As European travelers began exploring the world, they wrote about the cultural activities of the peoples they encountered. These premodern accounts often highlighted music, musicians, musical instruments, and the circumstances of various types of musical performances.

This exhibit showcases sonic experiences documented in the Bell collection and considers ways that music from around the world resonates across time and space.

Exhibit details

What: The Resonating Power of Music in the Premodern World
Where: Elmer L. Andersen Library, James Ford Bell Gallery, located in the Maxine Wallin Special Collections Research Center (ground floor) | Parking & directions
When: Oct. 13, 2025 through Jan. 30, 2026 (weekdays only)
Hours: Open during library hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday; and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday)

Curated by the James Ford Bell Library
Exhibit design and installation by Darren Terpstra, Archives and Special Collections Exhibit Design and Project Specialist