Yale University Collection of Musical Instruments
Encyclopedia
The Yale University Collection of Musical Instruments is a museum at Yale University
in New Haven, Connecticut
. The collection of musical instruments was established in 1900 by the gift of historic keyboard instruments by Morris Steinert and later enriched in 1960 and 1962 by gifts from the Skinner and Emil Herrmann collections. It was originally housed under the dome of Woolsey Hall
but was later moved to a historic romanesque
structure on Hillhouse Avenue
built in 1895 originally for the Alpha Delta Phi
fraternity. Today it is one of the preeminent collections of its kind worldwide. Notable highlights include an unsurpassed group of keyboard instruments from three centuries, featuring examples by such names as Schnetzler, Blanchet, Ruckers
, Hoffman, Könnicke, Érard
, and Chickering
. The collection also possesses fine examples of the luthier
's art including stringed instruments by Stradivari, Guarneri
, and Stainer
. There is also a strong collection of woodwinds by the best makers and a collection of world instruments.
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in New Haven, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. The collection of musical instruments was established in 1900 by the gift of historic keyboard instruments by Morris Steinert and later enriched in 1960 and 1962 by gifts from the Skinner and Emil Herrmann collections. It was originally housed under the dome of Woolsey Hall
Woolsey Hall
Woolsey Hall is the primary auditorium at Yale University. Woolsey Hall, which seats 2,695 people, was built as part of the Yale bicentennial celebration in 1901. The architects were Carrère and Hastings, designers of the New York Public Library....
but was later moved to a historic romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
structure on Hillhouse Avenue
Hillhouse Avenue
Hillhouse Avenue, described, according to tradition, by both Charles Dickens and Mark Twain as "the most beautiful street in America," , is in New Haven, Connecticut and is home to many nineteenth century mansions including the president's house at Yale University...
built in 1895 originally for the Alpha Delta Phi
Alpha Delta Phi
Alpha Delta Phi is a Greek-letter social college fraternity and the fourth-oldest continuous Greek-letter fraternity in the United States and Canada. Alpha Delta Phi was founded on October 29, 1832 by Samuel Eells at Hamilton College and includes former U.S. Presidents, Chief Justices of the U.S....
fraternity. Today it is one of the preeminent collections of its kind worldwide. Notable highlights include an unsurpassed group of keyboard instruments from three centuries, featuring examples by such names as Schnetzler, Blanchet, Ruckers
Ruckers
The Ruckers family were Flemish harpsichord and virginal makers based in Antwerp in the 16th and 17th century whose influence stretched well into the 18th and to the harpsichord revival of the 20th.The Ruckers family contributed immeasurably to the harpsichord's technical development,...
, Hoffman, Könnicke, Érard
Sébastien Érard
Sébastien Érard , born Sébastien Erhard, was a French instrument maker of German origin who specialised in the production of pianos and harps, developing the capacities of both instruments and pioneering the modern piano....
, and Chickering
Chickering and Sons
Chickering and Sons was an American piano manufacturer located in Boston, known for producing award-winning instruments of superb quality and design. The company was founded in 1823 by Jonas Chickering and James Stewart, but the partnership dissolved four years later...
. The collection also possesses fine examples of the luthier
Luthier
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
's art including stringed instruments by Stradivari, Guarneri
Guarneri
The Guarneri is the family name of a group of distinguished luthiers from Cremona in Italy in the 17th and 18th centuries, whose standing is considered comparable to those of the Amati and Stradivari families...
, and Stainer
Jacob Stainer
Jacob Stainer was the earliest and best known Austrian luthier.Stainer was born in Absam, Austria. His designs influenced instrument construction in Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, parts of Italy, and several other countries....
. There is also a strong collection of woodwinds by the best makers and a collection of world instruments.