Museum Metadata Exchange

Names

Name PrimaryCharles & Kati Marson Musical Instrument Collection

IDs

ID LocalQM00023

ID UriOffline Only

Descriptions

Brief DescriptionThis collection consists of 830 traditional musical instruments from around the world, with particular emphasis on African, Asian and Pacific cultures. The breadth of the Charles and Kati Marson Collection demonstrates the wide diversity of ways in which different cultures have made music, and how significant music is to all cultures.

SignificanceIn 2002 the Queensland Museum has received a major donation from Charles Marson of over 830 traditional musical instruments from around the world, with particular emphasis on African, Asian and Pacific cultures. The breadth of the Charles and Kati Marson Collection demonstrates the wide diversity of ways in which different cultures have made music, and how significant music is to all cultures. This generous donation to the Queensland Museum by Brisbane-born Charles Marson now of Ottawa, Canada is the product of the donor and his family's wishes and a partnership between the Queensland Conservatorium - Griffith University and the Queensland Museum. Charles Marson was born in Brisbane in 1932. He travelled overseas in 1959 and apart from a brief return to Brisbane with his wife Kati, he continued to work overseas. He developed a life long love of music and built up this internationally significant collection over many years, ending up with it in his home in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The collection grew to such a size that it required special curation and maintenance. Charles and Kati decided they wanted the collection kept together, preferably in Charles' hometown of Brisbane. So they negotiated with the Queensland Museum and the Queensland Conservatorium who are working in partnership on the conservation and preservation of the instruments. The breadth of the Charles & Kati Marson Collection will encourage people to marvel at the diversity of ways in which different cultures have approached the production of music and the significance of music to all cultures. The Charles & Kati Marson Collection, together with traditional musical instruments already in the Museum, now form the basis for collaborative ethno-musicological exhibitions with the Queensland Conservatorium. Sing Sing Bilong Pasifik (2003 to 2005) and now Tune, Tone and Tempo are examples.

Subjects

localMusical instruments; Musicology; Regional music; Traditional music

Coverage Spatial

TextAfrica; Asia; Pacific

Related Collections

Dates

Date Record Updated2012-05-30 23:40