The Excellencies of Musick: Highlights from the Jamie and Michael Kassler Collection

Enter the musical world of Stuart and Georgian Britain, a world of concert-going, music-makers and thinkers, of printers and publishers.

Book cover illustration of "The Excellencies of Musick," featuring ornate cursive text and a classical drawing of a baroque music scene with performers and an elaborately decorated harpsichord.

The exhibition features exquisite and intriguing rare prints, rare books and manuscripts dating from seventeenth to early nineteenth century Britain. It will delight anyone interested in the history of music and the history and technology of books and printing.

This exhibition showcases highlights from the collection of musicologists and longstanding National Library patrons Dr Jamie Kassler and Dr Michael Kassler. Assembled over 50 years, their collection reflects their interests.

Entry is free, no booking required.

Exhibition highlights

Page of sheet music, the title at the top reading 'The Offenbach Waltz, by A. André'

Johann Anton André, The Offenbach Waltz, c. 1807, from the Papers of Jamie and Michael Kassler, 1790-2021, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn5977647

Printed engraving with an illustration of people playinf various instruments and text reading 'Musick' and 'Musick is an insearchable and excellent Art, which rejoiceth the Spirits and unloadeth Grief from the heart, and confiseth in time and number'.

George Bickham the Elder (1684–1758), Musick, 1738, from the Papers of Jamie and Michael Kassler, 1790-2021, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn5977647

Title page of an old book with text reading 'Natural Magick by John Baptifta porta in a Neopolitane in twenty books', a table of contents, and more text reading 'Wherein are fet forth All the Riches and Delights of the Natural Sciences'

Giambattista della Porta, Natural magick by John Baptista Porta, a Neapolitane In twenty books Wherein are set forth all the riches and delights of the natural sciences, 1669, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn8534873

Title page of a landscape oriented printed book: ornate engraving featuring musical performers. Scene is framed by theatre curtains.

James Hook, Guida di Musica: Being a Complete Book of Instructions for Beginners on the Harpsichord or Piano Forte, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn8650184

Title page of an old book with text reading 'Melothesia : or, certain general rules for playing upon a continued-bass ; with a choice collection of lessons for the harpsichord and organ of all sorts ; never before published; All carefully reviewed by M. Locke, Composer in Ordinary to His Majesty, and Organist of Her Majesties Chappel. The first part'

Matthew Locke, Melothesia: or, certain general rules for playing upon a continued-bass ; with a choice collection of lessons for the harpsichord and organ of all sorts ; never before published ; the first part, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn8647531

Front page of a theatre broadside with details of a performance of 'Messiah' composed by G. F. Handel

Elizabeth Macleish, Broadside for a Performance of Handel’s Messiah, Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, 1817, from the Papers of Jamie and Michael Kassler, 1790-2021, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn597764

Portrait of a man with rolled, curly hair wearing robes

Alexander van Haecken and Thomas Hudson, Portrait of Johannes Christophorus Pepusch, c. 1730, from the Papers of Jamie and Michael Kassler, 1790-2021, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn5977647

Old book sitting open on a black cushion. On the left page is a portrait of a man with large rolled hair, on the right is the title page with text reading 'Orpheus Britannicus; A collection of all the choicest songs for one, two and three voices, composed by Mr. Henry Purcell'

Henry Purcell, Orpheus Britannicus : a collection of all the choicest songs for one, two, and three voices, 1702, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn8656424

Print of two women in dresses holding hands. One has a trumpet in her other hands and is leaning over a sign reading 'Free Masons Hall Readings & Music'

John Thornthwaite and Mather Brown, Ticket for an Evening of ‘Readings & Music’ Held at Free Masons Hall, c. 1790, from the Papers of Jamie and Michael Kassler, 1790-2021, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn5977647