Sound journeys through Switzerland around 1800

The history of music in Switzerland in the 18th and early 19th centuries, characterized by the emerging urban concert scene, a music-loving bourgeoisie and many other actors, has so far only been known to a small group of specialists. In order to counteract this research gap and make local music history accessible to a wider audience, the Swiss National Science Foundation is promoting dialog between academia and society as part of an Agora project. The aim of the project is to communicate current musicological findings to a broad public in an innovative way. The project, which is anchored at Bern University of the Arts (project leader: Claudio Bacciagaluppi) and the University of Geneva (co-applicant: Christoph Riedo), has already realized two exhibitions (at the Basel Historical Museum and the Zurich Central Library) and offered a large number of workshops - including specific formats for school classes under the direction of music educator Irena Müller-Brozović. Before the education project comes to an end in July 2025, two more exhibitions will be presented, offering fresh insights into Switzerland's rich musical heritage.

Lukas Sarasin

Both the Lucerne and Bern exhibitions place local musical life in a national context. Both follow the central theme "From the music room to the concert hall", which emphasizes the two central and closely linked poles of Swiss musical life: domestic music-making and the emerging concert scene. This connection is exemplified in both exhibitions by the Basel music lover Lukas Sarasin (1730-1802). As a passionate music lover and dedicated collector, Sarasin spent countless hours in his music room, where he practiced the violin and double bass. At the same time, as a member of the Basel Collegium Musicum, he took part in public concerts and thus combined the intimacy of domestic music-making with the social event of public concerts in an ideal way. His music library, comprising over 1,300 compositions, will be reconstructed for the first time as part of Roberto Scoccimarro's SNSF project and will be accessible on the project website and RISM Online from summer 2025.

Lucerne

The Lucerne Central and University Library (Sempacherstrasse site) presents selected documents from its own collection. These include valuable musical records from the Theater and Music Lovers' Society, founded in 1806, a predecessor institution of today's Lucerne Symphony Orchestra. Its extensive catalog illustrates the diverse international repertoire of the time and also contains detailed lists of instruments. The exhibition also focuses on the composers Joseph Franz Xaver Dominik Stalder (1725-1765), Franz Xaver Leonti Meyer von Schauensee (1720-1789) and the Jesuit Constantin Reindl (1738-1799) from the Upper Palatinate, who were active in Lucerne. The focus is also on chamber music and a number of music-theatrical works composed and performed in Lucerne (musical comedies, pantomimes, operas).

Berne

There were many music lovers like Sarasin throughout Switzerland. The exhibition at the Klingendes Museum Bern focuses on two outstanding examples, Gabriel Emanuel von May (1741-1836) and Karl Friedrich von Steiger (1754-1841). Von Steiger was an enthusiastic music dilettante with a considerable music library and organized exclusive concerts for invited guests. Von Steiger's collection is also used to illustrate his relationship with music teachers and his preference for flute music. In addition, visitors can watch short video films, listen to music or call up in-depth information via tablets provided. The exhibition "From the Music Room to the Concert Hall" can be experienced at the Klingendes Museum until March 2026.

Information about the exhibitions

Lucerne Central and University Library (Sempacherstrasse location): March 28 - July 4, 2025 Opening hours: Monday - Sunday 08:00 - 20:00, free of charge.

Sounding Museum Bern: May 7, 2025 - March 2026

Opening hours: Wednesday - Saturday 14:00 - 17:00, Sunday 11:00 - 17:00, Admission: 12/5 CHF