Boston's Museum of Fine Arts has launched an e-book showcasing 100 musical instruments from its collection. The e-book is an electronic version of a 2004 MFA Highlights book, but includes 23 new video clips and 25 audio samples, so that users can see and hear some of the instruments featured.
Among the bowed stringed instruments highlighted are a much-altered 1641 Nicolò Amati violin with a belly attributed to Carlo Tononi; an 1823 double bass by American maker Abraham Prescott; a French tromba marina; a Hardanger fiddle; an Irish cither viol from 1794; a bass viola da gamba; and a nyckelharpa.
The museum's musical instrument collection runs to more than 1,100 items, including an eclectic selection of around 90 bowed stringed instruments, with 19th-century American makers strongly represented.
The e-Book, for iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch, is free to download until 1 August.
Photo: courtesy Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
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