Plan Your Visit       Hours & Directions       About Peterborough       Teachers       Lesson Plans       Booking Tours       Contact Things to See       Explore the Museum       Our Artists       Our Performers       Community Showcase       Instrument Collection       For Kids       Gift Shop       Library       Please Touch       Resources       Slide Show Things to Do       Calendar       Upcoming Events       Dance       Galleries       Workshops       E-News Signup       What's New? About the Museum       Description       Dreamer & Founder       Mission       Membership       History       Board & Staff       Job Opportunities       From the Director Home		Our Instrument Collection Our collection is divided into several categories: Aerophones | Chordophones | Idiophones | Idiophones continued | Membranophones Idiophones Idiophones produce sound through the vibration of different types of materials (other than a membrane or a string). Vibrations are made by striking, scraping, beating, shaking and ringing different instruments. Idiophones are often rhythm instruments, but certain idiophones also create melodies. Some examples of idiophones are rattles, gongs, xylophones and steel drums. Simple idiophones can be easily made from everyday materials. Angklung Angklung Origin - Indonesia Each part of the Angklung is like a rattle with two or three bamboo tubes suspended in series on a wooden frame. They tune the tubes in octaves. When you shake the tubes, they create a dry, hollow, yet singing tone.   Click button to hear the instrument Small Balafon Small Balafon Origin - Africa The Balafon was used in religious ceremonies to establish contact with the invisible world. Traditional musicians wont play the Balafon unless they are wearing protective amulets to repel bad spirits that are attracted by this sacred instrument. The sound is amplified by hollow gourds under each bar. Some have a hole covered by onion skin which resonates like the wind or the voices of the ancestors. Large Balafon Large Balafon Origin - Africa The Balafon was used in religious ceremonies to establish contact with the invisible world. Traditional musicians wont play the Balafon unless they are wearing protective amulets to repel bad spirits that are attracted by this sacred instrument. The sound is amplified by hollow gourds under each bar. Some have a hole covered by onion skin which resonates like the wind or the voices of the ancestors. Bamboo Organ Pipes Bamboo Organ Pipes Origin - Vietnam Played by clapping a cup of air through each pipe. Bird Rasp Bird Rasp Origin - Vietnam Played by clapping a cup of air through each pipe.   Click button to hear the instrument Vietnamese Frog Rasp Vietnamese Frog Rasp Origin - Vietnam Top to bottom, mating call. Bottom to top, distress call.   Click button to hear the instrument Damaru Damaru Origin - Tibet Damaru's were originally made from halved human skulls, symbolizing impermanence. "You know that death is close by, and that death is an advisor. And you realize that your own bones will eventually be like this. Therefore, one learns to seek the essential in life, realizing the immanent presence of death."        —Tathang Tulku2   Click button to hear the instrument Mbira Mbira Origin - Africa Metal or wooden tines are fasten to soundboards of wood, steel, or gourd. The player plucks the pieces to create sound. They have a ceremony in Zimbabwe that combines singing, dancing, mbira playing, and home-brewed beer. "Some people believe that each key of the Mbira contains a spirit, such as father, grandfather, mother, or first child. As the keys are played, they grow hotter and sound sweeter until a given spirit is revealed as a memory, or a waking dream."        —Rocky Maffit1   Click button to hear the instrument Giant Mbira Giant Mbira Origin - Africa Metal or wooden tines are fasten to soundboards of wood, steel, or gourd. The player plucks the pieces to create sound. They have a ceremony in Zimbabwe that combines singing, dancing, mbira playing, and home-brewed beer. "Some people believe that each key of the Mbira contains a spirit, such as father, grandfather, mother, or first child. As the keys are played, they grow hotter and sound sweeter until a given spirit is revealed as a memory, or a waking dream."        —Rocky Maffit1   Click button to hear the instrument Gankogui/Ago-go Bells Gankogui/Ago-go Bells Origin - West Africa & South America (Brazil) When there are a lot of Gankogui/Ago-go bells being played with different rhythms that fit together, the sound is great. With the different tones and melodies coming together, it sounds amazing. These bells originated from the cow bell.   Click button to hear the instrument Box Gong Box Gong Origin - Bali, Indonesia This gong includes two flat metal pieces and a sound box.   Click button to hear the instrument Circular Gong Circular Gong Origin -Thailand   Click button to hear the instrument Gong Set Gong Set Origin - Mindanao Island, The Philippines   Click button to hear the instrument Planet Gong Planet Gong Origin - New England Contemporary The Planet Gong is made from hand made paper. It has a remarkable complete sound. To see and hear more of the collection, click on a category below: Aerophones | Chordophones | Idiophones | Idiophones continued | Membranophones When children are raised with respect and curiosity towards other cultures, the world will know more peace and less war. Plan Your Visit | Things to See | Things to Do | About the Museum | Home | Contact 26 Main Street ~ Peterborough, New Hampshire ~ 03458 Southern New Hampshire's Year Round Arts Community 603.924.4555 © 2007 Mariposa Museum & World Culture Center. All rights reserved. Top