Musical Instrument Museum : MIM Press Room<meta name="robots" content="INDEX,FOLLOW"> <meta name="rating" content="General"> <meta name="revisit-after" content="3 days"> <meta name="language" content="EN-US"> <meta name="doc-type" content="Web Page"> <meta name="object" content="Web Page"> <meta name="resource-type" content="document"> <meta name="distribution" content="Global"> <meta name="copyright" content="The Musical Instrument Museum"> <meta name="owner" content="The Musical Instrument Museum"> <meta name="classification" content="Homepages"> <meta name="doc-rights" content="The Musical Instrument Museum"> <meta name="doc-publisher" content="The Musical Instrument Museum"> <meta name="description" content="The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) celebrates the similarities and differences of the world's cultures as expressed through music, which is common to us all."> <meta name="keywords" content="The Musical Instrument Museum, Instruments, fender, instrument, violin, flute, trumpet, clarinet, cello, sax, harp, Ibanez, saxophone, fingering, percussion, tenor, trombone, musical instruments, Stratocaster, telecaster, tuba, flutes, oboe, violins, world music, music,"> <meta name="rating" content="high"> <script src="scripts/countdown-clock.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="scripts/AC_RunActiveContent.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <link href="css/mim.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link href="css/thickbox.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="screen" /> <script type="text/javascript" src="scripts/ieupdate.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="scripts/jquery.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="scripts/thickbox.js"></script> <script src="scripts/mim.js" language="javascript" type="text/javascript"></script>  <script src="scripts/cookie.js" language="javascript" type="text/javascript"></script> <script language="VBScript" type="text/vbscript">  </script> <script language="JavaScript" src="scripts/flashDetect.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">  </script> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">  </script>  </head> <body onload="MM_preloadImages('images/nav/btn_home_roll.gif','images/nav/btn_concept_roll.gif','images/nav/btn_experience_roll.gif','images/nav/btn_technology_roll.gif','images/nav/btn_location_roll.gif','images/nav/btn_details_roll.gif','images/video2_button_roll.gif','images/video_button_roll.gif')"> <div id="container">  <div id="header"> <img src="images/header.jpg" width="912" height="81" border="0" /><br/> </div> <div id="navigation"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="navTable"> <tr height="29" > <td class="test" width="7px"> </td> <td class="test" width="108px" align="center"><a href="http://www.themim.org/" target="_top">Home</a></td> <td class="test" width="123px" align="center"><a href="museum_v.asp" target="_top">Museum</a></td> <td class="test" width="200px" align="center"><a href="theater.asp" target="_top">MIM Music Theater</a></td> <td class="test" width="150px" align="center"><a href="support.asp" target="_top">Support MIM</a></td> <td class="test" width="200px" align="center"><a href="e_concerts.asp" target="_top">Events & Programs</a></td> <td class="test" width="150px" align="center"><a href="tours.asp" target="_top">Group Tours</a></td> <td class="test" width="150px" align="center"><a href="contact.asp" target="_top">Contact MIM</a></td> <td width="7px"> </td> </tr> </table> </div>  <div id="contentHolder"> <div id="content"> <table width="896" align="center" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr valign="top"> <td width="241" class="sidebar"><table width="241" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td> <div id="subcat"> <ul> <li class="catitem"><a href="museum_v.asp">Visit</a></li> <li class="catitem"><a href="museum_ex.asp">The MIM Experience</a></li> <li class="catitem"><a href="museum_edu_tours.asp">Education & Public Programs</a></li> <li class="catitem"><a href="museum_about.asp">About MIM</a></li> <li class="catitemsel"><a href="museum_press.asp">Press Room</a></li> <li class="catitemsel2x"><a href="press_press_releases.asp">Press Releases </a></li> <li class="catitemsel2"><a href="press_news.asp">In the News </a></li> <li class="catitemsel2"><a href="press_MIM_notes.asp">Our Newsletter - MIM Notes </a></li> <li class="catitemsel2"><a href="press_photo.asp">Photo Gallery</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><div id="sidebarHomeTop"><a href="#"><img src="images/video_button_up.gif" width="241" height="158" border="0" title="See. Hear. Experience. The complete vision of the Musical Instrument Museum. Play the MIM Video" alt="See. Hear. Experience. The complete vision of the Musical Instrument Museum. Play the MIM Video" id="Image2" onclick="MM_openBrWindow('video/popupvideo2.htm','','toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=0,width=540,height=303')" onmouseover="MM_swapImage('Image2','','images/video_button_roll.gif',1)" onmouseout="MM_swapImgRestore()" /></a></div></td> </tr> </table></td> <td width="383" rowspan="2"><table width="383" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td><div id="contentHeader">MIM Press Room</div> <div id="contentBodyPress"> <div id="contentPressHeader"> <p><span class="calloutTextBold">Press Releases</span><br /> <br /> 2009<br /> <br /> <strong>HISTORIC 2008 CHINESE OLYMPIC DRUM ARRIVES AT PHOENIX’S NEW MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM</strong></p> <p><br /> The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) in Phoenix has recently taken delivery of an instrument sure to be an exhibit highlight: a massive, ceremonial Chinese drum used in the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Millions of spectators around the world were thrilled by the beauty and grandeur of the drumming presentation that opened the games. A total of 2,008 percussionists—moving in graceful, balletic unison—pounded out earth-shaking rhythms on 2,008 gigantic, rectangular drums outfitted with LEDs that flashed with each explosive beat. Beijing National Stadium resounded as the drummers chanted a line from Confucius welcoming “friends from far away.” </p> <p> </p> <p>MIM is proud to have acquired one of these unique and historical instruments on an extended loan.</p> <p><br /> “Of the 2,008 drums in the ceremony, this one bears the number 18, which is considered a lucky number,” says MIM’s Associate Curator of Musical Instruments (Asia) Jennifer Post. “The drum was signed by the head of the Olympic Committee, Mr. He Zhengliang, which makes it even more valuable.”</p> <p><br /> The firm Bowen/E&B International acquired the drum directly from the Chinese Olympic Committee for the express purpose of making a long-term loan to MIM. The instrument’s rectangular shape—unusual for a drum—and elaborate ornamentation hark back to the ancient Chinese “fou,” a type of drum fashioned from a wine vessel. But Post stresses that what’s most significant about this LED-flashing Olympic drum is its modernity.</p> <p><br /> “This is absolutely a 21st Century instrument,” she says. “It’s not an instrument that existed before the Olympics. The drum and its companions were constructed specifically for the Olympics. The important thing, from an ethnomusicological point of view, is that this is a contemporary drum that was used in a specific context that was observed by literally millions of people. The performance itself was extremely meaningful for the Chinese people and many other people who witnessed it.”<br /> <br /> The Olympic drum is slated to take its place among the historic and iconic instruments that will be exhibited in MIM’s Celebrity Gallery.<br /> </p> </div> <div id="contentSpacer"> </div> </div></td> </tr> </table></td> <td width="221" rowspan="2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td><P> <div id="sidebarRightBottom"> <span class="calloutTextBold">Media Contact</span> <p> Christopher Bell 480-478-6014<br /> <a href="mailto:christopher.bell@themim.org">christopher.bell@themim.org</a></p> <p> </p> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><div id="sidebarRightBottom"> <p><br /> </p> </div></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="sidebarSpacer"> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </div>  <div id="footerHolder"> <div id="footer"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top"> <strong><font color="#e4d769"> The Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona, USA.</font></strong> <br /> <br /> MIM | 4725 E. Mayo Blvd. | Phoenix, AZ 85050 | 480.478.6000 <br /> <img src="images/spacer.gif" height="7" /><br /> ©2007–2010 Musical Instrument Museum. 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