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Musician's almanac

Louisa SchaeferJune 10, 2011

Across the globe, Germany has long been considered the land of music. Now, audiophiles can learn more about "Musical Life in Germany" in the 372-page almanac recently published in English. It can be downloaded for free.

https://p.dw.com/p/11Y0O
A page from the book, "Musical Life in Germany"
Music learning and teaching is one important topic in the bookImage: MIZ

Germany not only has a singular music history, boasting greats like Beethoven, Brahms and Wagner, but the country also hosts a multitude of festivals drawing thousands of international visitors each year. German music schools and conservatories likewise attract top young musicians and singers from all over the world, and many choose to stay after their studies to join renowned orchestras and theaters.

It's no wonder, then, that the MIZ (in English, the German Music Information Center) receives innumerable requests from around the world for more data on Germany's musical landscape. Aiming to satisfy those demands, the Bonn based institution has just published a book titled "Musical Life in Germany" in English.

Go-to resource

Screenshot of the online version of the Musical Life in Germany book
The entire almanac is available as a pdf from the MIZ websiteImage: http://www.miz.org/musical-life-in-germany/

Facts and news about trends in music production, education and industry in Germany - you name it, the almanac is likely to include it. The center's databanks, statistics and address lists are a treasure trove for musicians, journalists and teachers.

"For years now, we've been publishing information about musical life in Germany in our music almanac and online at miz.org," said Margot Wallscheid, project director at the center.

"But since we've been getting more and more requests from abroad, it became clear that we needed to have some of that information in English," she added.

The beautifully designed, 300-page paperback "Musical Life in Germany" is the fruit of that labor.

Fifteen different articles explore musical education and training in the country. There's information about orchestras, music theaters and festivals, but also about the pop music scene and music libraries and archives. Photographs, graphics and maps supplement the articles and offer an overview of musical landmarks, venues and conservatories in the country.

It's not just the sunny side of musical life in Germany that is depicted in the book, however. Hurdles in music education are also revealed.

"We all know there are deficits in the music education programs in this country," Wallscheid said. "Those are most clearly found in kindergartens - some of which don't even offer music education."

"The music conservatories, too, are crowded, and there are long waiting lists," Wallscheid added.

Going global

Cover of the book Musical Life in Germany
A second edition of the book will likely be out soonImage: MIZ

To ensure the English-language almanac reaches a broad audience, MIZ is cooperating with German centers abroad.

"The Foreign Office is helping us distribute the publication to German embassies around the globe," said MIZ's Stephan Schulmeistrat. Germany's cultural centers, the Goethe Institutes, are also receiving copies of the book.

But with the click of the mouse, music lovers can also access "Musical Life in Germany" online for free.

"It's important that we get a broad reader base and that we make the information as accessible as possible - after all, Germany boasts one of the liveliest musical landscapes in the world," Schulmeistrat said.

The proof is in the clicks, and MIZ's online almanac has certainly reaped plenty of them. And the first print edition has done well, too. It's nearly sold out, and a second printing will likely be in the works soon.

Author: Marita Berg / als
Editor: Greg Wiser

Musical Life in Germany
Structure, facts and figures
A publication by the German Music Information Center
Editors: Stephan Schulmeistrat, Margot Wallscheid
Bonn, 2011, 372 pages.
ISBN 978-3-940768-24-7
See link below