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.

This sheet music is for the song “Time Waits For No One,” with music and lyrics by Cliff Friend and Charles Tobias. It was published by Remick Music Corp. in New York, New York in 1944.”Time Waits For No One” was featured in the 1944 Warner Bros.
Description

This sheet music is for the song “Time Waits For No One,” with music and lyrics by Cliff Friend and Charles Tobias. It was published by Remick Music Corp. in New York, New York in 1944.

”Time Waits For No One” was featured in the 1944 Warner Bros. musical film, Shine On, Harvest Moon, directed by David Butler and starred Ann Sheridan and Dennis Morgan. The cover features a still from the movie.

Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1944
publisher
Remick Music Corporation
ID Number
1985.0393.17
accession number
1985.0393
catalog number
1985.0393.17
This B-flat clarinet (top instrument), serial number 22457, was made by Buffet-Crampon & Cie. Paris, France. 1938.
Description

This B-flat clarinet (top instrument), serial number 22457, was made by Buffet-Crampon & Cie. Paris, France. 1938. It was previously owned and used by American jazz musician and band leader, Artie Shaw (1910 - 2004).

This B-flat clarinet (bottom instrument), serial number M6727, was made by Henri Selmer. Paris, France. 1945. It was previously owned and used by American jazz musician and band leader, Artie Shaw (1910 - 2004).

Shaw achieved International success with his recording of “Beguine the Beguine” in 1938. He continued his career performing around the world, selling thousands of records, and appearing on film and television. By the end of 1954 Shaw made his last appearance as a clarinetist and stopped performing to pursue other interests.

Location
Currently on loan
date made
1945
user
Shaw, Artie
maker
Selmer, Henri
ID Number
2003.0264.02
serial number
M6727
accession number
2003.0264
catalog number
2003.0264.02
All-American Glee Club. side 1: Rambling Wreck From Georgia Tech (track 1) Hail to Georgia (track 2) Cavalier Song/Virginia, Hail, All Hail (track 3); side 2: Carolina's Day (track 1) Hark!
Description
All-American Glee Club. side 1: Rambling Wreck From Georgia Tech (track 1) Hail to Georgia (track 2) Cavalier Song/Virginia, Hail, All Hail (track 3); side 2: Carolina's Day (track 1) Hark! The Sound of Tarheel Voice/Here Comes Carolina (track 2) (Victor 26684), from the album, College Songs, Vol. 3 - Southern (Victor P 34).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1940
manufacturer
Victor
ID Number
1988.0384.25
accession number
1988.0384
maker number
26684
catalog number
1988.0384.25
Bob Crosby and his Orchestra. side 1: Ec-Stacy; side 2: Chain Gang (Decca DU 40145).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Bob Crosby and his Orchestra. side 1: Ec-Stacy; side 2: Chain Gang (Decca DU 40145).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1942
recording artist
Bob Crosby and his Orchestra
manufacturer
Decca
ID Number
1978.0670.213
accession number
1978.0670
catalog number
1978.0670.213
maker number
DU 40145
This sheet music is for “Patsy Montana's New Songs: Those Two Little Kids of Mine / Montana, I Hear You Calling Me. It was published by Hilliard-Currie Corporation in Chicago, Illinois in 1945.
Description (Brief)
This sheet music is for “Patsy Montana's New Songs: Those Two Little Kids of Mine / Montana, I Hear You Calling Me. It was published by Hilliard-Currie Corporation in Chicago, Illinois in 1945. The cover features an image of country music vocalist, Patsy Montana, and on the back an image of Patsy Montana's family. The front is signed: "To Darlene from Patsy Montana."
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1945
depicted (sitter)
Montana, Patsy
maker
Hilliard-Currie Corporation
ID Number
2014.0087.01
accession number
2014.0087
catalog number
2014.0087.01
Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra. side 1: Drop Me Off at Harlem; side 2: Merry-Go-Round (Columbia 35837), from the album, Hot Jazz Classics - Duke Ellington (Columbia C-38).78 rpm. Side 1 was originally recorded in 1933 and released on Brunswick 6527.
Description
Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra. side 1: Drop Me Off at Harlem; side 2: Merry-Go-Round (Columbia 35837), from the album, Hot Jazz Classics - Duke Ellington (Columbia C-38).
78 rpm. Side 1 was originally recorded in 1933 and released on Brunswick 6527. Side 2 was dubbed from the original 1933 recording. The album was released in 1940.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1933
release date
1940
recording artist
Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra
manufacturer
Columbia
ID Number
1978.0670.490
maker number
35837
C-38
accession number
1978.0670
catalog number
1978.0670.490
Bunny Berigan and his Blue Boys. side 1: You Took Advantage of Me; side 2: Chicken and Waffles (Decca 18117), from the album, Gemsof Jazz, Vol. 2 (Decca A-201).78 rpm. Both tracks were recorded in 1935. This album was released in 1941.Currently not on view
Description
Bunny Berigan and his Blue Boys. side 1: You Took Advantage of Me; side 2: Chicken and Waffles (Decca 18117), from the album, Gemsof Jazz, Vol. 2 (Decca A-201).
78 rpm. Both tracks were recorded in 1935. This album was released in 1941.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1935
release date
1941
recording artist
Bunny Berigan and his Blue Boys
manufacturer
Decca
ID Number
1978.0670.548
accession number
1978.0670
maker number
18117
A-201
catalog number
1978.0670.548
Original Cast Album. This Is the Army (Decca A-340). 4-disc set. (album for 1988.0384.02-.-05).78 rpm.This album is from the Broadway musical This Is the Army, with book by James McColl, and music and lyrics by Irving Berlin. The musical was produced by the U. S.
Description

Original Cast Album. This Is the Army (Decca A-340). 4-disc set. (album for 1988.0384.02-.-05).
78 rpm.

This album is from the Broadway musical This Is the Army, with book by James McColl, and music and lyrics by Irving Berlin. The musical was produced by the U. S. Army in 1942, and featured a cast of U. S. soldiers, for the benefit of the Army Relief Fund. The revue ran at the Broadway Theatre from July 4, 1942, to September 26, 1942, for 113 performances.

Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1942
composer
Berlin, Irving
manufacturer
Decca
ID Number
1988.0384.01
accession number
1988.0384
maker number
340
catalog number
1988.0384.01
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1948
depicted (sitter)
Boone, Pat
maker
Edwin H. Morris and Company
ID Number
2018.3010.242
nonaccession number
2018.3010
catalog number
2018.3010.242
side 1: Lyn Murray and his Orchestra with Audrey Marsh. I'm Wishing; side 2: Lyn Murray and his Orchestra with Harrison Knox. One Song (Decca 23328), from the album, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Decca A-368).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
side 1: Lyn Murray and his Orchestra with Audrey Marsh. I'm Wishing; side 2: Lyn Murray and his Orchestra with Harrison Knox. One Song (Decca 23328), from the album, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Decca A-368).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1944
recording artist
Lyn Murray and his Orchestra
Marsh, Audrey
Knox, Harrison
manufacturer
Decca
ID Number
1979.1023.116
accession number
1979.1023
maker number
23328
A-368
catalog number
1979.1023.116
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1942
depicted (sitter)
Cugat, Xavier
maker
Robbins Music Corporation
ID Number
2014.0163.01
accession number
2014.0163
catalog number
2014.0163.01
Doc Evans Ensemble. side 1: Fidgety Feet; side 2: Clarinet Marmalade (Disc 6071), from the album, Doc Evans' Dixieland Five (Disc).78 rpm.Album cover illustration was by David Stone Martin (born David Livingstone Martin, 1913-1992).
Description

Doc Evans Ensemble. side 1: Fidgety Feet; side 2: Clarinet Marmalade (Disc 6071), from the album, Doc Evans' Dixieland Five (Disc).
78 rpm.

Album cover illustration was by David Stone Martin (born David Livingstone Martin, 1913-1992). Martin was an American artist best known for his illustrations on jazz album covers for labels including Mercury, Asch, Disc, and Dial. Many of his commissions were from Martin’s longtime friend, American jazz record producer and concert promoter Norman Granz (1918-2001).

Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1947
recording artist
Doc Evans Ensemble
artist
Martin, David Stone
manufacturer
Disc
ID Number
1978.0670.603
accession number
1978.0670
maker number
6071
catalog number
1978.0670.603
Sharky Bonano and his Kings Of Dixieland. side 1: Milenberg Joys; side 2: I Like Bananas (Because They Have No Bones) (Dixieland D-1002).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Sharky Bonano and his Kings Of Dixieland. side 1: Milenberg Joys; side 2: I Like Bananas (Because They Have No Bones) (Dixieland D-1002).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1949
recording artist
Sharkey Bonano and his Kings of Dixieland
manufacturer
Dixieland
ID Number
1978.0670.241
maker number
D-1002
accession number
1978.0670
catalog number
1978.0670.141
Cliffie Stone. side 1: Bake Them Hoecakes Brown; side 2: The Gal I Ledt Behind Me (Capitol 20100). from the album, Square Dances (Capitol BD 44).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Cliffie Stone. side 1: Bake Them Hoecakes Brown; side 2: The Gal I Ledt Behind Me (Capitol 20100). from the album, Square Dances (Capitol BD 44).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1947
recording artist
Stone, Cliffie
maker
Capitol
ID Number
1989.0207.17
accession number
1989.0207
catalog number
1989.0207.17
maker number
20100
BD-44
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1949
depicted (sitter)
Shelton, Anne
maker
Francis, Day & Hunter Ltd.
ID Number
2018.3010.145
nonaccession number
2018.3010
catalog number
2018.3010.145
side 1: Joe Sullivan Quartet. Panama; side 2: Joe Sullivan. The Chimes (Disc 6004), from the album, Joe Sullivan Quartet (Disc 701).78 rpm.Album cover illustration was by David Stone Martin (born David Livingstone Martin, 1913-1992).
Description

side 1: Joe Sullivan Quartet. Panama; side 2: Joe Sullivan. The Chimes (Disc 6004), from the album, Joe Sullivan Quartet (Disc 701).
78 rpm.

Album cover illustration was by David Stone Martin (born David Livingstone Martin, 1913-1992). Martin was an American artist best known for his illustrations on jazz album covers for labels including Mercury, Asch, Disc, and Dial. Many of his commissions were from Martin’s longtime friend, American jazz record producer and concert promoter Norman Granz (1918-2001).

Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1945
recording artist
Sullivan, Joe
Joe Sullivan Quartet
artist
Martin, David Stone
manufacturer
Disc
ID Number
1978.0670.600
accession number
1978.0670
maker number
6004
701
catalog number
1978.0670.600
Josh White. side 1: Evil Hearted Man; side 2: Nobody Knows You When You Are Down and Out (Decca 23652), from the album, Ballads and Blues (Decca A-447).78 rpm. Side 1 was recorded in 1944. Side 2 was recorded in 1945. This album was released in 1946.Currently not on view
Description
Josh White. side 1: Evil Hearted Man; side 2: Nobody Knows You When You Are Down and Out (Decca 23652), from the album, Ballads and Blues (Decca A-447).
78 rpm. Side 1 was recorded in 1944. Side 2 was recorded in 1945. This album was released in 1946.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1944
1945
release date
1946
recording artist
White, Josh
manufacturer
Decca
ID Number
1988.0824.29
accession number
1988.0824
maker number
23652
catalog number
1988.0824.29
maker number
A-447
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1949
maker
Chappell and Co.
ID Number
2017.3021.373
nonaccession number
2017.3021
catalog number
2017.3021.373
side 1: The Baby Dodds Trio. Albert's Blues; side 2: Don Ewell and Baby Dodds.
Description

side 1: The Baby Dodds Trio. Albert's Blues; side 2: Don Ewell and Baby Dodds. Manhattan Stomp (Circle J-1002) from the album, A Session With Baby Dodds (Circle S-17).
78 rpm.

Album design was by Jimmy Ernst (born Hans-Ulrich Ernst, 1920-1984), a German-born American painter.

Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1946
recording artist
Baby Dodds Trio
Dodds, Baby
Ewell, Don
manufacturer
Circle
ID Number
1978.0670.473
maker number
J-1002
S-17
accession number
1978.0670
catalog number
1978.0670.473
This sheet music is for the song “A Wonderful Guy” with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It was published by Williamson Music Inc.
Description

This sheet music is for the song “A Wonderful Guy” with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It was published by Williamson Music Inc. in New York, New York, in 1949.

"A Wonderful Guy" was featured in the Broadway musical South Pacific, with music by Richard Rogers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and book by Hammerstein and Joshua Logan. South Pacific opened at the Majestic Theatre on April 7, 1949. The original Broadway production was a critical and commercial success, receiving a record 10 Tony Awards.

Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1949
publisher
Williamson Music, Inc.
ID Number
1986.0588.16
accession number
1986.0588
catalog number
1986.0588.16
Teddy Wilson. side 1: I Can't Get Started; side 2: I Know That You Know (Columbia 36633), from the album, Teddy Willson and His Piano (Columbia C-93).78 rpm. Both tracks were recorded in 1941. This album was released in 1942.Currently not on view
Description
Teddy Wilson. side 1: I Can't Get Started; side 2: I Know That You Know (Columbia 36633), from the album, Teddy Willson and His Piano (Columbia C-93).
78 rpm. Both tracks were recorded in 1941. This album was released in 1942.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1941
release date
1942
recording artist
Wilson, Teddy
manufacturer
Columbia
ID Number
1978.0670.511
maker number
36633
C-93
accession number
1978.0670
catalog number
1978.0670.511
Sophie Tucker. side 1: You've Got to Be Loved to Be Healthy; side 2: The Older They Get the Younger They Want 'Em (Decca 23420), from the album, Sophie Tucker (Decca A-396).78 rpm. Both tracks were recorded in 1944. This album was released in 1945.Currently not on view
Description
Sophie Tucker. side 1: You've Got to Be Loved to Be Healthy; side 2: The Older They Get the Younger They Want 'Em (Decca 23420), from the album, Sophie Tucker (Decca A-396).
78 rpm. Both tracks were recorded in 1944. This album was released in 1945.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1944
release date
1945
recording artist
Tucker, Sophie
manufacturer
Decca
ID Number
1979.1023.117
accession number
1979.1023
maker number
23420
A-396
catalog number
1979.1023.117
Richard Dyer-Bennet. side 1: The Willow Tree; side 2: Villikens and His Dinah (Decca 24210), from the album, Richard Dyer-Bennet - 20th Century Minstrel (Decca 573).78 rpm. Side 1 was recorded in 1944. Side 2 was recorded in 1945.
Description
Richard Dyer-Bennet. side 1: The Willow Tree; side 2: Villikens and His Dinah (Decca 24210), from the album, Richard Dyer-Bennet - 20th Century Minstrel (Decca 573).
78 rpm. Side 1 was recorded in 1944. Side 2 was recorded in 1945. This album was released in 1948.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1944
1945
release date
1948
recording artist
Dyer-Bennet, Richard
manufacturer
Decca
ID Number
1996.0320.05098
maker number
24210
573
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.05098
This sheet music is for the song “Sky Anchors (Naval Aviation Song),” by Fred Waring. It was published by Words and Music, Inc. in New York, New York in 1942. The red cover features a photograph of 7 aircraft flying in Formation.Currently not on view
Description
This sheet music is for the song “Sky Anchors (Naval Aviation Song),” by Fred Waring. It was published by Words and Music, Inc. in New York, New York in 1942. The red cover features a photograph of 7 aircraft flying in Formation.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1942
recording artist
Waring, Fred
publisher
Words and Music, Inc.
ID Number
1984.0568.18
accession number
1984.0568
catalog number
1984.0568.18

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