Stearns Collection of Musical Instruments

The 2015-16 Virginia Martin Howard Lecture Series kicks off tomorrow with of first of two lectures this weekend as well as an educational event for young audiences. Come hear Jordan Sramek's lecture on "The Polish-Italian Renaissance: A Rich Period of Patronage, Reform and Music-Making" at 12 pm on Friday, October 2. On Saturday, October 3 at 1 pm, Jordan will be joined by the rest of The Rose Ensemble for the lecture/demonstration "Renaissance Poland & Baroque Russia: The Thirst for Italian Style." Both events will be held in the new Glenn Watkins Lecture Hall at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance.

The Rose Ensemble will also present "600 Years of Eastern European Choral Music," a special event for young audiences, at 10 am on Saturday in the downtown branch of the Ann Arbor District Library.

Happy 360th birthday to Bartolomeo Cristofori, Italian instrument maker and inventor of the fortepiano. Pictured is a three-manual harpsichord from the collection that bears Cristofori's name, but which was actually assembled in the 19th century from several earlier instruments by the maker/forger Leopoldo Franciolini.

Happy birthday to Frederick Stearns, who was born on this day in 1831. Mr. Stearns was a successful pharmacist from Detroit and donated over 900 instruments to the University of Michigan in 1899. He added over 300 more by the time he died in 1907.