MIM Releases New Collection Catalog During Its 10th Anniversary May 18, 2020 PHOENIX (May 18, 2020) – In a newly released catalog, the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) provides an insider’s perspective into its galleries, showcasing a selection of beautiful global instruments from the museum’s collection. Filled with fascinating details and stunning instrument photography, the catalog captures the craftsmanship and creativity of peoples from around the world. Rated Phoenix’s #1 attraction and ranked in the top 15 museums in the United States by TripAdvisor, MIM fosters appreciation of the world’s diverse cultures by showing how we innovate, adapt, and learn from each other to create music—the language of the soul. While MIM’s galleries have transformed since the museum first opened 10 years ago, their original vision and commitment to excellence continue. Designed to be immersive, the galleries feature more than 300 wide-screen video monitors showcasing musical performances and traditions as well as interactive Sennheiser audio technology. The essential message in most displays is the inherent beauty of musical instruments, their place in history and culture, and how they connect different peoples around the world. In recent years, MIM has focused on expanding its collection with some of the finest global instruments that are most representative of their associated cultures. Today, approximately 8,000 instruments make up MIM’s collection, with more than 4,300 on display in the galleries, representing over 200 of the world’s countries and territories. As MIM celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2020, the new catalog shares recent acquisitions as well as pieces that have been part of the collection since the museum opened. MIM proudly owns and presents invaluable objects, many of them among the world’s most important and notable instruments. The catalog features nearly 130 instruments, including: A beautifully built guitarra española made by Portuguese luthier Belchior Dias in the sixteenth century and recognized as the earliest full-sized guitar in existence A rare Japanese shō mouth organ dating to 1509 that has long been played for special ceremonial and ritual music An ornate Iranian kamancheh, one of only seven known today made by legendary luthier Karam Khan Tambores batá (double-headed hourglass drums) played by the pioneering and Grammy Award–winning Afro-Cuban jazz band Irakere A striking Baroque harpsichord that served as a model for hundreds of harpsichords around the world A Gretsch El Dorado guitar played for nearly 50 years by jazz guitarist Freddie Green in the Count Basie Orchestra MIM’s exhibits are dynamic and continually updated to share new instruments, costumes, video content, and musical histories from around the world. The catalog also showcases more than 60 new and enhanced exhibits throughout MIM’s Geographic Galleries, Artist Gallery, and Mechanical Music Gallery and highlights the Experience Gallery, Conservation Lab, and MIM Music Theater. “With an extraordinary collection of more than 8,000 instruments from every country in the world, MIM is alive with the vibrant sights and sounds of musical traditions that reflect the human experience,” says April A. Salomon, MIM’s executive director. “Our commitment to continuously evolve and improve in all that we do remains the solid foundation we have built upon to exceed expectations and ensure MIM is a sustaining global resource for future generations to experience the power of music.” MIM’s nearly 200-page new collection catalog will be available for purchase for $19.95 at the Museum Store beginning in April. The Musical Instrument Museum is located at 4725 E. Mayo Boulevard in Phoenix (corner of Tatum and Mayo Boulevards, just south of Loop 101). For general museum information and a full schedule of events, visit MIM.org or call 480.478.6000. *** About MIM The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) enriches our world by collecting, preserving, and making accessible an astonishing variety of musical instruments and performance videos from every country in the world. MIM offers guests a welcoming and fun experience, incomparable interactive technology, dynamic programming, and exceptional musical performances. MIM fosters appreciation of the world’s diverse cultures by showing how we innovate, adapt, and learn from each other to create music—the language of the soul. To learn more about MIM, visit MIM.org. Find MIM on Facebook: Facebook.com/MIMphx Twitter and Instagram: @MIMphx, #MIM10 Media Contact Johann Warnholtz Media Relations Specialist Johann.Warnholtz@MIM.org 480.245.6953 DOWNLOAD PDF
