News

Bate Collection receives Accreditation Status

The Bate Collection has been awarded Full Accreditation status by the Arts Council of England
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Bate Recording Prize

Announcing the result of the Bate recording prize for 2013
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Musical Instrument Conference - Oxford - 2013

A 5-day conference, hosted by the Bate Collection, in association with The Galpin Society and "Making the Tudor Viol"
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Family Friendly Activities

Family fun and education
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Welcome to the bate collection

Welcome to the Bate Collection, one of the most magnificent collections of musical instruments in the world. The Bate has over 2000 instruments from the Western orchestral music traditions from the renaissance, through the baroque, classical, romantic and up to modern times. More than a thousand instruments are on display, by all the most important makers and from pre-eminent collectors.

"Chysostom" Flute designed by James Matthews about 1868 (Bate Number 1039)

SEE THE INTRODUCTION TO THE COLLECTION ON YOUTUBE

FREE ADMISSION

Opening Hours

Monday - Friday afternoons from 2.00 - 5.00 throughout the year

Saturday morning opening from 10 - 12 noon

27 April, 4, 11, 18 & 25 May, 1, 8 & 15 June

27th April, 4th, 11th 18th, 25th May, 1st, 8th and 15th June

Violin by Henry Jay, Long Acre, London. Dated 1746 (Bate Number 991)

Listen to our instruments

We have recorded some of the instruments in the collection. You can hear them here:

Instruments in the Collection

Visit our online store:

We sell a variety of books, CD's and technical diagrams featuring instruments in the collection

Bate Shop

The Bate Collection is supported by the following organizations:

Bate Library

The Bate library includes over 3000 books, periodicals and other publications on the subject of musical instrument development and music technology. It includes the Philip Bate, Anthony Baines and Reginald Morley-Pegge archives plus a developing sound archive of instruments from the collection.

Faculty of Music

The Faculty of Music of Oxford University, one of the largest and liveliest music departments in the country, and an internationally renowned centre of musical teaching and research. The Faculty offers a highly stimulating environment for anyone interested in a practical, scholarly and creative engagement with music.