Archive, library and collections

Archive, library and collections
of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien

Welcome to the archive of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde, one of the world’s most important music collections.

For music lovers

Concert Archive

For scientists

The digital catalog

Catalog search

History of the archive

Philip Reitsperger, Identity Lab

One of the most diverse music collections in the world.

The archive was co-founded with the establishment of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in 1812. It contains over two million objects.

History of the archive

Collections & holdings

Collection of letters

The collection comprises around 10,000 letters and various non-musical autographs. Highlights include the well-known letters of great composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Joseph Haydn.

Find out more

Beethoven’s Eroica

The most famous hole in music history can be found in Beethoven’s Third Symphony score in E flat major op. 55, the Eroica. This score is one of the most prominent objects in the archives…

Find out more

Brahms collection

No other well-known composer’s estate has survived as complete as Johannes Brahms’s did until the middle of the 20th century. It includes his library, correspondence addressed to him, his music collection with manuscripts and prints…

Find out more

Picture and graphics collection

The picture and graphics collection of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien consist of more than 50.000 graphics, paintings, photos, busts and medals.

Find out more

Musical instruments

The collection of musical instruments comprises over 800 inventory numbers, although it should be noted that instrument parts or violin bows, for example, are often also regarded as individual “musical instruments”.

Find out more

Mozart’s Symphony No. 40

The 40th Symphony in G minor, K. 550, is probably Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s most popular work. The score, which the composer wrote, is now in the archives of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde and has a…

Find out more

Sheet music archive

The music archive comprises around 200,000 works from the early modern period. These range from extensive opera scores—especially from the 18th century—to—short album sheets comprising just a few bars.

Find out more

The Brahms Collection

Part of the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.

The collection uniquely documents the life and work of the renowned composer Johannes Brahms – in particular, his great interest in the history of art, music, literature and politics. The collection also sheds light on the composer’s time and environment.

Learn more

Philip Reitsperger, Identity Lab