The "Klingendes Museum" allows some of its instruments to be played under a predefined conservational regime. Please send specific requests to the director. Some instruments can only be played in the museum, others may be lent out for projects of historical performance practice.
Should historical instruments be played? This is the most crucial dilemma of their conservation: Played instruments wear out, get damaged, and suffer dirt and corrosion. Being conserved unplayed, silent, they loose their voices, are reduced to a mere identity as an object.
Wind instruments pose the biggest challenges as moist air causes interior damage to the wood or brass. In addition, the central questions of historical mouthpieces, reeds and playing techniques need to be answered.
Recordings with instruments of the «Klingende Sammlung»
Anne Pustlauk, Brussels, leading specialist on 19th century flutes, performs French solo pieces on original flutes of the period from our collection. More about this project ...
Play VideoDemian Kammer staged our Saxophone by Adolphe Sax Fils, ca. 1900
Play VideoResearch
16 projects on wind instruments at the Bern Academy of the Arts.
