The Hundwil Collection as a Source on the Genesis of Wind Music in Switzerland
"In 1811, the present music society has gathered"
Factsheet
- Schools involved Bern Academy of the Arts
- Institute(s) Institute Interpretation
- Funding organisation SNSF
- Duration (planned) 01.08.2023 - 31.07.2027
- Head of project Dr. Adrian von Steiger
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Partner
Klingendes Museum Bern
Museum Herisau
Université de Genève, Unité de Musicologie
Situation
The “Hundwil Collection” originates from two music societies in Eastern Switzerland that, in the early 19th century, cultivated a then-new form of wind music: “Turkish music” featuring clarinets as melodic instruments and "Turkish" percussion such as cymbals, triangle, Turkish crescent, and various drums. The connections between the 20 surviving instruments, over 450 musical pieces (marches of all kinds, waltzes, pieces from operas), and the extensive information in the music books (e.g., names of players, concert dates, and programs) make the collection a unique source. Its three distinct historical layers also allow for the reconstruction of the early development of this military or civilian wind music, for example, through the continuous addition of new pieces to the part books or the incorporation of modern valved brass instruments by the mid-19th century.
Course of action
A team of three project collaborators and a sounding board of experts is examining the collection from three perspectives: instrument studies, historical research, and musicological analysis. This includes measurements and restorations of the instruments, archival research on the information and names listed in the collection, and an analysis of the extensive musical repertoire, including stylistically appropriate reconstructions of missing parts.
Result
The results will be shared with both the academic community and the interested public through a symposium, publications, an exhibition, concerts featuring the music played on historical instruments, and published editions of the scores.
