page_title: Hans G. Adler
section_title: The collection and museum
hierarchical_section_title: Hans G. Adler / The collection and museum
caption_attribution_description: w:Andreas Ruckers Epinette or Virginal, ab1610; Ruckers ,considered the Stradivarius of Harpsichord makers; Part of the Hans Adler Instrument collection
context_page_description: Hans Georg Adler was a musicologist, collector, and classical music promoter in South Africa.
context_section_description: This passion for, and love of music consumed most of his spare time, and after World War II, he began expanding on the small library inherited from his father with classical music dictionaries, encyclopaedias, manuscripts, complete composer compendiums, etc. in many languages, and volumes of music scores. In addition, he acquired ancient and early keyboard instruments -a 1589 Clavicytherium, Clavichords, a Glasschord, Spinettino, Harpsichords, a Hammerklavier and early pianos (eventually comprising 19 instruments, plus 2 modern Steinway Grands)- depicting the development of the piano; the collection also included a Viola d'Amore.
  His library grew very comprehensive, especially in keyboard compositions and productions, and, together with the instrument collection, evolved into a museum housed in his Johannesburg home. Tours for University students were sometimes conducted, and the SABC periodically aired early composers' works which he would perform there, (often together with touring overseas performers) on authentic Harpsichord(s) or a Clavichord or Hammerklavier. 
  Most of the musicians and groups touring Southern Africa through his invitation, between 1954 and 1978 were invited to browse in the Library and or try out the instruments.  A number discovered interesting or little-known works. (See note 7 in: examples of unusual works referenced.)
  The Fine Arts Departments of South African Universities were very interested in the Museum (which was considered by some musicologists to be one of the more outstanding museums of this nature in private hands), and it was eventually willed to the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, who opened a "Hans Adler Memorial Museum" in their Arts Building in 1980.
caption: The collection,s Andreas Ruckers Epinette or Virginal, ab1610
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