Fifth appointment dedicated to the discovery of museums and collections dedicated to music and musical instruments, old and new, present and active around the world. The first four appointments, dedicated to ‘dear old’ Rock, were with Rolando Giambelli, creator and director of the Beatles Museum in Brescia (here). Second appointment with Tiziano Gerli, curator of the Clash City Rockers Cafè, a museum dedicated to the Clash and their world (here). Third appointment with Mariano Freschi, founder of the MADE IN ROCK association, a passionate collector of hundreds of basses, guitars, amplifiers used by the Kinks, Kiss, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, among others, memorabilia of all kinds, posters and many other gadgets that literally build the History, with a capital letter, of Rock (here). Fourth appointment with Jacob McMurray, Director of Curatorial Affairs at MoPOP – Museum Of Pop Culture in Seattle, USA (here). Now I move virtually to Japan to interview Sawako Ishii, a curator of the Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments, city of Hamamatsu, Shizuoka prefecture. The museum boasts an important collection of musical instruments from all over the world and immediately fascinated me when I landed on their website. As soon as you read the interview, take a tour of the museum’s virtual galleries, you will be left speechless by the amount of information and the beauty of the instruments you will find.
Here you can find the Italian Translation
When was the Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments founded and why?
The museum was opened in 1995 as part of Hamamatsu City’s initiative, “Creation of a City of Music.”
What was the inspiration for the Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments?
The museum was originally inspired by the initiative, which aimed to establish Hamamatsu as a city with a strong musical identity. It has sought to represent a wide range of cultures and musical traditions, making it a valuable sourse for studying and appreciating global musical diversity.
Where is it?
It is located in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka prefecture, Japan. It is less than a 10 minutes-walk from Hamamatsu Station.
What instruments and collections does the Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments have?
The museum has collected and preserved over 3.300 musical instruments from around the world. Our policy is to treat these instruments with an equal and unbiased perspective.
Are there any interesting stories about the Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments?
One intersting feature of the museum is our virtual galleries, which allow people to experience our exhibitions without visiting the phisical location.
What is the best way to experience the Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments?
Using the audio guide can greatly enrich your museum experience. It provides information about how each instrument sounds and offeres insights into music and associated cultures.
Is it open to external collaborations?
Yes, the museum is open to collaborations, although the possibility depends on resources and funding. We have collaborated with various institutions ranging from museums to elementary schools, universities and libraries and the local musical instrument companies such as YAMAHA, KAWAI and Roland.
Do you have any possible developments in mind? For example a book or a documentary that tells its story through interviews and videos?
The museum is currently working on multilingualizing information about museum and exhibits. This development aimes to make the museum more accessible to a diverse audience.
Do you have any projects or exhibitions in progress?
The museum is preparing for two exhibitions to be held within the year. One will focus on pianos made in 19th-century Vienna, while the other will explore Latin American instruments developed through interactions with other regions such as Europe and Africa.
Link: Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments Home Page
Link: Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments Facebook Page
Link: Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments Instagram Profile
