The Curt Sachs Award 1986

John Henry van der Meer

The Board of Governors of the American Musical Instrument Society designated John Henry van der Meer the recipient of the Curt Sachs Award for the year 1986 in recognition of his eminence as scholar and curator and in acknowledgment that his boundless curiosity and impeccable scholarship have provided the world of musical instruments with invaluable studies and reviews documenting the history, construction, and use of the entire range of western European instruments, especially the harpsichord and instruments of Germanic origin; that his leadership and participation in international societies and conferences have influenced several generations of scholars, builders, and performers in the study and revival of early music and instruments; and that his work as curator at the Gemeentemuseum from 1954 to 1962 and at the Germanisches Nationalmuseum from 1963 to 1983 has served as a model to all by virtue of the balance he has struck between preservation through careful restoration and accessibility through exhibitions, catalogues, occasional performances, and generous advice to colleagues and students in the field.