Sigma Alpha Iota

20 Spring 2023 • sai-national.org 20 Spring 2023 • sai-national.org A Wld of Music As temporary residents of Belgium, my family has embraced the chance to explore the many sights and sounds of Europe. We recently hopped on the train and enjoyed a quick walk from Brussel's Central Station to the Old England Building, the home of Brussel's Musical Instrument Museum (MIM); it is part of a larger group of facilities designated as Royal Museums for Art and History (RMAH) near Belgium's Royal Palace. Originally a large department store built in 1899 from steel and glass in the Art Nouveau style, the Old England Building now houses the MIM's extensive collection of over 7,000 instruments, with signage and descriptions displayed in French, Dutch, and English. `e Ground floor (Floor 0) showcased the "Traditions du Monde" or instruments of the world. Here we saw ornately decorated drums and stringed instruments from Korea, a full wall of bagpipes in varying sizes, a large collection of clay figurine whistles from Mexico, and a beautifully carved Lahuta from Kosovo. ere was a drum and bugle display, some great examples of pan pipes in varying sizes, and so much more. As an oboist, I enjoyed the full display of historical oboes, complete with an example of a simple birch tree bark spiral tube with roughly made double reed. An excellent feature included with our admission ticket was a portable listening device, with multiple language options, that enabled us to punch in a 3-digit code to hear an example of each instrument as we strolled along. My husband and I took full advantage of that feature, taking note of the names of specific pieces we Brussels' Musical Instrument Museum Above, a display dedicated to Belgian Adolphe Sax. Above, a display dedicated to Belgian Adolphe Sax. At far left, The MIM's Old England building. At far left, The MIM's Old England building. At near left, an early bone whistle. At near left, an early bone whistle.

• Cover