Dextra Musica

Since 2006, we have built up one of the world’s foremost collections of string instruments, called Dextra Musica. All the instruments are lent to musicians.

Dextra Musica is a subsidiary of Sparebankstiftelsen DNB. Our goal is to increase interest in classical music and folk music, and we wish for talented musicians to have the best possible tools when they are playing their music.

In addition to the instrument collection, Dextra Musica supports projects and initiates programs that help more young performers experience and practice classical music and folk music at a high artistic level.

The instrument collection

Many musicians want to play string instruments made as far back as the 17th to 18th centuries. There are only a limited number of these, and they are very expensive. Thus, we have for many years bought old string instruments with the purpose of loaning them to musicians.

Buying an old string instrument requires careful testing and consideration. The foundation uses some of Norway’s foremost musicians as experts when testing relevant instruments, and the rehearsals takes place in concert halls.

The instrument collection consists of historical and modern string instruments, harding fiddles and langeleiker. The historical instruments are made available to established musicians. You can see which musicians who plays on the historic instruments here.

The modern instruments are lent to the Norwegian Academy of Music and the Barratt Due Music Institute of Music for further lending to talented pupils and students.

Concerts with the instruments

We arrange concerts at Sentralen in Oslo where you can hear the instruments when they are played by our leading chamber musicians. Program for concerts at Sentralen (in Norwegian.

Information for musicians who want to borrow an instrument

For musicians who want more information about what it takes: Read more about how the application process works (in Norwegian)

Questions about Dextra Musica

Feel free to contact one of us who works with the instrument collection, Dextra Musica.