Phoenix’s Musical Instrument Museum to feature Chinese artifacts

PHOENIX–  Ever wanted to see a bronze zheng bell? Or a bone paixiao panpipe from ancient China?

These spectacular items are a part of an up-close look at ancient Chinese musical instruments and artworks at Phoenix’s Musical Instrument Museum. Most of the items were uncovered from ancient tombs.

The exhibition, called “Ancient Musical Treasures from Central China: Harmony of the Ancients from the Henan Museum,” is part of a collection that dated back thousands of years.

Colin Pearson, a museum curator, said the exhibition’s collection is made up of more than 60 rare pieces.

“The earliest object in the collection dates back almost 9,000 years, and the most recent object dates to 1912,” he said.

The collection includes a flute crafted from the hollow wing bones of crane birds. It’s part of a collection of several flutes considered to be the oldest musical instruments in China.

In addition, a set of 24 bronze bells made during the Zhou dynasty is on display. It’s one of only 10 surviving sets of its kind.

The collection includes several artworks. Among them are a red ceramic drum and an unusual three-story tower house with musician and dancer figurines.

All of the pieces in the collection comes from Henan Museum, one of China’s oldest and most prestigious museums.

“None of these objects have ever been shown in the United States before,” he said. “It’s even rare to see all of them together in China.”

Throughout the exhibition, there are several videos showcasing replicas of the instruments on display. Pearson said most of the videos were filmed in China to “let people hear the actual instruments and have the artwork sort of come to life.”

The exhibition opened Friday and will remain on display through May 6.

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