The Banjo: A New Day for an Old Instrument” comes to the Museum of Making Music late this month, bringing with it the story of the instrument’s path to stardom, as well as the support of NAMM member companies and individuals. The exhibit incorporates artifacts, hands-on displays, information and examples of custom, vintage and one-of-a-kind instruments—many contributed by NAMM members.
Museum Director Carolyn Grant credits NAMM member enthusiasm and generosity as the locus of the exhibit. “Special exhibitions are one way in which the NAMM Museum of Making Music explores and celebrates key industry stories and shares them with a broad audience,” she said. “The most recent exhibition explores not only the history of the banjo, but also its current popularity. It is because of the generosity and enthusiasm of NAMM members that we were able to develop it so fully with information, graphics and a display of more than 80 historic and modern-day instruments.”
In addition to loaning instruments and providing the exhibit’s banjo workbench, Deering Banjo Company has proffered artist access, historical information and research support. Other companies loaning instruments and artifacts include Recording King, OME, Duke of Pearl, Rickenbacker International Corp., Fender, Gold Tone, Centerstream Publishing, Renaissance Guitars, Folk Music Center, Elderly Instruments, Players Vintage Instruments and Denver Folklore Center. Musicians (such as David Lindley, Otis Taylor and Lowell Levinger) and private collectors have been similarly generous with their time, information, support, and vintage and modern instruments.
The exhibit features banjo artifacts and replicas dating back to the earliest banjo-like instruments, modern banjo hybrids and innovations, an interactive “workbench” and illustrated, descriptive panels delineating the instrument’s origins and evolution. An 11- performance companion concert series featuring an international slate of banjos and banjoists throughout the spring, summer and fall rounds out the exhibit experience.
For more information on “The Banjo: A New Day for an Old Instrument,” as well as the banjo concert series, visit The Museum of Making Music Web site: www.museumofmakingmusic.com.