Selected Readings

These annotated publications have been recommended by the Education staff of The Metropolitan Museum of Art as useful resources for the general public, K–12 teachers, and college students.

print resources, bibliography, general reading, further reading, research, books


African Art	Byzantine Art	Greek and Roman Art	Photography

Ancient American Art	Colonial Art of the Americas	Islamic Art	Prehistory

Ancient Near Eastern Art	Costume	Modern and Contemporary Art	United States, Arts of

Arms and Armor	Egyptian Art	Musical Instruments

Asian Art	European Art	Oceania, Arts of	General Information

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Timelines/Regions

Thematic Essays

Accession Number

Lists of Rulers

Useful Links

Selected Readings

Musical Instruments

The Book of Music. Secaucus, N.J.: Chartwell Books, 1979.
A readable reference book about all aspects of music and musical instruments, with numerous illustrations that enhance the text. Includes several glossaries and a fascinating fourteen-page timeline, "Chronology of Music."
Karolyi, Otto. Traditional African and Oriental Music. London: Penguin, 1998.
Detailed and full of interesting information, this book looks at the music and musical traditions of the non-Western world. Includes a bibliography, discography, and index.
Libin, Laurence. Our Tuneful Heritage: American Musical Instruments from The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Provo, Utah: Museum of Art, Brigham Young University, 1994.
Published in conjunction with an exhibition at Brigham Young University, this catalogue contains a brief history of the Metropolitan's collection as well as a history of musical instruments in the U.S. Includes bibliographical references and an index.
Musical Instruments of the World: An Illustrated Encyclopedia by the Diagram Group. New York: Paddington Press, 1976.
Based on the Sachs-Hornbostel system of classification, this marvelous book is an encyclopedic treasure trove of information about musical instruments from around the world. Includes numerous detailed drawings, several helpful appendices, a bibliography, and an index.
Parakilas, James, et al. Piano Roles: Three Hundred Years of Life with the Piano. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1999.
An entertaining history of the piano from 1700, when the first one was built, to current times. Includes bibliographical references and an index.
Sadie, Stanley, ed. The New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments. 3 vols. London and New York: Macmillan Press and Grove's Dictionaries of Music, 1984.
This is an excellent—probably the best—reference source for musical instruments of all cultures and periods. Contains many detailed drawings and photographs. Signed articles include bibliographies.
The Violin Masterpieces of Guarneri del Gesù: An Exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Maker's Death. London: Peter Biddulph, 1994.
This is the catalogue of the 1994 exhibition of twenty-five violins made by Guarneri del Gesù, an exhibition that drew aficionados from around the world to New York for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Includes illustrations, description, and provenance of each instrument.

Photograph Credits