Icons, myths, relics, symbols, and totems: the necessity of playing original instruments. An historical overview of why we need to believe, - Archive ouverte HAL Accéder directement au contenu
Communication Dans Un Congrès Année : 2020

Icons, myths, relics, symbols, and totems: the necessity of playing original instruments. An historical overview of why we need to believe,

Résumé

The concept of functionality of museum objects is strictly interconnected with that of their originality: the reason to explore it is to discover how these objects were intended to be used and how they perform. We expect to gather a better historical and musical knowledge, as well as a sensorial experience, but on what precondition? The precondition is that the object will be able to speak unbiasedly (and often represent a whole category of similar ones) and reveal us its truth. Which truth? Truth is multifaceted and multilevel, musical instruments are containers of hope, projections of our desires, emotional connectors, representation of the society they belong, not just simple technical objects. If the concept of originality in art has been deeply analyzed by scholars, nevertheless the general public is highly fascinated by icons, myths, relics, symbols, and totems, categories that can be easily attributed to a Stradivari violin, Beethoven’s piano or Paganini’s guitar. What role for the museum? Perpetuating the myth, relying on the evocative (and cash making) power of relics and symbols or educating to a critical approach to the mausoleums they visit? Musical instruments museums are constantly challenged by their board, by visitors, musicians, and makers requesting the instruments to be played: the equation silent museum equal dead museum is often still the main argument and preservation reasons seem to be often difficult to be accepted and fully understood. This paper will discuss some of the psychological reasons behind the need of listening to museum objects, myths and symbols related to the concept of originality, and propose an approach to combine audience’s demands, preservation of the objects, and to offer an enjoyable aural visiting experience.
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Dates et versions

hal-04029750 , version 1 (15-03-2023)

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  • HAL Id : hal-04029750 , version 1

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Emanuele Marconi. Icons, myths, relics, symbols, and totems: the necessity of playing original instruments. An historical overview of why we need to believe,. Playing and Operating: functionality in museum objects and instruments, CIMCIM - International Committee for Museums and Collections of Instruments and Music; CIMUSET - Committee for Museums of Science and Technology, Feb 2020, Paris, France. ⟨hal-04029750⟩
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