World Harmony – Musical Instruments from around the Globe

Musical instruments throughout the world are played individually, in small groups, or in large orchestras. They often accompany singing and dancing.  They are played for entertainment, political events, rituals, and celebrations.  Men, women, and children, in cities and villages, in rainforests, deserts, mountains, and islands, play musical instruments of all shapes and sizes.

Musical instruments can be made from wood, metal, bamboo, gourd, clay, stone, skin, leather, silk, gut, vegetation, nylon, and plastic. Sounds are produced by vibrations of these materials, either in the body of the instrument itself, or as membranes, strings, or air columns. These vibrations are caused by physical actions -- when we play musical instruments, we hit, stamp, shake, scrape, rub, squeeze, pluck, bow, blow, suck, or whirl!

The instruments shown here represent a small selection from the Museum of Natural and Cultural History’s collections, featured in the 2009 exhibition, World Harmony – Musical Instruments from around the Globe.  Research by Dr. Mark Levy, University of Oregon Department of Music, photography by Christopher White. 

Images © Museum of Natural and Cultural History

For the entire sample gallery - click here

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