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皇冠体育app Art of Harmony

Ed Vaizey opens combined V&A and Horniman Museum music collection.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Culture Minister opened 皇冠体育app Art of Harmony last night. 皇冠体育app exhibition brings together 44 musical instruments from the collections of the and , presenting the聽captivating story of European classical music from the 16th to 19th centuries.

Many of these instruments have fascinating individual stories: from connections to prominent historical figures and events to tales of skulduggery and deception. A highlight of the display is one of Antonio Stradivari鈥檚 iconic violins, an example of his virtuosic craftsmanship which remains highly prized by top musicians today.聽 - famously 鈥淪on of a king, father of a king, but never a king鈥� - reputedly owned the ornate kit (a compact violin used for dance lessons) which forms part of the 鈥楽alon鈥� display.

Alongside the display of instruments, the exhibition sheds light on the history of the two musical instrument collections, from the great exhibitions of the Victorian era that both fed and inspired them, to the intriguing individual collectors themselves.

皇冠体育app exhibition was funded by a 拢65,000 grant from the 鈥檚 .

Commenting on the joint exhibition, Janet Vitmayer, Director of the Horniman said 鈥淲e are thrilled to be able to focus the Horniman鈥檚 curatorial expertise on these exceptional instruments from the V&A as they complement our own collections so well. 皇冠体育app Art of Harmony shows just how much can be achieved when institutions pool their strengths.鈥�

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Published 20 May 2012