Collection Pop Up: Rare Music

Join Rare Music Curator Jen Hill, in an informal session on two books from the University’s Special Collections. Kircher’s Musurgia universalis (1650) and the lesser- known Phonurgia nova (1673) —both liberally illustrated—are full of surprises: from talking statues and musical automata, to birdsong notation and music’s power to cure a tarantula bite.

About the collection:

The Rare Music collection contains music manuscripts, printed scores, books, archival and other music-related material, including photographs and ephemera. It spans the late 11th century through to the present day. The focus is primarily on European art-music traditions and, to a lesser extent, on popular music. Collection strengths – primarily found in named sub-collections – are in early French, Italian and English music, instrumental methods and music and acoustic theory.

Bookings are encouraged but all are welcome to drop in to this session. The curator will meet attendees in the Noel Shaw Gallery, before heading to our collection storage areas.

This event is part of our Collection Pop-Up series. Look out for our upcoming events in March and April.