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.

Benny Goodman's Quintet. side 1: Pick-a-Rib [part 1]; side 2: Pick-a-Rib [part 2] (Blue Ace 224).78 rpm. These tracks were originally recorded in 1938 and released on Victor 26166.Blue Ace was a bootleg record label, founded around the late 1940s.
Description (Brief)

Benny Goodman's Quintet. side 1: Pick-a-Rib [part 1]; side 2: Pick-a-Rib [part 2] (Blue Ace 224).
78 rpm. These tracks were originally recorded in 1938 and released on Victor 26166.

Blue Ace was a bootleg record label, founded around the late 1940s. The label was dedicated to the unauthorized reissue of jazz recordings from the 1935-1942 period. Brooklyn record store owner Sam Meltzer is allegedly to have produced the recordings, who was also associated with the bootleg Hot Jazz Club of America [HJCA] recordings, which focused on jazz recordings of the 1920s.

Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1938
recording artist
Benny Goodman's Quintet
manufacturer
Blue Ace
ID Number
1988.0698.1109
catalog number
1988.0698.1109
accession number
1988.0698
collector/donor number
G80
maker number
224
This sheet music is for the song “Hail, Hail, the Gang’s All Here (What the - Deuce - Do We Care),” with lyrics by D. A. Esrom [Theodora Morse] and music by Theodore Morse and Arthur Sullivan. It was published by Leo Feist, Inc. in New York, New York in 1917.
Description

This sheet music is for the song “Hail, Hail, the Gang’s All Here (What the - Deuce - Do We Care),” with lyrics by D. A. Esrom [Theodora Morse] and music by Theodore Morse and Arthur Sullivan. It was published by Leo Feist, Inc. in New York, New York in 1917. The original tune was written by Arthur Sullivan for the comic opera The Pirates of Penzance.

The cover art for this sheet music was made by Rosenbaum Studios. The firm was founded by Morris Rosenbaum (1886-1953) in the early 1910s. There were several artists working for Rosenbaum Studios throughout the firm’s 27 years in operation. Variations of a rosebud/RS symbol were used to sign the artwork. Morris Rosenbaum was commissioned to create the logo for the newly formed film company MGM (Metro Goldwyn Mayer) in 1924.

Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1917
publisher
Leo Feist Inc.
ID Number
1985.0403.05
accession number
1985.0403
catalog number
1985.0403.05
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 sheet music is for the song “I ‘Wanna’ Sing About You,” by Cliff Friend and Dave Dreyer. It was published by Irving Berlin, Inc. in New York, New York in 1931. The cover features an image of Husk O’Hare and his band, a popular East Coast territory band.
Description
This sheet music is for the song “I ‘Wanna’ Sing About You,” by Cliff Friend and Dave Dreyer. It was published by Irving Berlin, Inc. in New York, New York in 1931. The cover features an image of Husk O’Hare and his band, a popular East Coast territory band. Husk O’Hare (1896-1970) was an American jazz bandleader active during the 1920s and 1930s.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1931
publisher
Irving Berlin, Inc.
ID Number
1983.0694.07
accession number
1983.0694
catalog number
1983.0694.07
This sheet music for the song “By Studying My Lady’s Eyes” was written by Thomas Bailey Aldrice and composed by Julius S. Lyons. The song was originally published by Wm. A. Pond and Co.
Description
This sheet music for the song “By Studying My Lady’s Eyes” was written by Thomas Bailey Aldrice and composed by Julius S. Lyons. The song was originally published by Wm. A. Pond and Co. of New York, New York in 1889, and appeared as a supplement to the “New York Herald” on May 31, 1903. The sheet music features a pencil drawing of a woman casting a sultry gaze at the viewer.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1902
lyricist
Aldrich, Thomas Bailey
composer
Lyons, Julius J.
publisher
William A. Pond & Co.
ID Number
1982.0440.42
accession number
1982.0440
catalog number
1982.0440.42
various artists. Historic Jazz Concert at Music Inn (Atlantic 1298).33-1/3 rpm.Music Inn, also called the Music Barn, was an inn, performance venue, and the summer program of jazz education for the Lenox School of Jazz, in Lenox Massachusetts.
Description (Brief)

various artists. Historic Jazz Concert at Music Inn (Atlantic 1298).
33-1/3 rpm.

Music Inn, also called the Music Barn, was an inn, performance venue, and the summer program of jazz education for the Lenox School of Jazz, in Lenox Massachusetts. From 1957-1960, the school featuring faculty including Dizzy Gillespie, Jimmy Giuffre, Percy Heath, and Connie Kayvenue. The performance venue and inn was in in operation from 1950–1979.

Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1956
manufacturer
Atlantic
ID Number
1978.0670.801
maker number
1298
accession number
1978.0670
catalog number
1978.0670.801
This snare drum was made by Firth, Pond & Co. in New York, around 1847-1864. It has a light brown shell, two red-painted hoops, two skin heads, 10 metal hooks laced with rope through leather ears used to tighten the hoops, and a gut snare.
Description

This snare drum was made by Firth, Pond & Co. in New York, around 1847-1864. It has a light brown shell, two red-painted hoops, two skin heads, 10 metal hooks laced with rope through leather ears used to tighten the hoops, and a gut snare. The paper label inside the shell is inscribed:

[FIRTH] POND & CO.,
[ ]ers, Manufacturers and Dealers in
[Instru]ments, Publishers of Music
&c. &c.
[B]ROADWAY, NEW Y[ORK]

Location
Currently not on view
date made
1847 - 1864
maker
Firth, Pond & Co.
ID Number
MI.069391
catalog number
69391
accession number
266008
This sheet music is for the song “Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in The Morning,” by Irving Berlin. It was published by Waterson, Berlin and Snyder Co. in New York, New York in 1918.
Description
This sheet music is for the song “Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in The Morning,” by Irving Berlin. It was published by Waterson, Berlin and Snyder Co. in New York, New York in 1918. The cover features an image of a WWI soldier and an inset of American comedian, singer, dancer, actor, and song writer Eddie Cantor, who performed this song in Ziegfeld Follies on Broadway.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1918
publisher
Waterson, Berlin & Snyder Co.
ID Number
1985.0392.12
accession number
1985.0392
catalog number
1985.0392.12
This flugelhorn was made around 1878 to 1882 and sold by the J. Howard Foote Company in New York and Chicago. It is a B-flat flugelhorn, over-the shoulder model, made of brass with nickel silver trim, with 3 string-action rotary valves.
Description

This flugelhorn was made around 1878 to 1882 and sold by the J. Howard Foote Company in New York and Chicago. It is a B-flat flugelhorn, over-the shoulder model, made of brass with nickel silver trim, with 3 string-action rotary valves. The bore of this instrument is quite small and cornet-like, and was sold as a cornet. This flugelhorn has an engraved medallion:

TRADE
J.H.F.
NY&C
Mark

Brass instruments bearing the medallion of J. Howard Foote were likely made for him by the firm of John Stratton or other factories in New York City.

John Howard Foote (1833-1896) was a musical instrument dealer with shops in New York City and Chicago. This instrument, sold as a cornet (#5001), is listed in an 1880 J. Howard Foote catalog, sold for $15.00.

Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1878 - 1882
ID Number
MI.072876
accession number
12809
catalog number
72876
This flugelhorn was made around 1878 to 1882 and sold by the J. Howard Foote Company in New York and Chicago. It is an E-flat flugelhorn, over-the shoulder model, made of brass with nickel silver trim, with 3 string-action rotary valves.
Description

This flugelhorn was made around 1878 to 1882 and sold by the J. Howard Foote Company in New York and Chicago. It is an E-flat flugelhorn, over-the shoulder model, made of brass with nickel silver trim, with 3 string-action rotary valves. This flugelhorn has an engraved medallion:

TRADE
J.H.F.
NY&C
Mark

Brass instruments bearing the medallion of J. Howard Foote were likely made for him by the firm of John Stratton or other factories in New York City.

John Howard Foote (1833-1896) was a musical instrument dealer with shops in New York City and Chicago. This instrument listed in an 1880 J. Howard Foote catalog, sold as a cornet (#5000) for $13.75.

Location
Currently not on view
date made
1878 - 1882
ID Number
MI.072875
accession number
12809
catalog number
72875
The Deal Family. side 1: The Home Coming Week; side 2: Where Shall I Be (Columbia 15670-D).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
The Deal Family. side 1: The Home Coming Week; side 2: Where Shall I Be (Columbia 15670-D).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1929
recording artist
Deal Family
manufacturer
Columbia
ID Number
1996.0320.15145
collector/donor number
10599
maker number
15670-D
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.15145
This sheet music is for the song “Little Girls, Good Bye,” with lyrics by William LeBaron and music by Fritz Kreisler and Victor Jacobi. It was published by T. B. Harms and Francis, Day & Hunter in New York, New York in 1919.
Description
This sheet music is for the song “Little Girls, Good Bye,” with lyrics by William LeBaron and music by Fritz Kreisler and Victor Jacobi. It was published by T. B. Harms and Francis, Day & Hunter in New York, New York in 1919. This song was featured in the Broadway operetta Apple Blossoms, with book and lyrics by William LeBaron and music by Fritz Kreisler and Victor Jacobi. Apple Blossoms opened at the Globe Theatre on October 17, 1919 and ran for 256 performances.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1919
composer
Kreisler, Fritz
publisher
T. B. Harms and Francis, Day & Hunter
ID Number
1983.0694.11
accession number
1983.0694
catalog number
1983.0694.11
1983.0694.10
This sheet music is for the song “Fairy Tales,” with libretto by Harry B. Smith and music by Victor Herbert. It was published by Edward Schuberth and Company in New York, New York in 1897.
Description
This sheet music is for the song “Fairy Tales,” with libretto by Harry B. Smith and music by Victor Herbert. It was published by Edward Schuberth and Company in New York, New York in 1897. This song was featured in the Broadway three-act operetta The Idol’s Eye, libretto by Harry B. Smith and music by Victor Herbert. The Idol’s Eye opened at The Broadway Theatre on October 25, 1897 and ran for 56 performances.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1897
publisher
Edward Schuberth and Company
ID Number
1983.0694.10
accession number
1983.0694
catalog number
1983.0694.10
1983.0694.11
This sheet music is for the song “Dancing Around,” with words by Joe McCarthy and music by James V. Monaco. It was published by Broadway Music Corporation in New York, New York, in 1913.Currently not on view
Description
This sheet music is for the song “Dancing Around,” with words by Joe McCarthy and music by James V. Monaco. It was published by Broadway Music Corporation in New York, New York, in 1913.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1913
publisher
Broadway Music Corporation
ID Number
1983.0830.28
accession number
1983.0830
catalog number
1983.0830.28
This square piano was made by Torp & Unger in New York, New York around 1839. Otto Torp was involved in several different piano manufacturing firms in New York. It is believed that his partnership with Ferdinand C.
Description
This square piano was made by Torp & Unger in New York, New York around 1839. Otto Torp was involved in several different piano manufacturing firms in New York. It is believed that his partnership with Ferdinand C. Unger lasted until 1941 when Torp was last listed in a New York directory with a home address, suggesting that he had retired from business. This piano has a compass of FF-f4, the first 3 notes are single-strung and the rest are double-strung with the tuning pins at rear, 2 pedals: (missing) moderator and dampers, and an iron hitch-pin plate. This is the only known piano made by Torp & Unger.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1838 - 1840
maker
Torp & Unger
ID Number
MI.277897
accession number
55527
catalog number
277897
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 song book The Harry Von Tilzer Dance Folio Number 5, was published by the Harry Von Tilzer Music Publishing Company of New York, New York around 1900.
Description
This song book The Harry Von Tilzer Dance Folio Number 5, was published by the Harry Von Tilzer Music Publishing Company of New York, New York around 1900. The cover advertises the folio as “containing arrangements for the piano of the latest and most popular music of the day, arranged by Alfred J. Doyle.” The red and white cover features a small photo of Harry Von Tilzer at the bottom. Folios like this contained 40 piano compositions, usually without the lyrics, at a cheaper price than buying them individually.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
ca 1900
publisher
Harry Von Tilzer Music Publishing Co.
ID Number
1982.0005.15
accession number
1982.0005
catalog number
1982.0005.15
Jack Simmons and the Kramdenettes. I Want a Wife Like Alice Kramden (Home By Dawn HD-001)33-1/3 rpmCurrently not on view
Description (Brief)
Jack Simmons and the Kramdenettes. I Want a Wife Like Alice Kramden (Home By Dawn HD-001)
33-1/3 rpm
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1983
ID Number
1989.0372.01
catalog number
1989.0372.01
accession number
1989.0372
maker number
HD-001
This sheet music is for the song “Hong Kong Blues,” with words and music by Hoagy Carmichael. It was published by Larry Spier, Inc. in New York, New York in 1939. There is an inset image of Hoagy Carmichael on the cover.”Hong Kong Blues” was featured in the 1944 Warner Bros.
Description

This sheet music is for the song “Hong Kong Blues,” with words and music by Hoagy Carmichael. It was published by Larry Spier, Inc. in New York, New York in 1939. There is an inset image of Hoagy Carmichael on the cover.

”Hong Kong Blues” was featured in the 1944 Warner Bros. romance-war-adventure film, To Have and Have Not, directed by Howard Hawks and starred Humphrey Bogart, Walter Brennan, Lauren Bacall, Dolores Moran, and Hoagy Carmichael.

Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1939
referenced
Bogart, Humphrey
Bacall, Lauren
depicted (sitter)
Carmichael, Hoagy
publisher
Larry Spier, Inc.
ID Number
1987.0423.03
accession number
1987.0423
catalog number
1987.0423.03
This chalkware statue of American jazz trumpeter and vocalist Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) was made by Esco Products, Inc. in New York, circa 1972.
Description

This chalkware statue of American jazz trumpeter and vocalist Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) was made by Esco Products, Inc. in New York, circa 1972. The statue depicts Armstrong in a burgundy jacket with white shirt, black bowtie, pants and shoes, holding a trumpet in his right hand and a handkerchief in his left hand. As in many of Esco’s celebrity statues, the heads are exaggerated in size.

The statue was given to American jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald and is inscribed on the bottom of the statue, “FROM PHOEBE.”

Location
Currently not on view
manufacturing date
ca 1972
depicted
Armstrong, Louis
ID Number
1996.0342.062
accession number
1996.0342
catalog number
1996.0342.062
This sheet music is for the song “Three Wonderful Letters from Home.” with words by Joe Goodwin and Ballard MacDonald and music by James F. Hanley. It was published by Shapiro, Bernstein & Co. in New York, New York in 1918.
Description

This sheet music is for the song “Three Wonderful Letters from Home.” with words by Joe Goodwin and Ballard MacDonald and music by James F. Hanley. It was published by Shapiro, Bernstein & Co. in New York, New York in 1918. The cover of this popular World War I song depicts a mother, wife, and daughter writing letters with marching troops and a plane, ship, and tank in the background.

The cover art for this sheet music was made by American artist and designer Albert Wilfred Barbelle (1887-1957). With a prolific career spanning over forty years, Barbelle created numerous works of cover art for sheet music and albums.

Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1918
publisher
Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., Inc.
ID Number
1985.0808.13
accession number
1985.0808
catalog number
1985.0808.13
This upright piano was made by Steinway & Sons in New York, New York in 1882.
Description
This upright piano was made by Steinway & Sons in New York, New York in 1882. It is serial number 47653 and has a compass of AAA-a4, standard upright action, felt hammers, 1, 2, and 3 strings per note, 2 pedals: “soft” and dampers, a one-piece iron frame, cross-strung, and an ebonized case with two glass panels in the upper front panel.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1882
maker
Steinway & Sons
ID Number
MI.072627
catalog number
72627
accession number
11693
serial number
47653
This music strip was made by Autophone Comapny in Ithaca, New York, about 1878. It is Autophone strip #280 - "Polka Flor De Un Dia." This strip can be played in 22-key model autophones.This instrument features U. S. Patent #211821, dated December 3, 1878, by Henry B.
Description

This music strip was made by Autophone Comapny in Ithaca, New York, about 1878. It is Autophone strip #280 - "Polka Flor De Un Dia." This strip can be played in 22-key model autophones.

This instrument features U. S. Patent #211821, dated December 3, 1878, by Henry B. Horton, for improvements in mechanical musical instruments that play perforated paper strips. In the patent description the inventor uses the term “autophone” to describe the instrument.

Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1878
ID Number
MI.68.13.21
accession number
277816
catalog number
68.13.21
This piano was made by Steinway & Sons in New York in 1939. It was designed by Walter Dorwin Teague for the United States Pavilion at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York. The piano, Model D concert grand, is serial number 295811.
Description (Brief)
This piano was made by Steinway & Sons in New York in 1939. It was designed by Walter Dorwin Teague for the United States Pavilion at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York. The piano, Model D concert grand, is serial number 295811. It has a compass of AAA-c5, Steinway accelerated action (replaced), felt hammers, one, two, or three strings per note, 3 pedals: una corda, sustention, and dampers, a one-piece iron frame, cross-strung, and a maple veneer case with gilded ornamentation.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1939
maker
Steinway and Sons
ID Number
1989.0216.01
accession number
1989.0216
catalog number
1989.0216.01

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