Music exhibitions. Studies on presentation and reception of musical topics in museums.

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The research project is supposed to deal with music exhibitions in terms of their conception and possibilities of interpretation. It will be the first systematic and comprehensive study on exhibitions as institutions of musical culture. The basic assumption is, that exhibits can be read as signs and convey thematic contents by being combined with other exhibits. The range of possible topics contains typology and development of musical instruments as well as aspects of music history and musical characteristics of certain cultural regions. In order to describe the topics and the way they are presented, a selection of exhibitions will be analysed. Subsequently, the intentions, concepts and processes of realization will be studied in cooperation with curators and other persons responsible. The respective handling of audible music and the integration of modern media are of particular interest. The use of medial equipment might correspond to the special requirements for presenting musical topics. Furthermore, the research will deal with the question of how the visitors with their individual approach explore the exhibitions and to what extent the curators intentions are understood. All analysis will be based on the terms and methods of semiotics and narratology. In addition free and semi-structured interviews as well as methods of participant observation will complete the investigations. The selection of exhibitions includes the range of topics and presentation concepts as far as possible. Hence, the project has an international focus. State and private museums from Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France and Great Britain will participate.In order to promote sustainable exchange, the results of the project will be presented in a symposium. In this context curators, museologists and musicologists are supposed to discuss the results, their own experience and theoretical considerations.