From Edison Cylinder to Blu-ray
Guided tour
Photo: PUNCTUM
begin 28.03.2025, 13:00
end 28.03.2025, 14:00
location Leipzig
Immerse yourself in the history of music and follow the development of sound reproduction devices and sound recordings.
We show you a whole range of music playback equipment: gramophones, a reproducing piano that plays automatically, and early sound reproduction devices for digital sound recordings . Different forms of musical notation, famous record covers and damage to sound recordings are also explained. From analogue media such as wax cylinders and records made of shellac or vinyl to the world of digital sound recordings – a tour of the German Music Archive at the German National Library will introduce you to the whole spectrum of music playback devices. In a demonstration, a reproduction grand piano, a cylinder phonograph and a gramophone are turned into a special listening experience.
Along with the music exhibition “From Edison Cylinder to Blu-ray”, we will also show you the music reading room and our soundproof listening booth.
Information and contact
Meeting point: Music reading room, German National Library in Leipzig
Duration: 60 minutes
Costs: Free admission.
Booking: Online via the button above.
Cloakroom info: Please lock your bags and backpacks in the lockers.
Accessibility: The guided tour is barrier-free accessible.
Contact: k.kubitzky@dnb.de
Address and getting here
German National Library
Deutscher Platz 1
04103 Leipzig
Getting here
We advise you to use public transport.
1 / By public transport
By rail
From the main railway station, take S-Bahn S1 in the direction of Riesa, S2 in the direction of Markkleeberg-Gaschwitz, S3 in the direction of Stötteritz or S5/S5X in the direction of Zwickau. Journey time approx. 7 minutes, get off at “Leipzig MDR”. Exit onto Semmelweisstraße, then turn right and continue for 800 m to the intersection at Straße des 18. Oktober.
Alternatively, take tram line 16 from platform 2 in front of the main railway station (in the direction of Lößnig) and get off at “Deutsche Nationalbibliothek”. Journey time approx. 11 minutes.
By air
From Leipzig/Halle airport, take S-Bahn S5/S5X in the direction of Zwickau. Journey time approx. 30 minutes, get off at “Leipzig MDR”. Exit onto Semmelweisstraße, then turn right and continue for 400 m to the intersection at Straße des 18. Oktober.
2 / By bike
The German National Library in Leipzig can easily be reached by bike. You can get to the DNB by taking the cycle paths on Straße des 18. Oktobers, Semmelweißstraße, and Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße. A cycle lane also runs past the DNB's main entrance. Numerous bicycle parking spaces are available along this lane and at the main entrance to the German Museum of Books and Writing. The bicycle racks in front of the museum are covered.
Besides taking the cycle lane, you can reach the bicycle parking spaces via a passageway from the junction of Semmelweißstraße/Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße through the DNB's tower courtyard.
3 / By car
Approaching from the north
Take the A9 to the Schkeuditzer Kreuz intersection, continue on the A14 towards Dresden and take the Leipzig-Mitte (city centre) exit; continue on the B2 towards Leipzig city centre as far as the intersection at Prager Straße/Semmelweisstraße (follow the signs for “Deutsche Nationalbibliothek”).
Approaching from the south and east
Take the A9 or A14, change to the A38 and continue to the Leipzig-Süd exit; change to the B2 and continue to the Südvorstadt exit; turn right into Kurt-Eisner-Straße and continue to the German National Library.
4 / Accessibility
The German National Library in Leipzig has disabled parking spaces right in front of the building. The entrance for disabled visitors is signposted. The reading rooms and cafeteria are accessible by lift.
Last changes:
04.03.2025
