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
1988
referenced
Brown, Nappy
Chicago Bob
Coleman, Gary B. B.
ID Number
1989.0382.06
catalog number
1989.0382.06
accession number
1989.0382
This sheet music for the song "At an Ole Virginia Wedding" was written and composed by Maurice J. Steinberg. The music was originally published by T. B. Harms and Co.
Description
This sheet music for the song "At an Ole Virginia Wedding" was written and composed by Maurice J. Steinberg. The music was originally published by T. B. Harms and Co. of New York, New York in 1900 and as a Musical Supplement to the “Philadelphia Press on Sunday, September 9, 1900. The cover portrays an African American wedding ceremony. The colorful image depicts a bride and groom with stereotyped features. The background shows the guests dancing and talking while a band plays in the top right corner of the picture.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1900
distributor
Philadelphia Press
composer; lyricist
Maurice J. Steinberg & Co.
publisher
T. B. Harms & Co.
ID Number
1982.0440.21
accession number
1982.0440
catalog number
1982.0440.21
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1848
referenced
Lee, Mrs. Gideon
original artist
Mount, William Sidney
publisher
Goupil, Vibert & Co.
E. Gambart & Co.
ID Number
GA.20990
catalog number
20990
accession number
233536
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1849
referenced
Leupp, Charles M.
original artist
Mount, William Sidney
publisher
Goupil, Vibert & Co.
printer
Lemercier & Cie
publisher
E. Gambart & Co.
lithographer
Noel, Alphonse Leon
ID Number
GA.06461
catalog number
06461
accession number
70138
This sheet music is for the song, “Little Alabama Coon,” with words and music by Hattie Starr. It was published by Willie Woodward and Co. in New York, New York in 1893. The cover features an inset image of actress Miss Franke M.
Description

This sheet music is for the song, “Little Alabama Coon,” with words and music by Hattie Starr. It was published by Willie Woodward and Co. in New York, New York in 1893. The cover features an inset image of actress Miss Franke M. Raymond.

“Little Alabama Coon” was featured in David Henderson’s American Extravaganza production of Aladdin, Jr.

Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1893
publisher
Willis Woodward & Co.
ID Number
1988.0693.03
accession number
1988.0693
catalog number
1988.0693.03
This sheet music is for the song, “Roll Them Roly Boly Eyes,” with words and music by Eddie Leonard. It was published by Harry Von Tilzer Music Publishing Co. in New York, New York in 1912.
Description
This sheet music is for the song, “Roll Them Roly Boly Eyes,” with words and music by Eddie Leonard. It was published by Harry Von Tilzer Music Publishing Co. in New York, New York in 1912. There is an image of American vaudevillian Eddie Leonard (1870-1941) on the cover.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1912
publisher
Harry Von Tilzer Music Publishing Co.
ID Number
1988.0538.14
accession number
1988.0538
catalog number
1988.0538.14
This sheet music is for the song “Deep River,” adapted from an 1870s African American Spiritual. It was published by Larrabee Publications in New York, New York, in 1964.Currently not on view
Description
This sheet music is for the song “Deep River,” adapted from an 1870s African American Spiritual. It was published by Larrabee Publications in New York, New York, in 1964.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1964
publisher
Larrabee Publications
Larrabee Publications
ID Number
1983.0830.09
accession number
1983.0830
catalog number
1983.0830.09
This sheet music is for the song “Mammy’s Little Coal Black Rose,” with lyrics by Raymond Egan and music by Richard A. Witting. It was published by Jerome H. Remick Company of New York and Detroit in 1916.
Description
This sheet music is for the song “Mammy’s Little Coal Black Rose,” with lyrics by Raymond Egan and music by Richard A. Witting. It was published by Jerome H. Remick Company of New York and Detroit in 1916. There is an image of American singer, comedian, and actor Al Jolson (1886-1950) on the cover.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1916
depicted (sitter)
Jolson, Al
publisher
Jerome H. Remick & Co.
ID Number
1984.0458.14
accession number
1984.0458
catalog number
1984.0458.14
This sheet music is for the song, “Massa’s in de Cold Ground,” by Stephen C. Foster. It was published by Firth, Pond & Co. in New York, New York in 1853. Indicated on the cover, “As sung by Christy’s Minstrels.”Currently not on view
Description
This sheet music is for the song, “Massa’s in de Cold Ground,” by Stephen C. Foster. It was published by Firth, Pond & Co. in New York, New York in 1853. Indicated on the cover, “As sung by Christy’s Minstrels.”
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1853
publisher
Firth, Pond & Co.
ID Number
1986.0513.02
accession number
1986.0513
catalog number
1986.0513.02
This sheet music is for the song “Underground Rail Car or Song of the Fugitive,” by George N. Allen. It was published by S. Brainard and Company in Cleveland, Ohio in 1854.Currently not on view
Description
This sheet music is for the song “Underground Rail Car or Song of the Fugitive,” by George N. Allen. It was published by S. Brainard and Company in Cleveland, Ohio in 1854.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1854
composer
Allen, George N.
publisher
S. Brainard and Co.
ID Number
1986.0370.08
accession number
1986.0370
catalog number
1986.0370.08
This sheet music is for the song “Virginia Rose Bud” as part of a collection of “Ethiopian Melodies.” The music was published by E. Ferrett & Company of Philadelphia in the middle of the 19th century.
Description
This sheet music is for the song “Virginia Rose Bud” as part of a collection of “Ethiopian Melodies.” The music was published by E. Ferrett & Company of Philadelphia in the middle of the 19th century. Ethiopian melodies were songs that were part of the culture surrounding the blackface performances in minstrel shows that were popular at this time.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1983.0227.07
accession number
1983.0227
catalog number
1983.0227.07
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Falk, Sam
ID Number
PG.69.99.014
catalog number
69.99.014
accession number
281224
This bust of American composer and saxophonist Charles "Charlie" Parker, Jr. (1920 - 1955) was made by Ed Dwight in Denver, Colorado in 1990.
Description (Brief)

This bust of American composer and saxophonist Charles "Charlie" Parker, Jr. (1920 - 1955) was made by Ed Dwight in Denver, Colorado in 1990. Made of cast bronze, the sculpture depicts Parker’s head, neck and hands, playing a saxophone, on a base of saxophones and a stylized keyboard.

Ed Dwight began his career as a graduate engineer, was a former United States Air Force test pilot who became the first African American to be trained as an astronaut in 1962. Following a career in real estate, computer systems engineering, and consulting, Dwight pursued art and received a Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Denver in 1977. Dwight’s works include fine art sculpture, large-scale memorials and public art projects.

Location
Currently not on view
date made
1990
depicted
Parker, Charlie
maker
Dwight, Ed
ID Number
1993.0032.02
catalog number
1993.0032.02
accession number
1993.0032
This bust of American jazz trumpeter and vocalist Louis Armstrong (1901 - 1971) was made by Ed Dwight in Denver, Colorado in 1990.
Description (Brief)

This bust of American jazz trumpeter and vocalist Louis Armstrong (1901 - 1971) was made by Ed Dwight in Denver, Colorado in 1990. Made of cast bronze, the sculpture depicts Armstrong’s torso and hands, playing a trumpet with handkerchief in left hand, on a stone base.

Ed Dwight began his career as a graduate engineer, was a former United States Air Force test pilot who became the first African American to be trained as an astronaut in 1962. Following a career in real estate, computer systems engineering, and consulting, Dwight pursued art and received a Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Denver in 1977. Dwight’s works include fine art sculpture, large-scale memorials and public art projects.

Location
Currently not on view
date made
1990
depicted
Armstrong, Louis
maker
Dwight, Ed
ID Number
1994.0400.02
catalog number
1994.0400.02
accession number
1994.0400
This electric-acoustic guitar was made for Sears around 1962 by companies like Danelectro and Harmony.
Description

This electric-acoustic guitar was made for Sears around 1962 by companies like Danelectro and Harmony. Silvertone guitars were popular because of their solid construction and inexpensive pricing.

This guitar was owned and played by Jesse Fuller (1896-1976), a one-man-band folk and blues singer from the San Francisco Bay area who accompanied his guitar-playing with singing, harmonica, percussion, and a foot-operated bass instrument called a fotdella. Fuller played guitar as a child but didn’t become a professional musician until the early 1950s. As a songwriter, Fuller is best known for his songs, “San Francisco Bay Blues” and “Beat It on Down the Line.”

Jesse Fuller purchased this Silvertone guitar in 1962, from a Detroit Sears, after his original Maurer guitar was stolen and he needed another guitar to be able to make his playing engagement that evening.

date made
ca 1962
user
Fuller, Jesse
ID Number
1994.0053.01
accession number
1994.0053
catalog number
1994.0053.01
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1988
depicted (sitter)
Jackson, Michael
maker
Macoska, Janet
ID Number
2011.0251.01
accession number
2011.0251
catalog number
2011.0251.01
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1985
depicted (sitter)
Run DMC
maker
Friedman, Glen E.
ID Number
2010.0173.06
catalog number
2010.0173.06
accession number
2010.0173
black and white photograph; African American woman singing into microphone; image of Ella Fitzgerald; image is very dark and only part of her face is visibleCurrently not on view
Description (Brief)
black and white photograph; African American woman singing into microphone; image of Ella Fitzgerald; image is very dark and only part of her face is visible
Location
Currently not on view
depicted (sitter)
Fitzgerald, Ella
maker
Zalesky, Roy Joseph
ID Number
2017.0306.0128
catalog number
2017.0306.0128
accession number
2017.0306
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1984
maker
Zalesky, Roy Joseph
ID Number
2017.0306.0043
catalog number
2017.0306.0043
accession number
2017.0306
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1994 (Negative)
2011 (Print)
maker
Horenstein, Henry
ID Number
2013.0148.04
catalog number
2013.0148.04
accession number
2013.0148
This bust of American composer and musician Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (1899 - 1974) was made by Ed Dwight in Denver, Colorado in 1988.
Description (Brief)

This bust of American composer and musician Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (1899 - 1974) was made by Ed Dwight in Denver, Colorado in 1988. Made of cast bronze, the sculpture depicts Ellington in a suit and bowtie, arms in a conducting pose, atop a stylized keyboard.

Ed Dwight began his career as a graduate engineer, was a former United States Air Force test pilot who became the first African American to be trained as an astronaut in 1962. Following a career in real estate, computer systems engineering, and consulting, Dwight pursued art and received a Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Denver in 1977. Dwight’s works include fine art sculpture, large-scale memorials and public art projects.

Location
Currently not on view
date made
1988
depicted
Ellington, Duke
maker
Dwight, Ed
ID Number
1993.0032.01
catalog number
1993.0032.01
accession number
1993.0032
This banjo was made by an unknown maker in the United States around 1835-1865. It has undergone considerable scrutiny and analysis at the Smithsonian because of its attribution to American slave origins. So far, studies have been inconclusive.
Description
This banjo was made by an unknown maker in the United States around 1835-1865. It has undergone considerable scrutiny and analysis at the Smithsonian because of its attribution to American slave origins. So far, studies have been inconclusive. While the sun design carved on the body may have African origins, the polygonal shape, wood top (instead of a skin), and carved head pegbox lie outside the traditions of banjos brought to America by Africans. Nevertheless, the instrument was likely made by someone familiar with Black culture.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1835-1865
ID Number
1990.0164.01
accession number
1990.0164
catalog number
1990.0164.01
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 sheet music for the song "At a Georgia Camp Meeting," was written and composed by Kerry Mills and published by F.A. Mills in New York, New York in 1897.
Description
This sheet music for the song "At a Georgia Camp Meeting," was written and composed by Kerry Mills and published by F.A. Mills in New York, New York in 1897. The cover proclaims the song “a characteristic march which can be used effectively as a two-step, polka, or cake walk,” and shows images of blacks having a dignified party. The cake walk was often the last song at a dance and the best dancing couple was awarded a cake (the origin of the phrase “taking the cake”).
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1897
composer
Mills, Kerry
user
Woodside, Lura
publisher
F. A. Mills
ID Number
1979.1154.18
accession number
1979.1154
catalog number
1979.1154.18

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