Bremen and Niedersachsen

Monument of the famous fairy-tale figures Bremer Stadtmusikanten(by Gerhard Marcks, 1951) -  The 'Freie Hansestadt Bremen' is the smallest Bundesland of Germany

Six organs:  positive (9 stops) by Silbermann, in 1733 built for Etzdorf in Saxonia, via other locations ended up in the western crypt of Bremen cathedral; 'Bachorgel' by Van Vulpen, 1966, III/p/36; other new small organs by Beckerath, Klop and Wegschneider; main organ by Sauer, 1894, IV/p/98  -  FP of Ein Deutsches Requiem by Brahms in 1868. FP of Volumina by Ligeti in 1962 at the last moment cancelled, due to fear of damage to the organ.

The organ by Böckelmann and Schnitger (1619/1703) was destroyed, but the marvellous front by Hermen Wulf saved; interior by Ahrend & Brunzema, 1962, III/p/33  -  A window in the northern wall and the adjacent 'Neanderhaus' remember the poet and composer of church music Joachim Neander, °1650 and †1680 in Bremen, active in Düsseldorf (his favourite spot, named after him, later become famous for the find of a special hominide, the 'Neandertaler').

former guild house and 'Ballhaus' from the 17^th century - 1807-65 centre of secular music

concert hall since 1856, rebuilt after fire in 1926 in art déco style - seat of the philharmonic state orchestra

built in 1950 behind the saved façade of its predecessor from 1843 -  > www.theaterbremen.de

music academy - also Klaus-Kuhnke archive of popular music since 1975

collection of c. 1500 non-western instruments -  > www.uebersee-museum.de

built in 1952 with parts of its predecessor from 1911, for which intendant Burchard could engage Nikisch, Strauss, Schillings, Blech a.o. while on their way to the USA

Monument of the organist and composer Vincent Lübeck (1654-1740). He was born here, but his birthplace (Im Dorfe 3) was demolished in 1970.

famous organ by Arp Schnitger, built in 1680 for the Hamburg Joanneum, in 1815 removed hither - 2 manuals, 30 stops (some of which dating back to 1567)

organ by Antonius Wilde, 1598, transferred from choir and extended by Schnitger in 1680; 3 manuals, 35 stops (16 of which by Wilde)

organ by Hinrich Klapmeyer, 1730, 3 manuals, 35 stops - some parts dating from 1600

organ by Dietrich Chr. Gloger, 1733/1741, 3 manuals, 46 stops

organ by Matthias Schreiber, 1771, 2 manuals, 23 stops - simple front, interior visible when played

organ by Erasmus Bielfeld, 1734, with parts from its predecessor by Arp Schnitger, 1680; 2 manuals, 22 stops

organ by Arp Schnitger, built in 1694 for an orphanage in Hamburg, here since 1786; 2 manuals, 24 stops

organ: R. Lampeler van Mill 1595, pedal towers by H. Kröger 1642, altered by Chr. Vater 1714 and G.W. Wilhelmy 1795; 2 man., 25 stops - 200 years of classical craft!

Monument of organ maker Arp Schnitger, born here in 1648 (house destroyed by fire in 1903). His organ in Golzwarden (1697) was spoiled in 1912, considered 'ugly'..!

built in 1881, after fire rebuilt in 1891-93

organ by Joachim Richborn, 1664, 1 man, 11 stops - bird stop by means of water vessel - painted shutters

organ by Joachim Richborn, 1681, I/pdp/9, 2 Zimbelsterne.

Philipp Heinrich Erlebach (1657-1714) was born here. He worked and died in Rudolstadt (> d08).

organ by Arp Schnitger, 1688, 3 manuals, 46 stops - pedal towers directed sideward (enhanced space effect)

organ by Gerhart von Holy, 1713, 2 manuals, pull-down pedal, 20 stops

organ, anon. 1660, 1 manual, 9 stops - case with rich woodcarving

organ, anon. 1513, 1 manual, pull-down pedal, 7 stops - shutters

organ by Joest Sieborch, 1643, 1 manual, pull-down pedal, 7 stops - shutters

organ by Bernard Hueß, 1668-75, some alterations by Schnitger in 1688; 3 manuals, 42 stops, Glockenspiel - Vincent Lübeck organist 1675-1702

organ by Dirck Hoyer, 1580, extended by Arp Schnitger, 1687; 2 manuals, 28 stops, 2 Zimbelsterne - pedal towers apart from front

as the frail boy Brahms stayed with the Giesemann family in the summer months of 1847 and '48 and gave piano lessons to daughter Elise - no tangible traces extant

J.S. Bach was pupil of the 'Partikularschule' and chorister of St. Michael's church (1700-02) - #W Georg Böhm and Thomas Delaselle - from here trip to Lübeck

organ by Hendrik Niehoff, 1552, enlarged by Matthias Dropa, 1715 - front and some stops extant - Georg Böhm was organist from 1698

house of Georg Böhm 1714-†1733, one of the 'Heiligenstädter Wohnungen' - before (1911-14) he lived diagonally across, at nr. 8 - his houses of 1698-1711 not extant

birthplace of Joh. Abraham Peter Schulz, °1747 - the carillon of the townhall plays his popular songs

former cinema of the British army, now opera and musical - in its predecessor, the 'Kaulitzsche Saal' (1822-1921), Marschner, Lortzing and J. Strauß appeared

Museum of mechanical musical instruments: barrel organs, player pianos, musical automates etc.

Friedrich Kuhlau was born in Uelzen in 1786, but lived in Denmark from 1810 onwards - international flute competition (odd years)

residence of Braunschweig-Lüneburg dynasty - chapel with musical reliefs and organ front from 1570 - concerts in fine baroque theatre (1680, oldest in Germany)

publishing firm and instrument making factory Moeck - emphasis on replicas of ancient instruments; original collection transferred to Göttingen (> 13501)

Famous organ by Christian Vater, 1748, II/p/26, Zimbelstern; well restored in 1962.

iconographic collection about all kinds of theatre (stage designs, costumes, etc.)

built in 1861 - altered in 1904, 1948, 1984 - chamber concerts in 'Weißer Saal' - in theatre park monument of Franz Abt

concerts, a.o. by the Staatskapelle Braunschweig, the successor of the Wolfenbüttel court orchestra (1587) - guest conductors included Berlioz and R, Strauss

former monastery church, in 19th c. used as concert hall - appearances by Berlioz in 1843, '46 and '53 - today catholic church

built in 1620; birthplace of Louis Spohr, °1784 -  the young Spohr played in the Hofkapelle from 1799 until 1804

Spohr's estate, beside objects and documents concerning the local music history are kept here; a small part of it is exhibited

fine collection of instruments - collection (Grotrian-)Steinweg: square pianos from Seesen and Clara Schumann's grand from 1879

piano factory of Grotrian-Steinweg since 1859; new building in 1974 - interesting website >  www.grotrian.de

piano factory of Friedrich Schimmel since 1885; new building in 1966 - see > www.schimmel.de

Museum of Mechanical Musical instruments - see > www.museen-koenigslutter.de

residence of the duchy of Brunswick from 1495 until 1753 - visit by John Dowland 1594 - today museum - concerts in historical rooms

rich library since 1643, today 650.000 books and MSs - on music a.o.: codices W₁  and W₂  of Notre Damemusic (c. 1200), Petrucci prints, Schütz autographs

house of Michael Praetorius, 1593-1621 organist and from 1604 Kapellmeister - Syntagma Musicum written and published here (1619)(+ 6/7)

birthplace of J. Gottfried Schwanenberger, °1740 - Kapellmeister in Wolfenbüttel and Braunschweig 1762-†1804

grave of Michael Praetorius, †1621 (under the organ) - organ by Gottfried Fritzsche, 1620-24 (front and 6 stops original) - Friedemann Bach played on it in 1771

House of the organ maker Gottfried Fritzsche during the construction of the organ of the Marienkirche.

last house of Georg Caspar Schürmann, Kapellmeister 1695-1701 and 1707-†1752, composer of 40 operas

grave with opulent inscription of Johann Rosenmüller, †1684 (from 1682 working in W.) - organ front (1595) from castle Hessen am Fallstein

former monastery, Michael Praetorius titulair prior from 1614 - organ from 1640, 2 manuals, 27 stops; with Springlade

Baroque church with organ by Andreas Müller, 1761, II/p/26; 17 stops in original state.

Organ  from 1746/47, perhaps by Andreas Müller, but various other makers have been suggested. II/p/18. The flauto traverso is blown from outside, like a real traverse flute.

organ positive from c. 1600, 6 stops - type of 'Praetorius organ'

organ by Christoph Treutmann, 1737; 3 manuals, 42 stops - largest 32' pipe: 11,8 meter - yearly festival 'Grauhöfer Orgelsommer' (July-August)

collection Erdmann of modern instruments, incl. remarkable curiosities (glass violin, miniatures)

last house of the Berlin operetta composer Paul Lincke  - der einzige Lin(c)ke der im Dritten Reich noch Rechte hat

grave of Paul Lincke, †1946

bust and exhibition of Paul Lincke

location of the birthplace of Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg, °1797, founder of Steinway & Sons

First workshop of the Steinweg family, 1820-56 in Seesen; exhibition about the piano factory Steinway - Also exhbition about Spohr's Seesen years.

house (rebuilt) of the young Louis Spohr, 1786-96; first violin lessons

university 'Georgia Augusta' since 1737 -  Brahms and Joachim stayed together in 1853 at Nikolausberger Weg 21 (house with plaque demolished in 1967) - 'Händel-Festspiele'

In the Accouchierhaus(1791), Agathe von Siebold lived, nearly the fiancée of Brahms. - Today institute of musicology with a vast collection of instruments (Moeck, Hickmann a.o.)

built in 1890 - performances of Händel operas during 'Händel-Festspiele' (yearly, June)

modern concert hall - Göttinger Symphonie Orchester - Händel-Festspiele

grave of Joh. Nicolaus Forkel, †1818; music director at the university, first biographer of Bach

birthplace of Joh. Joachim Quantz, °1697

in the local church interesting Quantz exhibition (only Sunday afternoon)

Quantz monument and 'Quantz-Brunnen'

Ethnomusicological branch of the university. Collections Laade (recordings, books) and Irle (musical instruments) concerning traditional and modern world music

seat of the Theater für Niedersachsen - all genres

organ by Joh. Georg Müller, 1740; 1 manual, 16 stops; pedal added in 1799

organ by Gottfried Fritzsche, 1723 (front) and Joh. Andreas Graff, 1726; 1 manual, 18 stops - from castle Wolfenbüttel, removed hither in 1796

Residence of the duchy (1636-1714) and kingdom of Hanover, but the royalty soon concentrated on England; Händel was active here in 1711-12. Annexation by Prussia in 1866  -  In Hanover the famous gramophone firm DG was established in 1898; recommended website on the history of music recording > http://history2.deutschegrammophon.com/en

baroque castle and garden since 1665 - castle destroyed, 'Orangerie' and 'Gallerie' extant, garden with garden theatre restored - magnificent performances until 1714 - yearly festival

church remembers Agostino Steffani, musician (coach of Händel) and later mainly priest and diplomat - he had this church built in 1718

built 1649-65 as dance and sports hall - first opera performance in 1672, concerts by court orchestra until 1852 - today (enlarged) popular theatre: pop, jazz, ballet

the music historian and first Bach biographer Philipp Spitta (1841-94) lived here during his youth

important opera theatre and concert hall, built in 1852 (interior modern) - Heinrich Marschner, Joseph Joachim, Hans von Bülow worked here - Marschner monument outside

In the 'Schauspielhaus' theatre. Museum and archive on the history of theatre in Hannover, est. in 1928, renewed after the war - mainly temporary exhibitions

location of the house of Joseph Joachim - first meeting (1853) with Brahms, the then accompanist of Joachim's colleague Reményi

music academy, est. in 1897 - several special institutes (see > www.hmtm-hannover.de ), a.o. european centre of jewish music - library, concerts

successor of the court library, dating back to 1665

many musical MSs from the 17th and 18 c. - Marschner and Joachim autographs

grave of Heinrich August Marschner, †1861  -  his house at Rathenaustraße 14 was demolished in 1980

concert hall of broadcasting corporation NDR

Schaumburg-Lippe residence - court music tradition from 1603 until the beginning of the 20th c.

organ by Isaias Compenius, 1612, III/p/48. Pipes and mechanism demolished in 1919, front damaged by arson in 1962, reconstruction in 1997 -  JCF Bach and Herder worked here.

house of Joh. Christoph Friedrich Bach [49], who worked as court musician 1750-95, from 1756 as Kapellmeister

Grave of Joh. Christoph Friedrich Bach, †1795, on the churchyard of the Jetenburger Church.

built in 1909 - all genres