THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH

The Collection was established as the Music Classroom Museum by Professor John Donaldson (1845-1865) who built its present gallery. It was substantially augmented by the Galpin Society in the period 1969-1980 and re-established as the Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments in 1980.

The Reid Concert Hall Museum of Instruments is a Fully Accredited Museum with the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA).
Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments is a Recognised Collection of National Significance to Scotland.

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On display are nearly 1000 items including stringed, woodwind, brass and percussion instruments from Britain, Europe and from other continents. The instrumental history of the Orchestra, the Wind Band, Theatre, Dance, Popular Music, Brass Bands, etc is exemplified by the instruments on display, which include many beautiful examples of the instrument-maker's art over the past 400 years. (Please note that our plucked string instruments (harps, lutes, guitars, etc) are now displayed at St Cecilia's Hall Museum of Instruments). The Collection is housed in purpose-built galleries of 1859 in the Reid Concert Hall at the south-west corner of Bristo Square, Teviot Place, Edinburgh. The museum retains a Victorian atmosphere, and gives a feeling of discovery as one explores its crowded 1859 showcases. Perform your own experiments in The Sound Laboratory interactive exploration area. Sound guides are available on request in the galleries - hear musicians talking about and playing the instruments ! Catalogues, technical drawings and other publications are on sale. The Museum is open to the public twice weekly: Saturday 10:00 - 13:00 Wednesday 15:00 - 17:00 Except in the weeks of Christmas and New Year: closed 24 December 2011, open 4 January 2012. The Museum is additionally open to the public for the period of the Edinburgh International and Fringe Festivals (8 August - 3 September 2011): Monday to Friday 14:00 - 17:00 The Museum is also open before, and during the interval of, public concerts held in the Reid Concert Hall. There is no charge for entry. Special visits outside these times, and group visits Access: Enter from Bristo Square. The museum has a chair lift at the entrance, assistance is available if required. Once past the entrance, the museum is on one level. Car parking can available by prior arrangement for visitors with registered disability badges. Please contact the museum staff in advance.

The Reid Concert Hall the Museum entrance is to the left

See Information about Travelling to and from The University of Edinburgh with further maps.

(1156) Serpent (Haye, London, c 1825) with (1157) mouthpiece (861) Portable harp (J. Egan, Dublin, c 1825) (57) Flute (S. Koch, Vienna, c 1820) (31) Flute (Tebaldo Monzani, London, 1816) (1054) Set of bagpipes (Hugh Robertson, Edinburgh, 1793)

(416) Tabla [drum], India, mid 19th century (1622) Gong, Burma, mid 20th century (445) Pipa [bowl lute], China, 19th century (368) Di [side-blown flute], China, 19th century (1651) Temple block, China, c 1930 (381) Hichiriki [oboe], Japan, with case (1649) Kyi-zi [bell plate], Burma, early 20th century

Link to the St Cecilia's Hall Museum of Instruments - the Raymond Russell and the Rodger Mirrey Collections of Early Keyboard Instruments and the Anne Macaulay Collection of Plucked String Instruments

Link to the Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments Welcome Page (list of instruments, electronic picture gallery, demonstrations, publications, history, etc.)

Link to other University of Edinburgh museums and galleries

The Reid Concert Hall Museum of Instruments and the St Cecilia's Hall Museum of Instruments operate along with the Talbot Rice Gallery under the umbrella of the Libraries and Collections Division of Edinburgh University Information Services. The name "Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments" refers to both the University's instrument museums considered together.

The purpose of the Collection is to promote the study of the history, construction and functions of instruments of music and all cognate matters, the furtherance of research and the propagation of knowledge of instrumental history.

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© Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, 1995-2010, 2011.

This page updated: 8.3.11