Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Music was an essential art form in the daily and ceremonial lives of ancient Maya people, but isn’t often talked about in today’s discussions of the Mesoamerican civilization. While music and sound are inherently ephemeral, the material culture, including instruments, recovered from different populations across time and around the world allows us to hear the past and gain insight into musical traditions.
Join Jared Katz, Pappalardo Curator of Musical Instruments, as he discusses the techniques used to study ancient music today, the types of evidence available to us, and what we’ve learned about music’s role in Maya culture. Listen to Jared play 3D-printed replicas of ancient musical instruments and enjoy a brief discussion of a new research project at the MFA.
MFA Member Lectures: For a look at upcoming member events, check out: mfa.org/membership/member-events
Become an MFA member and help support the art and culture you believe in: mfa.org/membership
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Music was an essential art form in the daily and ceremonial lives of ancient Maya people, but isn’t often talked about in today’s discussions of the Mesoamerican civilization. While music and sound are inherently ephemeral, the material culture, including instruments, recovered from different populations across time and around the world allows us to hear the past and gain insight into musical traditions.
Join Jared Katz, Pappalardo Curator of Musical Instruments, as he discusses the techniques used to study ancient music today, the types of evidence available to us, and what we’ve learned about music’s role in Maya culture. Listen to Jared play 3D-printed replicas of ancient musical instruments and enjoy a brief discussion of a new research project at the MFA.
MFA Member Lectures: For a look at upcoming member events, check out: mfa.org/membership/member-events
Become an MFA member and help support the art and culture you believe in: mfa.org/membership
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
