ORIENTATION GALLERY

Discover why music is the language of the soul.

The instruments on display in the Orientation Gallery and the stories they tell set the stage for the incredible variety of items and diverse cultures you’ll experience in MIM’s galleries. From ancient cymbals to modern guitars, miniature flutes to a massive octobasse, every instrument serves as a global medium for expression and communicates so much more than the music we hear.

As windows into human life, musical instruments help us create individual and shared group experiences. They can be emblems of our identities as individuals, as families, as neighbors, and as nations. By giving sound to who we are, instruments enable us to amplify the human emotions that connect us all. Instruments also reveal the ingenuity of the planet’s peoples. Inventive designs and impeccable craftsmanship make instruments tangible works of art that illustrate how we innovate, adapt, and learn from each other to create music.

Throughout the museum, you can explore how music has shaped cultures, defined geographic identities, and marked milestones throughout history while holding the unique ability to unify people from every corner of the globe. There truly is nothing else like music. Without it, the soul would have no language.

Inside the Orientation Gallery

People have been on the move throughout history, and music has always moved with them. The Musical Journeys exhibit showcases the cultural and geographical ties that connect instruments and musical styles from around the world.

While many of the instruments on display in our galleries might be rare or unfamiliar, guitars are universally known. The Guitar Gallery highlights the connections that exist between countries, musical instruments, and the people who play them.

The centerpiece of the Orientation Gallery is a nearly 12-foot-tall octobasse! This orchestral instrument was designed in the mid-19^th century to add a low rumble to large orchestras. MIM’s octobasse is the only playable example in the Western Hemisphere.

Creativity spurs experimentation and innovation, resulting in myriad instruments found all over the world. Some instrument makers intentionally alter designs to achieve specific sounds, while others are simply driven to push the boundaries of convention.

The items on display in the Orientation Gallery also highlight the intricate craftsmanship and attention to detail that makes every instrument a unique work of art. Instruments also reveal the ingenuity and influences of the people who make them.

Built in 1859, the 14-foot-tall Robjohn pipe organ is the only surviving instrument of New York City instrument maker Thomas Robjohn.

Plan Your Visit _›

Video Highlights

Watch: Installing the Thomas Robjohn Pipe Organ

The pipe organ is considered the king of instruments, and its capacity for producing a stunning variety of sounds has inspired composers, performers, and audiences for centuries. MIM’s Robjohn pipe organ has two keyboards, 10 stops, and 502 pipes—and it took a team of builders more than a week to install it!

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Installing the Thomas Robjohn Pipe Organ

Watch: Conserving Oversized Instruments

It’s hard to miss the oversized instruments hanging from the ceiling above the Orientation Gallery when you’re riding the escalator up to the Geographic Galleries on MIM’s second floor. These colossal instruments are routinely reviewed and cleaned by members of MIM’s conservation team.

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Watch: Discover the Octobasse

Invented by the French violin maker and entrepreneur Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, the octobasse debuted at the 1849 French Industrial Exposition in Paris. MIM’s octobasse is one of the few replicas of the original instrument.

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