Sounds of the World

From ritual musical instruments to those used for performance and entertainment, music and sound-making have been a universal part of every human culture for thousands of years.

This display shows a selection of musical instruments from RAMM’s collections, including Yoruban ritual bells, a Nigerian thumb piano, and a crocodile zither from Myanmar.

The objects on display aim to demonstrate the enormous diversity of musical instruments from around the world, and the important role music and sound has in many societies and cultures.

Alongside this exhibit, a further display of musical instruments can be seen in RAMM’s ‘What do you collect?’ case in the ‘Finders Keepers?’ gallery, loaned from the collection of Ian Summers. This is accompanied by an online Showcase exhibition, where you can hear some of Ian’s instruments being played.