News

Gamelan Repaired and Retuned

The Bate Javanese Gamelan orchestra has just received its periodical re-tuning and maintenance. We have posted a selection of pictures of the process
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Doctor Haydn

Doctor Haydn - A special exhibition to commemorate the anniversary of the death of this most popular composer
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Family Fun Day

Family friendly activities
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Forecast of Events

Events at the Bate over the next few months
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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.

Public Opening:

We are open to the public on weekday afternoons from 2.00 - 5.00 (apart from block leave at Easter and Christmas)

We also open on Saturday mornings from 10.00 - 12.00 during the University term. Oxford University Michaelmas Term runs from 10th October, through until 5th December

We aim to offer a highly stimulating environment for visitors, performers and researchers. We are proud of our contribution to the extraordinarily rich musical life of the University and our links with local and international community groups

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.