World Harmony – Musical Instruments from around the Globe

Flute, two-chambered duct type

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Flute detail

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Frame Drum

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Frame Drum detail

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Panpipes (antara)

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Panpipes (antara) detail

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Hand Drum (kundu)

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Hand Drum (kundu) detail

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Slit Drum or Slit Gong (paté)

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Slit Drum or Slit Gong (paté) detail

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Clapper Drum (thod-dam [damaru])

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Clapper Drum (thod-dam [damaru]) detail

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Jaw Harp and Case (t’xe)

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Jaw Harp and Case (t’xe) detail

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Mouth Organ (khaen)

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Mouth Organ (khaen) detail

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Mouth Organ (ladjay)

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Mouth Organ (ladjay) detail

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Bowl Lyre (krar)

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Bowl Lyre (krar) detail

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End-blown Flute (washint)

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End-blown Flute (washint) detail

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“Talking drum” (dundun)

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“Talking drum” (dundun) detail

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Conical Drum (mbuutu)

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Conical Drum (mbuutu) detail

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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. Photography by Christopher White, text by Mark Levy and Cindi Budlong, and web development by Robert Voelker-Morris and Keith Hamm. Images © UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History. Production of this gallery was generously supported by The Ford Family Foundation.