Explore music and videos at the listening stations in the exhibition area at the German Music Archive in Leipzig, and in the rotunda and lecture hall in Frankfurt am Main. The curated acoustic and visual exhibitions engage with a number of different topics.

Our “What does Leipzig sound like?” and “What does Frankfurt sound like?” exhibitions present a vivid sound picture of the two cities which the German National Library calls home. We invited everyone who associates a song or piece of music with Leipzig or Frankfurt to tell us why it was inextricably linked with that city for them. All that mattered was their personal feelings – no empirical evidence was needed, and there were no right or wrong answers! In Leipzig, Bach and Mendelssohn-Bartholdy rub shoulders with 2ersitz, the Prinzen and countless bands which have graced the stages at the Jazztage and the Wave-Gotik-Treffen over the years. In Frankfurt am Main the suggestions ranged from Deutsch-Rap to folksong, and from jazz played by the Mangelsdorf brothers to Frank Zappa and the Ensemble Modern. The pictures these selections paint are as eclectic and colourful as the reasons behind each choice. We’d like to welcome you to come visit us in Leipzig or Frankfurt am Main and find out what these cities sound like.

To the play list "The sounds of Leipzig"

To the play list "The sounds of Frankfurt"

Four listening stations are available at each site. These also include a selection of other playlists which will be refreshed on an occasional basis. All visitors can use the listening stations during opening hours – just drop in!

In one of the other exhibition rooms, we show you the videos that the German National Library recorded during the “Reading EUROPE” initiative. In the spring of 2020, the DNB commemorated Germany’s presidency of the Council of the European Union by having actors read texts about Europe in the reading rooms at both its locations, all of which were empty because of the pandemic. Besides facilitating an understanding of Europe from very different perspectives, this was an opportunity for the German National Library to present itself and its collections in a whole new light.

Leipzig

You can find the listening stations in Leipzig on the first floor in the “From Edison Cylinder to Blu-Ray” exhibition area.

Opening hours

Monday to to Saturday 10:00-18:00
Closed on Sundays and public holidays

Accessibility

Barrier-free access to the listening stations is available. You can use our lifts to access the upper floor.

The touchscreen monitors at the listening stations are not barrier-free.

Address and getting here

German National Library
Deutscher Platz 1
04103 Leipzig

Getting here

Frankfurt am Main

The listening stations in Frankfurt am Main are in the rotunda and on the ground floor of the main reading room.

Opening hours

Monday to Friday 9:00-22:00, Saturday 10:00-18:00
Closed on Sundays and public holidays

Accessibility

Barrier-free access to the listening stations is available.

The touchscreen monitors at the listening stations are not barrier-free.

Address and getting here

German National Library
Adickesallee 1
60322 Frankfurt am Main

Getting here