Articles
The German Music Information Centre bundles selected facts about musical life in Germany and describes developments in central areas: from music education and amateur music-making to professional music practice and the music economy. 21 articles by specialist authors with backgrounds in science, cultural policy and music practice provide insight into a broad range of topics.
-
Music in Germany’s State Education System
by Ortwin Nimczik
Music instruction at school furthers the imagination, social skills and creativity. It is firmly anchored in the curricula of primary schools and all grades of secondary levels I and II. Ortwin Nimczik writes about recent developments and perspectives in educational policy.
-
Music Education outside the State School System
by Michael Dartsch
Music education outside the state school system ensures that people of every age can develop their musical abilities. Michael Dartsch describes the activities on offer in Germany as well as their sponsors and participants.
-
Music Communication
by Johannes Voit
Over the last 20 years music communication has become an important field of activity among cultural institutions and concert organisers. Johannes Voit writes about its beginnings, goals and organisational structure.
-
Education for Music Professions
by Hans Bäßler and Ortwin Nimczik
Those seeking to take up music as a profession will find a great many options in Germany. Tertiary-level schools of music, universities and special institutes are available for talented young artists and teachers. Hans Bäßler and Ortwin Nimczik discuss paths and trends in education.
-
Amateur Music-Making
by Astrid Reimers
Amateur music-making plays an enormously important role in Germany’s cultural and social life. With millions of people who make music in their free time, it is one of Germany's largest areas of civic engagement. Astrid Reimers reports on the impact of choruses, orchestras and associations.
-
Orchestras, Radio Ensembles and Opera Choruses
by Gerald Mertens
Germany's publicly financed orchestra landscape currently consists of 129 professional ensembles, recently achieving almost 9,000 concerts in a single season. Gerald Mertens discusses past developments, describes the ensembles’ present situation and outlines new activities.
-
Independent Ensembles
by Tobias Schick and Richard Lorber
Independent ensembles are a major engine of innovation and creativity in musical life, but they often work under trying conditions. Richard Lorber and Tobias Eduard Schick examine their programmes and finances and shed light on the early music and avant-garde scenes.
-
Music Theatre
by Arnold Jacobshagen
More than seven million people attend music theatre performances each season. Half of the over 11,500 events presented are opera performances, followed by dance, musicals and operettas. Arnold Jacobshagen writes about underlying conditions, staff members and developments in the repertoire.
-
Concert Halls
by Benedikt Stampa
Germany, a country with a rich and varied musical tradition, has a dense network of concert venues, including several exciting new buildings of recent vintage. Benedikt Stampa writes about developments in Germany’s concert hall landscape.
-
Festspiele and Festivals
by Franz Willnauer
Artistic experience or cultural event: musical festivals can be as varied in their ambitions as in their settings. Germany’s festival landscape is especially tight-knit and multifaceted. Franz Willnauer sheds light on its historical and social developments.
-
Contemporary Music
by Stefan Fricke
Never in the past 100 years has so much contemporary music reached the public as it does today, and never have there been so many ensembles specialising in this area. Stefan Fricke discusses the training, subsidisation and presentation of this music.
-
Popular Music
by Peter Wicke
For decades rock and pop music have been the favourite genres of every age group, whether live or on recording. Peter Wicke points out the latest developments and describes the infrastructure.
-
Jazz
by Hans-Jürgen Linke
Germany’s jazz scene has an extremely wide range of styles and institutions and a great many followers. Hans-Jürgen Linke writes about its locales, players and developments.
-
World Music
by Julio Mendívil and Kerstin Klenke
Between niche and global market: Germany has developed a multi-faceted and highly visible scene for world music. Julio Mendívil illuminates this recent field in musical culture.
-
Music in Church
by Meinrad Walter
Music allows churches to reach a large number of people, making church music an important element in society. Meinrad Walter describes aspects of training and professional practice.
-
Musicology
by Dörte Schmidt
Musicology is represented at German universities, tertiary-level music schools and many research institutions outside the university system. Dörte Schmidt outlines recent trends in the subject and sheds light on educational paths and professional fields.
-
Information and Documentation
by Martina Rebmann and Reiner Nägele
Archives and libraries have preserved a wide range of knowledge about music since time immemorial. Today, owing to digitisation, they are undergoing massive changes. Martina Rebmann and Reiner Nägele describe the structures of the library landscape and report on the latest developments.
-
Music Museums and Musical Instrument Collections
by Heike Fricke
The self-image of musicians’ museums and instrument collections has changed radically in recent years. Above all, the available knowledge is now meant to be made accessible to as many people as possible. Heike Fricke describes the challenges this entails.
-
Preferences and Publics
by Karl-Heinz Reuband
Roughly half of the people living in Germany are receptive to classical music, though the figures are declining. Karl Heinz Reuband asks what we know about the population’s musical predilections and what trends they reveal.
-
Music in Broadcasting
by Holger Schramm
Music has always bulked large in broadcasting. Holger Schramm describes its importance to radio and television today and what options these media offer for its consumption.
-
Music Economy
by Wolfgang Seufert
An upward trend and considerable spillover effects on other industries: the music economy is a major part of Germany’s cultural and creative economy as a whole. Wolfgang Seufert explains its subsectors and their peculiarities.