Some days ago the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix has opened. This museum shows musical instruments from almost all countries of the world.
I have first heard about this museum from a newspaper article in the New York Times which includes some fotos and a slide show with some instruments from the museum: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/24/arts/design/24museum.html
Although the writer of this article is not completely happy with the concept used for the exhibition in the new museum I think that this museum will be able to prepare and present some groundbreaking exhibitions in the future.
You can find useful information about the museum on the museum website: http://www.themim.org/.
I have found the following videos with information about the new Musical Instrument Museum:
Listen to the World: The Musical Instrument Museum Clip 1
The second video shows two guitars built by luthier Christian Druery from New Zealand. Christian Druery used ancient Swamp Kauri timber for those instruments. This wood is special for New Zealand. Big forrests of huge Kauri trees were covered by a swamp about 45000 to 55000 years ago.
Today this wood is beeing excavated by big machines. It can then used for furniture or for building beautiful musical instruments.
Christian Druery Guitars museum guitars
A collection of photos taken of two exhibition guitars made for the Musical instrument museum in Phoenix Arizona by New Zealand Luthier Christian Druery.
features Kauri Soundboard, Ancient Flamed whitebait Kauri back and sides, Puriri fretboard and bridge, paua koru inlays
Christian Druery does not like the fact that this special Kauri wood is exported to the USA. He thinks that this wood is so special for his country that it should only be used in New Zealand.
Here is a video about unearthing more than 45000 years old Swamp Kauri:
Additional information:
Website of the Musical Instrument Museum: http://www.themim.org/
Playlist Musical Instrument Museum