Musical Collection

Music objects on display at the German-American Heritage Museum

Music Exhibition Space (2025) by GAHMGerman-American Heritage Museum of the USA

Music Installation (2024)

Permanent music items displayed in exhibition space

Georg Friedrich Händel Trophy (ca. 1903) by Designed by J. M. Didusch and Son of Baltimore, Maryland; Cast by Roman Bronze Works of Brooklyn, New York.German-American Heritage Museum of the USA

Georg Friedrich Händel Trophy (ca. 1903)

The bust was first prize at the singing competition (Pressingen) in June 1903 at the Sängerfest of the Nordöstlicher Sängerbund in Baltimore, MD. On loan from the Washington Sängerbund.

Wurlitzer Baby Grand Piano Fill ImageGerman-American Heritage Museum of the USA

Wurlitzer Baby Grand Piano (ca. 1930)

Franz Rudolph Wurlitzer (1831-1914) was a German immigrant from Schönbeck, Saxony. In 1853, he started an instrument company in Cincinnati, Ohio, which initially imported stringed, woodwind, and brass instruments from Germany for resale in the US.

Donated by Wendy Wurlitzer

Wurlitzer Baby Grand Piano Side ViewGerman-American Heritage Museum of the USA

Piano Details

Wurlitzer Baby Grand Piano Internal DetailsGerman-American Heritage Museum of the USA

Piano Inside Details

J. S. Bach Chorale Songs J. S. Bach Chorale Songs (1850) by Edited by Ludwig ErkGerman-American Heritage Museum of the USA

J. S. Bach: Choralgesänge (J. S. Bach Chorale Songs) (1850)

Collection edited by Ludwig Erk (1807-1883) , a German musicologist, music teacher, academic, and folk-song collector.Erk’s edition of the chorales was one of the earliest scholarly editions of Bach’s sacred music covering 319 of 370 chorales (348 without duplicates).

Philadelphia National Sängerfest Trophy Full Trophy Side ViewGerman-American Heritage Museum of the USA

National Sängerfest Philadelphia Trophy (ca. 1912)

This trophy is for the 23rd National German Sängerfest (singer's festival) in Philadelphia which was hosted by the Nordöstlicher Sängerbund (Northeastern Singers' Federation) between June 29th and July 4th,1912. The trophy is dedicated by the Stollwerck Brothers.

Philadelphia National Sängerfest Trophy Figure Base Detail, From the collection of: German-American Heritage Museum of the USA
,
Philadelphia National Sängerfest Trophy Base Text Detail, From the collection of: German-American Heritage Museum of the USA
,
Philadelphia National Sängerfest Trophy Mid Section Detail, From the collection of: German-American Heritage Museum of the USA
Show lessRead more

Trophy details

Philadelphia National Sängerfest Trophy Figure DetailGerman-American Heritage Museum of the USA

Inscription

“Wanderpreis Stollwerck - Im Deutschen Geist und Herzen sind wir Eins.”  (Travelling Prize Stollwerck - We are one in German Spirit and Heart.) The latter is of Friedrich Emil Ritterhaus' 19th century “Nicht festgebannt an Deutschlandsmächt'ge Eichen" aka Song of the German Americans

Charles M. Stieff Upright Piano Charles M. Stieff Upright Piano (1989) by Charles M. StieffGerman-American Heritage Museum of the USA

Charles M. Stieff Upright Piano (ca. 1898)

This beautiful upright piano from the late Victorian era, was purchased by John Herman Heinrich Rolker (1852-1906), a native of Baltimore, Maryland. When his youngest daughter, Edna, turned five in 1898, Rolker purchased this piano for $325, the equivalent of $10,040 today.

Charles M. Stieff Upright Piano Large Panel DetailGerman-American Heritage Museum of the USA

Piano Details

San Francisco's Deutschen Sängerfest Trophy View 1German-American Heritage Museum of the USA

San Francisco's Deutschen Sängerfest Trophy (ca. 1910)

Etching: "Gewidmet von Kaiser und König Franz Joseph I. zum Deutschen Sängerfeste un San Francisco 1910" (Dedicated by Emperor and King Franz Joseph I. for the German Song Festival in San Francisco 1910). 

Created by Vincenz Mayer’s Söhne.

San Francisco's Deutschen Sängerfest Trophy View 2, From the collection of: German-American Heritage Museum of the USA
,
San Francisco's Deutschen Sängerfest Trophy View 3, From the collection of: German-American Heritage Museum of the USA
,
San Francisco's Deutschen Sängerfest Trophy View 4, From the collection of: German-American Heritage Museum of the USA
Show lessRead more

This trophy was created by Vincenz Mayer’s Söhne, an iconic Viennese jeweller known for producing jewelry, silverware, medals, and decorations, such as the Order of the Iron Crown and Imperial Austrian Order of Franz Joseph. Founded in 1810, this firm was almost as well known as Rothe.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
Explore more
Related theme
United States of Culture
From Yosemite to Broadway, take a trip around the States with more than 637 American institutions
View theme

Interested in Performance?

Get updates with your personalized Culture Weekly

You are all set!

Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.

Home
Discover
Play
Nearby
Favorites