Devanney Haruta: The Meaning of Musical Instruments

What can we learn from an old piano? Devanney Haruta, PhD candidate in Musicology and Ethnomusicology, unpacks the many layers of meaning and value around the Pannonica Piano, a Steinway grand piano in the Musical Instrument Museum (Phoenix, Arizona). In her talk, she explains how ethnomusicology can help us understand the powerful connections that we form with musical instruments.

This talk was part of Research Matters, featuring short talks about research by Brown University Graduate Students on April 27, 2026, at Brown University. For more information, please visit: https://graduateschool.brown.edu/