Music Museums in Germany

Hindemith Kabinett in the Kuhhirtenturm

Große Rittergasse 118
60594 Frankfurt am Main

Contact

Fondation Hindemith
c/o Hindemith Institut Frankfurt
Eschersheimer Landstraße 29-39
60322 Frankfurt am Main

Telefon +49 69 597 03 62

Web: www.hindemith.info/kabinett
E-Mail: institut@hindemith.org

Opening hours

Sundays 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM and by appointment: Hindemith Institute Frankfurt (069 5970362) or at the office for cultural activities in Frankfurt, Tel. 069 212-33952. The Hindemith Kabinett in the Kuhhirtenturm belongs to the label museumsuferfrankfurt.

Admission

3 Euros, 1.5 Euros (reduced rate).

Paul Hindemith (1895-1963), one of the most important composers of the 20th century, lived from 1923 until 1927 in Frankfurt‘s Kuhhirtenturm (Cowherds’ Tower), the last preserved medieval fortified tower in the district of Sachsenhausen. Today it houses the Hindemith Cabinet with five modern presentation rooms, bright and simple in their design.

The Kuhhirtenturm, or cowherd’s tower, in Große Rittergasse is a fortified Gothic tower from the last quarter of the 14th century. From early 2010, the tower was redeveloped on behalf of the City of Frankfurt under the development plan for Alt-Sachsenhausen, the historic part of Sachsenhausen; the aim was to create a Hindemith memorial open to the public.

The informative Cabinet exhibition sketches a detailed picture of Hindemith‘s life and work with numerous documents, original sound documents as well as detailed explanations. The attic room, in which the composer himself lived and which is today used as perhaps the smallest chamber-music room of the world, offers a panoramic view over the roofs of Alt- Sachsenhausen. On the fourth floor of the Kuhhirtenturm is the music room, in which concerts and other events are held.

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.