A visit to the Bate Collection

A review of a recent trip to Oxford University's Bate Collection by d'Overbroeck's student, Tal Fineman.

On a frosty Monday morning in January, a small group of d’Overbroeck’s students braved the cold and trekked to St. Aldate's for a visit to The Bate Collection of Musical Instruments. The collection is dedicated to historically significant musical instruments, from medieval serpents and crumhorns, all the way through to a theremin, one of the pioneering instruments in electronic music. However, this was no normal museum visit - the Bate collection takes a very ‘hands-on’ approach, and so we found ourselves attempting to play viols (forefathers to modern string instruments), antique brass and woodwind instruments, and a Harpsichord that was supposedly played by Handel himself! 

The trip proved a most welcome and educational break from normal lessons, and special thanks are owed to Phil, Sue, and the staff at the collection for providing the experience!