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The Raymond Russell Collection and the Rodger Mirrey Collection illustrate the history of keyboard instruments from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century. The Rodger Mirrey Collection was added in 2005. They are housed in St Cecilia's Hall, Edinburgh, the oldest purpose-built concert hall in Scotland. The hall was acquired by Edinburgh University in 1959 to provide a home for the collection of early keyboard instruments of the late Raymond Russell, which forms the core of the present collection, and a department of early keyboard instruments within the Faculty of Music (now part of the School of Arts, Culture and Environment). The Rodger Mirrey Collection was added in 2005. The hall is used for concerts organised by the Friends, the University, and outside organisations. The Anne Macaulay Collection of Plucked String Instruments is also housed at the hall.
The St Cecilia's Hall Museum of Instruments is open to the public every Wednesday and Saturday, 14:00 - 17:00 except in the weeks of Christmas and New Year. During the Edinburgh International and Fringe Festivals it is also open Monday to Saturday, 10:30 - 12:30. Please check the local press or telephone 0131 650 2422, during normal office hours. Arrangements can sometimes be made for special viewing outwith the above hours.
The Friends of St Cecilia's Hall and Museum work to:
- raise funds to buy instruments
- acquire books and other material about the history of the instruments
- organise and promote educational projects
- help generally with the work of the Hall and the Collection.
Our main fundraising effort is our series of concerts for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. In addition, we sell CDs and books connected with the collection, plus technical drawings, data-sheets and photographs of instruments in the Collection.
The Friends of St Cecilia's Hall are members of the British Association of Friends of Museums, an organisation which provides support and encouragement for Friends groups.
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