Music & Musical Instruments

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. 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. In various ways, our collections find expression in performances of the Smithsonian Chamber Players, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, and in other public programs.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1921
ID Number
1971.295669.843
catalog number
295669.843
accession number
295669
This electric piano was made by the Wurlitzer Company, in Dekalb, Illinois, likely around 1978. It is model 200A serial #129394L, and has 2 control knobs: volume and vibrato, plastic lid, vinyl-covered wood case, and 4 detachable chrome-plated tapered legs.
Description
This electric piano was made by the Wurlitzer Company, in Dekalb, Illinois, likely around 1978. It is model 200A serial #129394L, and has 2 control knobs: volume and vibrato, plastic lid, vinyl-covered wood case, and 4 detachable chrome-plated tapered legs. The "L" serial number designation indicates that this piano was manufactured in Wurlitzer's Logan, Utah plant. This model, 200A, continued in production into 1980.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1972-1973
date made
1974
1974-1978
maker
Wurlitzer Company
ID Number
1999.0148.01
serial number
129394L
model number
200A
accession number
1999.0148
catalog number
1999.0148.01

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