Schuman Collection facts for kids
The Schuman Collection is a huge group of musical instruments. These instruments come from all over the world! Jack and Dorinda Schuman collected them. You can find all kinds of instruments in this collection. There are string instruments, wind instruments, and percussion instruments. They come from every time period in music history. Soon, this amazing collection will be on display. It will be in the music building at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon, USA.
How the Collection Started
Jack Schuman was a professor who taught art history. He started collecting instruments in 1954. He was working as a librarian in San Diego back then. His very first purchase was an Austrian Mandola. He bought it for $400. This special instrument was made in 1910.
In the 1960s, Jack Schuman went to study in London. While he was in Europe, he visited many places. He looked through flea markets, auctions, and antique shows. He found many cool items in Britain and Germany. For example, he found a guitar from Naples. He also found a Spanish harp from the 1600s.
Later, Schuman started looking for instruments in other parts of the world. He traveled to Africa, Asia, and South America. From these places, he found very rare instruments. Some examples are an Indian Elephant Bell and a Burmese Royal Buddhist Harp.
The collection was first offered to the University of Oregon. But later, it was decided that Southern Oregon University would be a better home for it. This was because of how they could care for the instruments and keep them safe.
What Instruments Are There?
The Schuman Collection has a total of 720 different instruments! These instruments come from many different places and cultures. You can see instruments from Europe and America. There are also instruments from Islamic, African, and Asian traditions.
Here are just a few examples of the instruments you might find:
- Thai Elephant Bell
- American Civil War Banjo
- French Vielle a Roue (a string instrument played with a crank)
- Spanish Harp
- 18th Century German Clavichord (an old keyboard instrument)
- Austrian Mandola (like a mandolin)
- Moroccan Sossi Rabab (a type of guitar)
- Kissar (a type of harp from Mali)
You can learn more about the collection online: [1]
What Will Happen with the Collection?
The Schuman Collection is special because it's not just for looking at. Students and teachers at Southern Oregon University can actually play and use these instruments! This helps them learn about music history.
There are also other exciting plans for the collection. Schools will be able to take tours to see the instruments. The public will also be able to visit and view them. The collection hopes to bring musicians and experts to the Rogue Valley. It will also work with the Shakespeare programs at Southern Oregon University. It will also complement the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
