The German Music Archive Berlin
Here are my findings:
The “German Music Archive” in Berlin is the central collection of sheet music and sound recordings in Germany and serves as the centre of bibliographic information on music and recordings issued in Germany. It was founded in 1970 and is attached to the “German National Library” as a third location. It continues the work of the German “Musik-Phonothek” (music library) which existed from 1961 - 1969.
Publishers of printed and recorded music in Germany are required by law (since 1973) to deliver two copies of every edition to the archive. One copy is kept at the ”German Music Archive” in Berlin, the second is deposited in the music collection of the “German National Library” in Leipzig for archiving and use.
The focus of the “German Music Archive” is the legally defined collection of sound recordings since 1970 and sheet music since 1973. The sound recording collection, featuring audio media including shellac discs, phonograph cylinders and piano rolls, dates to the origins of sound recording production in the nineteenth century. The material is from collectors' estates and purchases.
With the acquisition of the “Music Information Centre of the association of composers and musical scholars of the GDR” in 1991 sound recording tapes, notes and working card files are available documenting the musical life and production of the former GDR in the area of serious music.
The "Society for Musical Performing and Mechanical Reproduction Rights” designated the “German Music Archive” as the home for its music collection in July 2000. The entire inventory - comprising 210,000 pieces of music - was assigned to the “German Music Archive” . The holdings of the “German Music Archive” can be used on-site.
The “German Music Archive” is located in one of the Siemens Family’s villas and a photo can be seen below.
Garden view / Photo: Ingo Kolasa,
(Courtesy of German National Library)
The collection of historical players at the “German Music Archive” gives an overview over the most important technologies in the history of sound carriers. All appliances are restored and ready for use; they offer the possibility to see and hear how certain sound carriers were played and how they sounded. A photo can be seen below.
Historical players / Photo: Ingo Kolasa
(Courtesy of German National Library)
