Musica Antiqua, a group of musicians based at Iowa State University who recreate the music of the Renaissance and Middle Ages, have created a web page that showcases their large collection of 12th to 17th century replica instruments. At this site, users can view pictures and descriptions of the Hurdy-Gurdy, Dulcian, Rebec, Recorder, Crumhorn, and many other lesser and better known old instruments....

The University of Washington Ethnomusicology Division houses over 400 musical instruments from around the world. Over the past six decades, the collection has grown substantially as musicians and collectors have donated all manner of instruments. First-time visitors should dive right in by clicking on the Idiophones section offered under Sample Searches. In case you are wondering, an idiophone...

Inspired by a love of music (and a great respect and admiration for Jimi Hendrix), Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen set out to create the Experience Music Project (EMP) in Seattle. In an innovative and creative building design by noted architect Frank Gehry, Allen showcases some of the over 80,000 items related to the history of music over the past century. On the site, visitors will find a number...

While sometimes lackadaisical young musicians may be prone to leaving their instrument on a school bus, it is not everyday that a $3.5 million cello, crafted by the revered artisan and craftsman Antonio Stradivari is absent-mindedly forgotten by the principal cellist (one Peter Stumpf) for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. But this is precisely what happened when Mr. Stumpf forgot his cello outside...

Roderic C. Knight came to Oberlin College as a researcher and professor in the field of organology, or the scientific study of musical instruments. He had begun collecting a range of instruments when he was in high school, and he was rather proud of his diverse collection. In 2008, Knight donated his personal collection of instruments to Oberlin. This digital collection allows users to learn about...