American Musical Instrument Society
Encyclopedia
The American Musical Instrument Society (AMIS) was formed in 1971 "to promote better understanding of all aspects of the history, design, construction, restoration, and usage of musical instruments in all cultures and from all periods" (the branch of musicology
known as organology
). Based in the United States
, it publishes a journal and a newsletter, holds annual conferences (occasionally in conjunction with the Galpin Society
), maintains an active website and e-mail forum, and presents five awards. The society's international membership includes collectors, curators, historians, performers, instrument makers, conservators, restorers, dealers, teachers, and students.
The Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society, (ISSN 0362-3300)published annually, contains three to six articles, generously illustrated, on a wide range of subjects; book reviews; a list of recent publications about musical instruments; and notices and advertisements. Articles published have been reviewed by expert members of the journal's editorial board. Copies of the journal are available in institutional libraries on four continents; its contents may be accessed on ProQuest, an online source. An index to back issues is available at the AMIS website.
The Newsletter of the American Musical Instrument Society, published three times per year, contains official notices and news of the society's activities; short articles, reviews and communications; recent acquisition lists from member institutions; news of members, and classified ads. Current and recent issues are archived on the AMIS web site. An addendum, issued at two-year intervals, lists recent organological articles from a wide variety of English-language journals.
AMIS-L is a Listserv e-mail forum for AMIS members and designated others. It was established following the international joint conference of AMIS, the Galpin Society, and CIMCIM at the National Music Museum in Vermillion, South Dakota, in May 2006 to facilitate continuing informal communications among members.
The Curt Sachs
Award, named for a founder of the modern systematic study of musical instruments, is given for lifetime contributions to the goals of the society. The recipient is invited to address members of AMIS at the society's annual meeting. Past recipients of this and other awards are listed on the society's web site. In 2008 William Waterhouse received the award posthumously.
The Nicholas Bessaraboff Prize, named for the scholar who helped lay the foundations of modern organology with his monumental catalog Ancient European Musical Instruments, is awarded for best book-length publication in English. The prize, which includes a sum of $500, was first given in 1989 and has been awarded every second year thereafter.
The Frances Densmore
Prize, named for the pioneering ethnographer who recorded musical practices of Native Americans on hundreds of wax cylinders and in important books, is awarded for the most significant article-length publication in English. The prize, which includes a sum of $500, was first given in 1988 and has been awarded every second year thereafter.
The Frederick Selch Award, named for an important collector of American musical instruments who was a founding member and second president of AMIS, was established in 2004 to honor the best student paper presented at an annual meeting of AMIS. The prize, which includes a sum of $100, is awarded at the discretion of a committee appointed by the AMIS president.
The William E. Gribbon Memorial Award, named for a woodwind collector and longtime AMIS member, was established in 1989 to encourage and enable students to attend the annual meetings of AMIS. The award consists of a student membership in AMIS for one year and substantial financial support for travel and lodging. Applicants must be aged thirty-five years or under, be enrolled as full-time undergraduate or graduate students in accredited academic programs, and have career interests that relate to the purposes of AMIS.
Musicology
Musicology is the scholarly study of music. The word is used in narrow, broad and intermediate senses. In the narrow sense, musicology is confined to the music history of Western culture...
known as organology
Organology
Organology is the science of musical instruments and their classification. It embraces study of instruments' history, instruments used in different cultures, technical aspects of how instruments produce sound, and musical instrument classification...
). Based in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, it publishes a journal and a newsletter, holds annual conferences (occasionally in conjunction with the Galpin Society
Galpin Society
The Galpin Society was formed in October 1946 to further research into the history, construction, development and use of musical instruments...
), maintains an active website and e-mail forum, and presents five awards. The society's international membership includes collectors, curators, historians, performers, instrument makers, conservators, restorers, dealers, teachers, and students.
The Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society, (ISSN 0362-3300)published annually, contains three to six articles, generously illustrated, on a wide range of subjects; book reviews; a list of recent publications about musical instruments; and notices and advertisements. Articles published have been reviewed by expert members of the journal's editorial board. Copies of the journal are available in institutional libraries on four continents; its contents may be accessed on ProQuest, an online source. An index to back issues is available at the AMIS website.
The Newsletter of the American Musical Instrument Society, published three times per year, contains official notices and news of the society's activities; short articles, reviews and communications; recent acquisition lists from member institutions; news of members, and classified ads. Current and recent issues are archived on the AMIS web site. An addendum, issued at two-year intervals, lists recent organological articles from a wide variety of English-language journals.
AMIS-L is a Listserv e-mail forum for AMIS members and designated others. It was established following the international joint conference of AMIS, the Galpin Society, and CIMCIM at the National Music Museum in Vermillion, South Dakota, in May 2006 to facilitate continuing informal communications among members.
The Curt Sachs
Curt Sachs
Curt Sachs was a German-born but American-domiciled musicologist. He was one of the founders of modern organology , and is probably best remembered today for co-authoring the Sachs-Hornbostel scheme of musical instrument classification with his fellow scholar Erich von Hornbostel.Born in Berlin,...
Award, named for a founder of the modern systematic study of musical instruments, is given for lifetime contributions to the goals of the society. The recipient is invited to address members of AMIS at the society's annual meeting. Past recipients of this and other awards are listed on the society's web site. In 2008 William Waterhouse received the award posthumously.
The Nicholas Bessaraboff Prize, named for the scholar who helped lay the foundations of modern organology with his monumental catalog Ancient European Musical Instruments, is awarded for best book-length publication in English. The prize, which includes a sum of $500, was first given in 1989 and has been awarded every second year thereafter.
The Frances Densmore
Frances Densmore
Frances Densmore was an American ethnographer and ethnomusicologist, both being divisions of study within anthropology. She was born in Red Wing, Minnesota, and specialized in Native American music and culture....
Prize, named for the pioneering ethnographer who recorded musical practices of Native Americans on hundreds of wax cylinders and in important books, is awarded for the most significant article-length publication in English. The prize, which includes a sum of $500, was first given in 1988 and has been awarded every second year thereafter.
The Frederick Selch Award, named for an important collector of American musical instruments who was a founding member and second president of AMIS, was established in 2004 to honor the best student paper presented at an annual meeting of AMIS. The prize, which includes a sum of $100, is awarded at the discretion of a committee appointed by the AMIS president.
The William E. Gribbon Memorial Award, named for a woodwind collector and longtime AMIS member, was established in 1989 to encourage and enable students to attend the annual meetings of AMIS. The award consists of a student membership in AMIS for one year and substantial financial support for travel and lodging. Applicants must be aged thirty-five years or under, be enrolled as full-time undergraduate or graduate students in accredited academic programs, and have career interests that relate to the purposes of AMIS.