A Musical Museum
Just a few steps away from the Albert Hall is a fantastic and little known museum. If you’re interested in classical music, it’s a fascinating place to visit – the Royal College of Music’s Museum of Instruments.
Want to see one of the oldest keyboard instruments in existence? You can – a clavicytherium from the fifteenth century. It’s a bit wormeaten and doesn’t work – so there’s a modern copy standing next to it, which does work, though it’s not nearly as nicely decorated!
There are lutes, guitars, flutes; there are Indian and African instruments; fine harpsichords and beautifully decorated Renaissance and Baroque instruments that look too fine, too ornate ever to have been played.
True, the way the museum is set out is a bit traditional – glass cases full of objects. And you may not be able to hear the instruments being played (though sometimes there are mini-recitals – you may be in luck). But for musicians, the museum is worth a visit if you happen to be in the area.
You’ll need to plan properly to see the Museum, though. It’s only open from 2 till 430 in the afternoon, Tuesdays to Fridays.
RCM Museum of Instruments, Prince Consort Road, London SW7
Comments Off