Czech Museum of Music to open for free, offers a look at normally closed areas

The Czech Museum of Music will be open for free on Friday, November 22, to mark 15 years since it opened in its current location on Karmelitská 2/4 in Prague’s Malá Strana district.

In addition to the
permanent exhibition of musical instruments, there is a temporary
exhibition called Import Export Rock ’n’ Roll, which traces the
history of that genre in the communist era. People can see what sorts
of albums were available through official shops, and listen to clips
of music from that era. Western songs, for example, were often
re-recorded by Czechoslovak stars but with different lyrics.

The state did make
some efforts to attract Western acts, but could seldom afford to pay
for them. The Beach Boys came in 1969, but efforts to bring other top
acts in the 1970s and ’80s were not successful.

One of the most
bizarre tales in the museum’s rock exhibit is of a female pop group
called Satanic Girls, which left Czechoslovakia in 1968 to become
famous briefly in Latin America.

People can also try
their hands at an original Moog synthesizer, the instrument that gave
many rock songs a distinctive sound.

During the 15 years
of its existence, much has happened in the Czech Museum of Music.
There have been acquisitions for the entire music collections such as
the original letters and family correspondence of Bedřich Smetana
and Antonín Dvořák, items from the family of the composer Josef
Suk, and photographs and recordings of Ema Destinnová.

Musical instruments
that have enriched the collection include, for example, the pearl
piano or the cello by the Italian manufacturer Marconcini.

The museum is also
expanding its research and restoration departments and is active in
documenting the current music scene.

The museum building has not been a church since in 1782, when
Austro-Hungarian Emperor Joseph II abolished hundreds of convents and
monasteries not involved in teaching. The Baroque church and cloister
was built in the 17th century and designed by Francesco Caratti. At
one point, it housed Dominican monks, and after deconsecration was a
post office, a barracks, and part of the State Archives before
becoming the Czech Museum of Music.