A Wunderkammer (chamber of wonders, or cabinet of curiosities) indicates a particular environment in which, mainly since the 16th century, collectors used to keep their collections of extraordinary and surprising objects. Although they did not have the systematic nature of museum collections – which were often initiated by these early experiences – these collections (divided into natural and artificial) were linked by the idea of mirabilia, in other words, things that aroused wonder. Composers (such as Alistair MacDonald with his piece Wunderkammer) are often also simple collectors of sounds, wonderful sounds.