Museum of Ethnic Musical Instruments
Photo: Municipality of Chiaramonte Gulfi
Museum of Ethnic-Musical Instruments, located in the historic Palazzo Montesano, occupies seven rooms on the noble floor of the building, and contains as many as 600 musical instruments from all over the world. The collection is attributed to the “exploratory” genius and to the “curiosities” of the late Modican Duccio Belgiorno.
These are rare finds, sometimes unique, some of which cannot be found, because they come from countries where an entry visa is not permitted at the state, such as Tibet, of which there are two flutes, with a very original sound, obtained from "tibie human "and beautifully inlaid, and a membranophone (double skin drum: damaru), which uses" human "skulls as a sound box. Uniqueness of specimens, alone indicative of the intrinsic value of the collection.
The museum includes a significant number of ethnic-tribal instruments, coming from remote areas of Central Africa, Asia, the Americas, and in particular Papua and New Guinea. Among other things, it collects an interesting collection of zanze (plucked idiophones) and pieces from Kenya, Rhodesia, Botswana, Zimbabwe; three splendid Argentine charangas made from armadillo carapaces, and balalaike from Slavic countries; birimbao from Brazil; three Indian sytars, and hundreds of other specimens.
A colorful planisphere rich in ethnic references, as large as the wall on which it stands, welcomes the visitor and transmits the symbolically planetary root of the museum to him.
(Source: Municipality of Chiaramonte Gulfi)
The Museum is located in via Montesano at the Montesano Palace which houses a total of 5 Museums:
Liberty House Museum
Ornithological Museum
Museum of Ethnic Musical Instruments
Oil Museum
Giovanni De Vita Art Gallery
Card insertion: Ignazio Caloggero
Information contributions: Web, Region of Sicily
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