A journey of discovery through the Ethnological Museum's collection of musical instruments
What do musical instruments tell us about the cultures they come from and about our ways of collecting them? In this guided tour of the Ethnological Museum's musical instrument collection, we explore the eventful history of an extraordinary collection with a global perspective.
Image gallery
Tanbur (Langhalslaute) aus Afghanistan
The starting point is the famous classification by Erich M. von Hornbostel and Curt Sachs (1914), which is based on the instruments in the Ethnological Museum and remains valid worldwide to this day. After the Second World War, Kurt Reinhard laid the foundation for a new collection that unites instruments from all regions of the world—a unique treasure trove of ethnomusicological diversity.
Together with Dennis Hopp, collection manager and musicologist, and Dr. Maurice Mengel, ethnomusicologist and head of the media department, participants will examine the origins, development, and reorganization of the collection in the new exhibition space of the Dahlem Museums, using selected instruments and sound recordings as examples. An invitation to all who are curious about the stories, sounds, and structures of world music.
IN GERMAN
Additional information
Meeting point: Foyer Forschungscampus Lansstraße 8
Price: €10.00
Booking: booking/prior registration recommended
Price: €10.00
Booking: booking/prior registration recommended
Dates
December 2025
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