MIM (Musical Instrument Museum) in Brussels, Belgium

MIM (Musical Instrument Museum)

Brussels, Belgium

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

After our 2 hour walking tour of the Old Town of Brussels, we went to see a museum filled with the greatest collection of old musical instruments that we've ever seen. 

We share an interest in musical instruments because both of us were quite involved with music (flute/piccolo and clarinet/alto sax) while we were growing up. In fact, that is how we met, as members of the BYU Concert Band (now called the Symphonic Band). 

We still play duets occasionally.

Here's a harpsichord with two keyboards.

Have you ever heard of the Geigenwerk? It is one of the first keyboard string instruments, 1625, capable of producing long, sustained notes. While at first glance it may resemble a harpsichord, it produces sound with a unique mechanism: instead of plucking the strings or hitting them with a hammer, the strings are bowed by parchment-covered metal wheels.

When a key is pressed, the key lowers against the turning wheel and produces sound. The Geigenwerek requires two people to play, a musician at one end playing the keyboard, and an assistant at the other end turning a crank to keep the wheels moving. 

This particular instrument is the last surviving example of a Geigenwerk in the world, and comes from a cathedral in Toledo, Spain. It was used up to the end of the 18th century to accompany certain religious offices.

Many variations of various reed-type horns. There were even some made into walking canes.

A serpent horn.

More serpent horns which look rather frightening to me.

A trombone with six independent valves and seven bells would always be in tune.

Two instruments from Tibet: a drum made from a skull and trumpets made from thigh bones. Yikes! I wonder what their names are...

More Tibetan instruments

Bagpipes

Jews Harps

Flutes, whistles, and recorders are made/used by many cultures. (On You Tube recently we watched a man make one from a carrot.)

Tiny musicians, so intent on their work.

Ever wondered what a hurdy gurdy looks like?

I'd like to watch someone play this very interesting stringed instrument.

Imagine, a stringed trumpet!

Plucked dulcimer.

Glass harmonica.

This looks like a piano in a box to me, but it is a Muselaar.

Precursor to the organ?

And, although there were many, many more to see, I'll end with one of our favorites, a piano with a curved keyboard!