Music Museums in Germany

Brahms Institute Luebeck

Brahms-Institut an der Musikhochschule Lübeck
Jerusalemsberg 4
23568 Lübeck

Phone +49.451.1505414

Opening hours

permanent exhibition:
Wednesday and Saturday 2 - 6 p.m.
Guided tours and special dates on request

The Brahms Institute in the Luebeck Conservatory houses one of the largest and most versatile Brahms collections in the world. In addition to Johannes Brahms, the emphases are focused on Robert and Clara Schumann, Theodor Kirchner, and Joseph Joachim, as well as on the musical historic environment. The inventory includes primarily sources of musical works: precious manuscripts, engraved copies, first and early editions. Added to this are voluminous stationary, numerous contemporary photos, illustrations, and drawings, as well as unique omnibus volumes with program notes for important world premiers, first and subsequent performances of Brahms's works.

The Institute is situated in the prestigious Eschenburg Villa. The magnificently restored festival room provides the stylish setting for concerts, theme nights, lectures, and presentations. In the similarly historic garden hall of the Villa, an exhibition room has been created, which vividly portrays the life and work of Johannes Brahms. The permanent exhibition “Johannes Brahms – Symbols, Illustrations, Fantasies” as well as regular, theme-related special exhibitions, precious and partially unpublished music manuscripts, photos, letters, concert programs, and other treasures. Listening stations offer the opportunity to hear music related to the exhibit.

Detailed information and the digital archive can be accessed at: www.brahms-institut.de

Germany possesses musical traditions and legacies of extraordinary value: Handel, Schuetz and Bach, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Brahms, and Wagner - to mention only a few names - are composers who are known and treasured throughout the world. Their work has played a significant role in shaping a unique musical landscape.

Numerous orchestras, choruses, ensembles, renowned music festivals and series, music houses with museums, public archives and libraries, but also private collections preserve their musical heritage.

It is necessary to revitalize this inestimable fund again and again and to develop it for the present. At the same time, an important role befits the houses combined in the consortium of music museums of Germany. In them we encounter the work of the musicians and composers who have extraordinarily enriched the cultural nation of Germany. However, beyond the individual portrait, beyond the procurement of individual oeuvres, the music museums also contribute overall to the maintenance of musical tradition. The present brochure underscores this aspect of the synoptic presentation and invites the reader on a journey into the musical history of Germany. I hope this tour guide will be actively used and receive a large response.

Bernd Neumann, Member of the Lower House of the German Parliament
Minister of State with the Federal Chancellor
Commissioner of the Federal Government for Culture and Media

Quoted from: Foreword to the brochure "Music Museums in Germany", 2007.