More than 1,800 flutes in the Library of Congress vaults. Just amazing.

[niyad]

Would love to hear more of them.

[Retrograde]

1. Why does the Library of Congress have so many flutes?

And what other weird things do they have?

BTW, if you're in DC I highly recommend a visit to the Library of Congress: I thought it would be a few minutes, but we stayed for hours. One of the things they have on display is the only known copy of the Waldseemueller map, the first one to use the term "America" for the western continents. And that was just one of the cool exhibits.

[Effete Snob]

4. They have the most music

They are the register of copyrights and have all manner of sound recording and reproducing equipment.

They have the copyright specimens of all sheet music for which copyright was registered, and the instruments with which to play it.

A more detailed explanation is here:

https://www.loc.gov/collections/musical-instruments-at-the-library-of-congress/about-this-collection/

Instrument collecting at the Library began in 1935 with the donation of five Stradivarius stringed instruments by Mrs. Gertrude Clarke Whittall. Since then other instruments have been acquired, including strings, flutes and winds, and Siamese folk instruments. This site offers descriptive information about the instrument collections, as well as photos and an audio comparison of five violins by violinist Nicholas Kitchen performing Bach’s Chaconne.

The mission of the Library of Congress, the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution and the largest library in the world, is to serve Congress and preserve its resources for the future. In 1815 Congress purchased Thomas Jefferson’s library, a rich collection universal in scope, knowledge, and creativity. Jefferson, a keen admirer of music, was also a violinist. His library collection held 13 books on music literature and theory, thus laying the foundation for the future music division.

Strings

The Library’s Music Division was established by 1896. From 1924 to 1935, aided by the philanthropy of two remarkable women, Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge and Gertude Clarke Whittall, the mission of the Music Division included musical performance and music commissions.

[niyad]

15. Thank you for this fascinating information.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

7. They received a donation of about 1800 flutes

From a collector about 100 years ago, I think.
I saw a Twitter thread from the Library highlighting other weird rarities. I saw a collection of snuff boxes mentioned, the contents of Lincoln’s suit when he was assassinated, and a 100-year-old wedding cake!

[eppur_se_muova]

18. The Dayton C. Miller Flute Collection, in 1941.

https://www.loc.gov/collections/dayton-c-miller-collection/articles-and-essays/dayton-c-miller-biography/

Pick up any book on the history of the flute (or woodwinds, or wind instruments in general) and you'll see photos of historic flutes from the DCMiller collection.

Miller was a pioneer in the study of the acoustics of musical instruments, much of it carried out while a professor of physics at what is now Case Western Reserve University. Another professor at Case, the late Arthur Benade, continued the tradition of combining science and music, and wrote an interesting pop-sci-level book, Horns, Strings, and Harmony, which is good reading for any musician wondering how his instrument really works. Interestingly, Benade was also an amateur flutist, and gives instructions for building your own flute (with simple keywork).

https://www.thriftbooks.com/a/arthur-h-benade/375239/

[niyad]

21. Thank yyou so much for this information. I was fascinated just looking

briefly at the historry.

[niyad]

16. on my bucket list!

[Effete Snob]

2. If you've got it, flaut it

The LOC had further mentioned that many of the items in their collection were donated with instructions that they be maintained in playable condition and played.

It is worth mentioning that the LOC has the largest collection of audio recordings on the planet. As the administrator of the US Copyright Office, they have received a copy of every item for which a copyright is registered (with the exception of certain materials relating to computer code).

[AZSkiffyGeek]

8. They need to have a TV show highlighting what they have

New item every week - talk about its provenance and importance, etc.
Nicholas Cage should host.

[Effete Snob]

9. Indeed if properly funded, they would

Nicholas Cage is bang on.

There is no end to the treasures possessed by some of our institutions.

Sort of like Antiques Roadshow, but its our stuff...

[niyad]

14. The weekly show is a wonderful idea!

[Sneederbunk]

3. What about the accordions?

[Effete Snob]

5. When the Library of Congress receives an accordion...

...they put it in the pile to be taken to the incinerator with the bagpipes, as is customary.

Any wind instrument which is powered by arms instead of lungs is a tool of Satan.

[Brother Buzz]

10. Do you know the definition for perfect pitch?

When you throw an accordion into the dumpster and it lands right on the bagpipes.

[Effete Snob]

11. lol

[niyad]

13. Snort!!

[niyad]

12. Snicker.

[underpants]

6. 😆

[hlthe2b]

20. There's a Memorial Landfill somewhere for them...

Sorry, couldn't resist, accordion fans.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

17. That is amazing

[electric_blue68]

19. I with my sis & cousin visited it decades ago. It was so pretty inside!

[niyad]

22. How wonderful. Were you allowed to take photographs?

[electric_blue68]

23. I don't remember whether I snuck a couple OR you could as long as you didn't use a flash!...

Since I had a nice SLR with a good range of speed & apeture I could have just taken them w/o sneaking them

We're talking about 50 yrs ago!

The one I remember is I think we were on a landing of the Grand staircase were it made a 90° turn. Took one with part of that in front- midground with sine probably cool other architectural elements in the background.