The Hewitt donation remains the core of the Harvard instrument collection through both its size and its quality. Arthur Hewitt was an avid connoisseur of early instruments who amassed most of his collection during travels in Europe in the late nineteenth century. Luckily for us, he left a fascinating and enjoyable account of how he found the instruments as well as his many remarkable musical experiences along the way. For instance, he paid pocket change for a viola da gamba after discovering it hanging from a fishmonger’s stand. He also spent an afternoon judging the relative tonal merits of old instruments from the Paris Conservatoire collection, including the Messiah Stradivari. The instruments that he heard are now housed behind glass at the Cite de la Musique in Paris and the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. Aside from their appeal as travelers tales, Hewitt’s musings vividly document one man’s passion for and understanding of early music at the turn of the century. For a transcription of the complete account click here.
Hewitt primarily played and collected plucked instruments so it is not surprising that the most important instruments which he left to Harvard are several lutes. None of them are in playable condition, but they are all valuable resources for the study of original construction practices. Most noteworthy is a theorbo retaining all of its original parts except for the pegs. This was recognized by Linda Sayce as an extremely rare type of German theorbo dating from c.1700. Perhaps the most spectacular member of the collection, however, is the lavishly inlaid neck of an Italian theorbo by Matteo Sellas. The inlay technique used at that period results in the creation of two sets of black and white inlay, one the inverse of the other. In this case, remarkably, the twin has also survived and is currently on display at the Cite de la Musique in Paris.
Not to be overlooked is a muselar virginal made in the shop of one of the most celebrated early keyboard makers, Ruckers, although not much of the original workmanship remains. Other instruments of note include a serpent, a beautiful baroque guitar, and two particularly fine and well preserved violas d’amore.
