The Foundation for the Furthering of Music Culture or The Nydahl Collection () was established in 1920 by Captain
Rudolf Nydahl (1882-1973) to manage the collections of musical instruments, manuscripts and other objects related to music that he built up during his lifetime.
History
The foundation was founded by Nydahl in 1920. He studied music at
Conservatoire de Paris
The Conservatoire de Paris (), or the Paris Conservatory, is a college of music and dance founded in 1795. Officially known as the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (; CNSMDP), it is situated in the avenue Jean Ja ...
in the beginning of the last century, but eventually returned home to Sweden to manage a wine shop founded by his father. The wine shop was located at
Stureplan
Stureplan is a Town square, public square in central Stockholm, between Norrmalm (proper), Norrmalm and Östermalm. The square connects the major streets Kungsgatan, Stockholm, Kungsgatan, Birger Jarlsgatan and Sturegatan. The buildings around ...
in the district of
Östermalm
Östermalm (; "Eastern city-borough") is a 2.56 km2 large district in central Stockholm, Sweden. With 71,802 inhabitants, it is one of Sweden's most populous and exclusive districts. It is an extremely expensive area, having the highest ho ...
.
When the Swedish state in 1919 monopolized the trade with alcohol, it expropriated the Nydahl wine shop. Rudolf Nydahl used the income to further his great interest in music by creating a music foundation already the following year 1920. The objective of this foundation was to establish an institution, in the manner of the Conservatoire de Paris, serving in education and research. The institute would collect and maintain an archive of music manuscripts, scores, letters and other music-related material. It would also come to acquire and preserve historic musical instruments.
Activity and collection
A museum of the items collected by Nydahl was first opened in Stockholm in 1967, and was in 1979 moved to its present location at Riddargatan 37 in Stockholm. In addition to its archives, the Museum houses a collection of approximately 550 old instruments, of which 75 are keyboard instruments, such as harpsichords, clavichords, pianos and organs dating from the 16th century up to the 1940’s. Two hundred of these are on permanent display in six rooms, of which three are furnished in period style.
Initially the foundation arranged courses and lectures in harmony and solfège, but is now largely concerned with maintaining the Museum and serving the public and musicologists with information, scans, etc. The Museum occasionally arranges concerts and lectures in its unique venue. The collections are displayed in museum premises at Riddargatan 37 in
Stockholm
Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...
and include around 2,000 original autograph compositions by most of the major composers, such as
Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age ...
,
Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. He is one of the most revered figures in the history of Western music; his works rank among the most performed of the classical music repertoire ...
,
Schubert
Franz Peter Schubert (; ; 31 January 179719 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical period (music), Classical and early Romantic music, Romantic eras. Despite his short life, Schubert left behind a List of compositions ...
,
Schumann
Robert Schumann (; ; 8 June 181029 July 1856) was a German composer, pianist, and music critic of the early Romantic music, Romantic era. He composed in all the main musical genres of the time, writing for solo piano, voice and piano, chamber ...
,
Chopin and others, as well as around 6,000 original letters and documents. In addition, there is a library of music literature and printed music and an image archive. The collection also includes paintings and sculptures based on music, as well as objects belonging to famous musical personalities. The archive also contains iconographic material with a collection of drawings, paintings and photos, a library of scores (including many first editions), and a collection of music literature formerly belonging to the late Professor Ingmar Bengtsson. Also his correspondence is kept in the archive.
References
External links
Museum's webpage
{{coord, 59.33265, 18.08617, format=dms, type:landmark_region:SE, display=title
Music museums in Sweden
1920 establishments in Sweden
Museums in Stockholm