Restoring former musical glories

Most of the musical instruments played in the ANU School of Music today have very few resemblances to their predecessors from 400 years ago.

But the School’s collection of historical instruments — some more than 200 years old — is being dusted off to bring the sounds of the past to students of the future.

The School has one of the largest collections of historical instruments in Australia and a restoration project to get all 50-plus instruments in working order has begun in earnest.

In the latest edition of ANU Reporter, discover the secrets behind the treasures and hear them being played.

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