The Stearns Collection

THE STEARNS COLLECTION

How It is Being Arranged in the Museum.

The Frederick Stearns collection of musical instruments belonging to the University of Michigan is now being arranged in the north wing of the museum building, on the third floor. It will be so displayed as to illustrate the evolution of musical instruments from the simpler to the more complex forms. First, in the order of development come percussion instruments; second, wind instruments: third, stringed instruments; and lastly the pipe and reed combination instruments. The percussion instruments which are the simplest in form and construction, comprise rattles, drums, bells, and the like. Among the wind instruments are whistles, flutes, and trumpets. In the third class are the harp, lute, tamborine, guitar, zither, viol violin, and piano. The pipe and reed combination instruments comprise organs of various kinds.

Each of these divisions is sub-divided and these sub-divisions still further sub-divided, in order that each instrument may find its logical place in the collection.