The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra has received some interesting musical memorabilia: Hummel’s tiny practice piano (built in England in 1790), and a lock of Beethoven’s hair, as well as one of his quilt pens.

The forte-piano was donated to the WSO by Yvonne Hummel. She is a Winnipeg native who married the last member of the Hummel family. Currently Yvonne Hummel lives in Los Angeles. She has inherited a trailer-full of family history and decided a piece of it should stay in her hometown.

Other family heirlooms, including a lock of Beethoven's hair, clipped on his deathbed by Hummel's wife Elisabeth, are on loan to the WSO.

[source: www.cbc.ca]