From Sept. 24 to Nov. 27, experience “The Power of Music” like you have never seen or heard at the Musical Instruments Museum.
In the late 19th century, while our country was riddled with war and pitched against the Great Depression, one aspect of life seemed to smooth over the rough edges of the era: music. “The Power of Music: Photographic Portraits of Americans and Their Musical Instruments, 1860-1915” is the first photography-based exhibit for the museum and is certainly in alignment with the mission of the museum itself.
Look, listen and feel the music of the past—from archival footage and photographs collected and compiled over 25 years and actual instruments of the time period from the museum’s collection. Portraits of men, women and children as well as Civil War soldiers, cowboys, farmers, and mid-class Victorians coupled next to a variety of guitars, banjos, mandolins, pianos and brass horns adorn the walls while real instruments of the same time are placed throughout the exhibit space.
During opening weekend only (Sept. 24 and 25), head over to MIM café after marveling at the sights and sounds of the show for savory food that parallels the exhibit theme with dishes like “Possum Belly”—kettle soup of Sonoran chili beans, Power Ranch beef, and fire roasted chilies. Children can also learn to play the bones and harmonica with musicians Mark Gardner and Rex Hideout from 10-11:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and visitors can experience the illustrated lecture and musical demonstration of the exhibit by Gardner and Hideout to gain more insight behind the images and instruments on display. For more information, visit www.themim.org.
