Event details - Staatliches Institut für Musikforschung - Preußischer Kulturbesitz

The Musical Instrument Museum of the State Institute for Music Research collects musical instruments associated with European art music from the 16th to the 21st century. The museum currently holds around 3,600 instruments in its collection, with just over 800 on permanent display. Highlights include instruments that once belonged to Frederick the Great, string instruments by Stradivari, Galiano and Stainer, the complete set of instruments from a Central German town piper’s ensemble dating from around 1600, the ‘Bach harpsichord’ and its replicas, Carl Maria von Weber’s fortepiano, an English church organ from the early 19th century, and the Mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ, the largest instrument in the collection. During the guided tour, the highlights of the collection will be presented and many instruments played live.

11 am Highlights of the MIM collection
Meeting point at the barrel organ
Museum admission (€10/€5) + tour fee (€3)

The Mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ is not only one of the largest instruments in the MIM, but also one of the largest of its kind in Europe. In 1929, it was acquired by Werner Ferdinand von Siemens, the grandson of the company’s founder, from the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company in North Tonawanda, NY. It has four manuals, 1,228 pipes and more than 200 stops. Added to this is a large number of percussion and effect instruments. Thunderclaps and birdsong, wailing sirens and the ringing of bells – the Mighty Wurlitzer’s range of sounds is truly impressive. In this short concert with commentary, you will get to know the instrument and immerse yourself in its world of sound. You will experience famous film melodies, popular hits and highlights from the classical repertoire.

12 noon Mighty Wurlitzer demonstration
Meeting point in front of the Mighty Wurlitzer