Today the collection consists of around 2000 musical instruments from the whole world. In addition we take responsibility for around one hundred instruments, deposited from other museums and private persons. Especially one can mention the historic keyboard instruments, classic string instruments and parts of the ethnographic collection. Collection is a continuos process

The keyboard collection includes an unsigned Italian virginal from around the 1600, a spinet from ca 1700, a large selection of clavichords from the 1700s, a harpsichord by Jacob Kirkman from 1767, hammer pianos signed J.A. Stein 1783 and Conrad Graf 1826 and a harp piano by Chr. Dietz from around 1870. From the collection of classic wind instruments one can mention an alto recorder by J.B. Gahn around 1700, a clarinet quartet by Bilton, London around 1840, string instruments like the violin by H&A Amati 1612, viola d'amore by Eberle, Prag 1755, viola da gamba from the workshop of Tielke, Hamburg around 1700. Further, electronic instruments like a Subharchord II synthesizer from 1968 and a Gibson Les Paul electric guitar from 1952.

Traditional Norwegian instruments make of course up a large section of the collection and include for example hardanger fiddles from the 17- and 1800s, Norwegian zithers "langeleik" from various parts of the country and a rich selection of instruments used at the mountain farm, for hunting, important ceremonies etc.

All continents of the world are represented with traditional instruments from for example Africa, Latin-America, Oceania and Asia. Amongst these ,important collections come from Tibet, India and different countries of Eastern Europe.

You can find information (in Norwegian) about the musical instruments in the collections from our digital catalogue at www.digitaltmuseum.no (Norwegian language version only). Further inquiries and questions about the collections should be directed to the instrument curator, Mats Krouthén.
E-mail: mats.krouthen@ringve.no.