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

本研究计划旨在探讨音乐展览的概念及诠释的可能性。这将是第一次对展览作为音乐文化制度进行系统、全面的研究。基本假设是，展品可以作为符号来阅读，并通过与其他展品的结合来传达主题内容。可能的主题范围包括类型学和乐器的发展，以及音乐史和某些文化区域的音乐特征方面。为了描述主题和它们呈现的方式，将分析一系列展览。随后，将与策展人和其他负责人合作，研究其意图、概念和实现过程。分别处理可听音乐和现代媒体的整合是特别感兴趣的。媒体设备的使用可能符合呈现音乐主题的特殊要求。此外，本研究将探讨参观者如何以个人的方式探索展览，以及在何种程度上理解策展人的意图。所有的分析都将基于符号学和叙事学的术语和方法。此外，自由和半结构化访谈以及参与式观察方法将完成调查。展览的选择尽可能包括主题范围和展示理念。因此，该项目具有国际焦点。来自德国、比利时、荷兰、奥地利、瑞士、意大利、法国和英国的国家和私人博物馆将参加此次展览。为了促进可持续的交流，该项目的成果将在研讨会上发表。在这种背景下，策展人、博物馆学家和音乐学家应该讨论结果、他们自己的经验和理论考虑。

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.