Browse Items (337 total)

35mm film

This photo shows Tristram Cary adjusting a knob on an EMS Synthi AKS portable synthesizer in the window of his studio. In the background is his Bechstein piano. This photograph was taken while Cary was composing the music for …

Unknown photographer, probably Robert Hyner. The Grainger Museum experimental music displays and workshops, c.1966–67

Grainger Museum Collection, Robert Hyner.

When he arrived at the Grainger Museum in 1966, Humble worked with Grainger curator…

Unknown photographer, Cross-Grainger experiments 1950: ‘Sea-Song’ sketch, 3 Solovoxes played by Pianola Roll, 1950

Graphic reproduction of original photograph

Grainger Museum Archive, 99.5700

Grainger’s experimentation in electronic sound…

This photograph shows the Grainger and Cross's Kangaroo Pouch Tone Tool Free Music machine installed in the Grainger Museum, probably in the late 1950s. The machine was not fully complete when it was installed, and Cross visited the Grainger Museum…

German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen visited Australia for ten days in April 1970. He gave concert-lectures on electronic music around the country, including three programs in Wilson Hall, at the University of Melbourne. Delivered through a battery…

The Dalmation was the first opera written by a woman to be performed in Australia. Its libretto was adapted from F. Marion Crawford’s novel, Marietta: A Maid of Venice. Excerpts were performed in late 1910, and the first full performance was given in…

Rectangular shaped wooden zither (with dark stained lacquer). Circular hole in resonator. Three copper strings stretched over concealed 'finger' board with 23 metal frets. 23 keys (with English numerals). Resonator and exposed strings (for…

The sansa or ‘thumb piano’ is common across Africa. It is played by plucking the metal tongues over the wooden resonator to produce a pitched buzzing sound. This sansa was acquired on his travels by Australian composer and pianist Percy Grainger, who…

Body made from wooden cylinder (large bamboo rods) with wooden panels on front and back - back panel has 5 decorative pierced holes. Neck is made from cylindrical piece of wood - becomes squared at pegs - 2 pegs protruding from back of peg box.…

Circular wooden body wtih short neck and four hexagonal wooden pegs. Strings missing. Ten raised wooden frets on neck and body (2 missing). Simple wood work with no decoration . "Strings in pairs at the 5th". Slight scroll on peg box and darker…