Musical Instrument Collection

Information about how to explore the collections including access to the online catalogue and instrument images.

St Cecilia's Hall Concert Room & Museum

St Cecilia's Hall Concert Room & Music Museum reopened in 2017 after a major redevelopment. The building displays around 500 items from the University’s Musical Instrument Collection of 6,000+ instruments and associated items.

St Cecilia's Hall website.

St Cecilia's Concert Hall interior — Photo: Jim Stephenson

The musical instrument collection was principally established for teaching and research: hands-on research for publication, making technical drawings, building replica instruments, demonstrations, recording etc. are actively encouraged and facilitated by Museum staff. Today, it is also open to the public with an active programme of engagement activities and events throughout the year.

The purpose of the Collection is to promote the study of the history, construction and functions of musical instruments as well as their cultural contexts. The Collection covers the period from the 16th century (the earliest period from which examples are available for acquisition) to the present day.

Many of the instruments are still playable and through an established concert programme and as a regular venue during the Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe, the Concert Room provides a glorious setting for performances of music from a wide range of genres, times and places.

The Catalogue

All instruments from the University of Edinburgh Musical Instrument Museums' collection are catalogued in the MIMEd section of collections.ed.ac.uk

Demonstrations

We currently have over one hundred video clips of historic stringed, woodwind, brasswind and percussion instruments being demonstrated and discussed by musicians.