Phoenix music lovers are in for something truly extraordinary! On November 6, the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) opens “Unearthed Musical Masterpieces from the Southern Kingdoms of Ancient China,” an unprecedented special exhibition of more than 70 musical instruments and objects excavated from archaeological sites more than two thousand years old.
More than 40 ancient Chinese artifacts will be displayed in the United States for the very first time, including 10 Grade One National Cultural Relics — China’s highest designation for national treasures. Highlights include the bo bell of Marquis Qiu of Zeng (c. 650 BCE), a painted xuangu drum on phoenix pedestals, and a bronze chime in animal form dating back to 1300–1100 BCE.
Organized by MIM and the Hubei Provincial Museum under the guidance of China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration, the exhibition traces the development of music and the legacy of the Zeng and Chu states — a rare chance to come face to face with sounds of the ancient world.
MIM is located at 4725 E. Mayo Blvd. and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Opening-weekend programming details are at MIM.org.
Photo: Musical Instrument Museum
