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The National Museum of American History is the only museum in the world with an active, long-term program of using its instruments as they were intended by their makers—for live musical performances. To preserve both the instruments and the music, the Smithsonian Chamber Music Society supports four resident ensembles at the Museum: the Smithsonian Chamber Orchestra, the Smithsonian Chamber Players, the Castle Trio, and the Axelrod String Quartet. Before the nearly thirty concerts presented each season, Smithsonian curators illuminate the musical period and lives of the composers in introductory lectures.
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The performances are centered on instruments from the collections, played in styles historically appropriate to the music presented. The repertoire is therefore wide-ranging. Highlights from recent seasons include the complete Beethoven Quartet Cycle played on two sets of instruments, one made by Stradivarius, the other by Amati; Bach sonatas played on a 1745 Dulcken harpsichord and a 1650 Stainer violin; a program of English viol consort music including the Museum's Barak Norman bass viol; and a turn-of-the-century program featuring Paderewski's 1892 Steinway concert grand piano.
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Since its inception in 1976, the Society's work has reached hundreds of thousands of audience members through an extensive program of recordings, broadcasts, and tours across America and in more than a dozen international settings. A broad range of additional activity drawing on this rich heritage includes publications, scholarly research, and educational outreach to students from kindergarten through college.
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For a listing of upcoming concerts, visit the Smithsonian Resident Associates Web site.
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Contact
E-mail: Contact form
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