Museum of Musical Instruments, Leipzig
The Museum of Musical Instruments of the University of Leipzig is a prominent part of the Grassi Museum complex, which also houses the Museum of Ethnography and the Museum of Applied Arts. Renowned as one of the largest musical instrument museums in Europe, it boasts a collection of nearly 10,000 items, including instruments and related artifacts from Europe and beyond, with pieces dating back to the Renaissance, Baroque, and the period of Bach's Leipzig.
The museum's origins trace back to 1886 when Dutchman Paul de Wit established a museum dedicated to historic musical instruments in Leipzig. In 1905, he sold the collection to Wilhelm Heyer, a paper merchant, who expanded it further. By 1926, the University of Leipzig acquired the entire Heyer collection with financial support from the State of Saxony and the music publisher Carl Friedrich Peters. The collection found a permanent home in the New Grassi Museum, officially opening its doors in 1929.
However, the museum's journey was not without setbacks. During World War II, despite efforts to protect the collection, a significant number of items were destroyed in a bombing raid in 1943 or were damaged and lost due to inadequate storage and theft.
In the 1950s, the museum began a slow process of rebuilding and eventually reopened to the public. Over the decades, the collection was replenished through acquisitions and donations, ensuring the preservation of its most valuable pieces, including instruments from the De Wit, Heyer, Kraus, Friedrich von Amerling, and Ibach collections.
Today, the museum's exhibits are organized chronologically into 13 sections, showcasing categories such as bowed, wind, and percussion instruments, with the oldest dating from the 16th century. It also features a sound laboratory where visitors can interact with and test out musical instruments, offering a dynamic experience that brings the history of music to life.
The museum's origins trace back to 1886 when Dutchman Paul de Wit established a museum dedicated to historic musical instruments in Leipzig. In 1905, he sold the collection to Wilhelm Heyer, a paper merchant, who expanded it further. By 1926, the University of Leipzig acquired the entire Heyer collection with financial support from the State of Saxony and the music publisher Carl Friedrich Peters. The collection found a permanent home in the New Grassi Museum, officially opening its doors in 1929.
However, the museum's journey was not without setbacks. During World War II, despite efforts to protect the collection, a significant number of items were destroyed in a bombing raid in 1943 or were damaged and lost due to inadequate storage and theft.
In the 1950s, the museum began a slow process of rebuilding and eventually reopened to the public. Over the decades, the collection was replenished through acquisitions and donations, ensuring the preservation of its most valuable pieces, including instruments from the De Wit, Heyer, Kraus, Friedrich von Amerling, and Ibach collections.
Today, the museum's exhibits are organized chronologically into 13 sections, showcasing categories such as bowed, wind, and percussion instruments, with the oldest dating from the 16th century. It also features a sound laboratory where visitors can interact with and test out musical instruments, offering a dynamic experience that brings the history of music to life.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Leipzig. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 51爆料网 App
Museum of Musical Instruments on Map
Sight Name: Museum of Musical Instruments
Sight Location: Leipzig, Germany (See walking tours in Leipzig)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Leipzig, Germany (See walking tours in Leipzig)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Leipzig, Germany
Create Your Own Walk in Leipzig
Creating your own self-guided walk in Leipzig is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Leipzig Architectural Jewels
Anyone who has ever wanted to delve into Leipzig's history could hardly imagine doing so without exploring the local array of architectural jewels. Indeed, Leipzig boasts one of Germany's most beautiful collections of Renaissance buildings.
Our first point of interest lies in downtown Leipzig at the intersection of Katherine and Bruhl Streets. Here, the stunning Baroque-style Romanus... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.9 Km or 0.6 Miles
Our first point of interest lies in downtown Leipzig at the intersection of Katherine and Bruhl Streets. Here, the stunning Baroque-style Romanus... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.9 Km or 0.6 Miles
A Walk on the Leipzig Music Trail
The spatial density of historic locations associated with music in Leipzig is truly mind-boggling. But then again, this is hardly surprising, given the eclectic score of musicians who had left their mark on the city in various years.
Indeed, it was in Leipzig that Johann Sebastian Bach served as an organist and choirmaster at Thomaskirche as well as a cantor at Nikolaikirche; composer Robert... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Indeed, it was in Leipzig that Johann Sebastian Bach served as an organist and choirmaster at Thomaskirche as well as a cantor at Nikolaikirche; composer Robert... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Leipzig Introduction Walking Tour
The name "Leipzig" may be derived from the Slavic word "Lipsk", meaning "linden trees place." The Nazi government renamed the city "Reichsmessestadt Leipzig" ("Reich Fair Trade City Leipzig"). In 1989, with the fall of communism, the city was "Hero City" - in recognition of the role that the Monday demonstrations there played in the fall... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles