Beyond the Beat

From Nov. 15 through June 21, 2015,

the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) will present

“Beyond the Beat: Drums of the World.”

Developed by members MIM’s curatorial team, the exhibition brings together their individual experiences and expertise to create a global perspective of this instrument. It features more than 100 drums from 45 countries, as well as a variety of opportunities for hands-on interaction with instruments and creative technology.

The exhibition gives guests an overview of meaningful roles that drums play around the world and the variations in drum shape, size and materials. Each type of drum has a distinctive sound and can provide a memorable reference to the culture or genre in which it is played. Sections of the exhibition explore a range of topics from technological advances and the internationalization of the American-developed drum set and the “hi-hat” to how bold Ottoman army instruments became part of the modern symphony orchestra. Social contexts of drums are also examined, including the use of drums for healing and religious worship in Asia, as part of festivals and processions in Latin America, and for coming-of-age ceremonies and to embody ancestral spirits in Central Africa.

Housed in MIM’s Target Gallery, the exhibition is largely composed of instruments from the museum’s permanent collection, most of which have never before been

on display to the public.

. A bronze drum from the Dong Son people

(Vietnam), circa 500 BCE–100 CE

. A 1969 Camco drum set played by Doug

 “Cosmo” Clifford of the American rock band

   Creedence Clearwater Revival during

live performances and on three albums

. Two orchestral timpani from the early 1800s

. A dhyangro used by shamans in Nepal

. A colorful 1920s “trap” set (drum set),

complete  with sound-effect instruments

appropriate for early 20th-century jazz,

theatrical productions, silent film

showings and radio broadcasts

Technology plays a vital role in “Beyond the Beat” by allowing guests to interact physically with drums. For the exhibition, MIM commissioned a large, playable drum from Yaqui father-son artists and instrument makers Alex and Nick Maldonado. An interactive projection on the surface of the drum invites “Beyond the Beat” guests to play and hear this magnificent instrument for themselves. An interactive touch screen with a variety of demonstration videos from expert players enhances a display on popular global drums. Video throughout the exhibition features rare footage produced or collected by MIM curators.

“Drums are fundamental characters in human transitions and events, taking center stage in important moments such as birth, death, coming of age, healing and entertainment,” said Manuel Jordán, Ph.D., deputy director and chief curator at MIM, “This exhibition demonstrates that the meaning, depth and richness found in drums mirrors that of the human experience.”

In conjunction with the exhibition, MIM will host a series of concerts and educational activities highlighting the drum. The opening weekend of the exhibition will feature family programming including drum crafts, performances, story time and a family drum circle.