Bate Collection of Musical Instruments

The Bate Collection of Musical Instruments, housed at Oxford University's Faculty of Music, was founded thanks to the generous donation of Philip Bate in 1968. Today, it stands as one of the most significant collections of musical instruments in the world, ensuring that future generations can appreciate the craftsmanship and artistry that went into their creation.

Instruments through the eras

Learn about the musical and mechanical development of musical instruments over the centuries. Explore woodwind, brass and percussion instruments from various historical periods. The collection also features over a dozen historically significant keyboard instruments, including the harpsichord, a mainstay of the Baroque era.

World music

While the Bate Collection primarily focuses on Western orchestral instruments, it also encompasses a diverse range of instruments from a broader history of music across the globe, offering a deeper understanding of how music has transcended borders throughout history.

Learning and performance

A valuable resource for scholars and musicians, students at Oxford University have the privilege of studying archival materials and even playing some of the instruments in the collection themselves, fostering a deeper understanding of the music these instruments were designed to produce, keeping the sounds of the past alive for years to come.