spent most of his life in the small town of Daisy, Kentucky, working for a living with no aspirations to become a star. Smithsonian folklorist John Cohen recorded Holcomb at home in 1959. That recording led to performances at bluegrass festivals and an international tour with the Stanley Brothers.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- 1972
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.028
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.028
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Gatemouth Brown
- Description
- Talented on many instruments--guitar, fiddle, harmonica, drums--Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown (1924-2005) was one of the most versatile musicians of his time. Defying easy categorization, Gatemouth said he just wanted to play American music "Texas-style."
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- 1976
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.003
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.003
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Harmonica Frank Floyd
- Description
- Photographed backstage, "Harmonica" Frank Floyd (1908-1984) was an entertainer for the better part of the 20th century. After running away from home at age twelve, he began playing harmonica in carnivals and medicine shows. His repertoire included jokes, tricks, songs, and stories.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- 1973
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.006
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.006
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Stonewall Jackson
- Description
- Named after his Civil War ancestor, Stonewall Jackson (b. 1932) began performing professionally in the 1950s. Thanks to tour with Ernest Tubb, Jackson had a string of hits from the late 1950s to the mid-1960s.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- 1972
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.008
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.008
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Loretta Lynn
- Description
- Loretta Lynn is a classic country singer whose life--from her autobiography, Coal Miner's Daughter--is a well-known story. She was one of the first stars to sing with a feminist point of view. Her songs, like "Don't Come Home a-Drinkin' (with Lovin' on Your Mind)" and "The Pill," broke new ground in country music. Lynn (b. 1935) and Conway Twitty were named Vocal Duo of the Year by the Country Music Association for years in a row in the early 1970s.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- 1971
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.011
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.011
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center