Stearns Music Instrument Collection

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Stearns Collection of Musical Instruments
Ann Arbor, the University of Michigan

Two instruments, one Ming dynasty, one Qing dynasty

The Ming dynasty instrument was said to be particularly fine. When I saw them in 1996 neither was in playing condition, and they were being stored horizontally. The bridge on the Ming was too low (perhaps because of instrument curvature), that on the Qing was too high. I was allowed to get these bridges repaired; I then did a recital using them, which was recorded in the music department. The Ming qin had a good sound, but was quite small and thus awkward for me to play; the Qing qin has a cracked back and the sound was quite ordinary.

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