KomponistenQuartier

The search for Gustav Mahler's traces offers an expert, comprehensive, and colorful insight into his professional and private life, even though many visible signs of his places of work were destroyed in 1943. Stops on the tour include former artistic workplaces and present-day memorial sites such as the Michaeliskirche, where he received the crucial inspiration for his 2nd Symphony, the place of his baptism (St. Ansgar in the Neustadt), hotels where he stayed initially, and his favorite eateries. Mahler's social life, friends, and acquaintances in Hamburg come alive during the tour. City tour by the Gustav Mahler Society Hamburg e.V., Concept: Dr. Dieter Wilde (historian and city guide), Dr. Albrecht Schultze (Board Member of the Gustav Mahler Society Hamburg), Fabian Frommknecht Start: 1:30 PM daily Meeting point: Komponistenquartier (KQ), Peterstraße 29 - 39 Duration: approx. 2.5 hours Contribution in favor of the Gustav Mahler Society e.V.: €15 (students/pupils €5) directly to the guide. Registration at rundgang@gmvhh.de

Presentation of the self-playing Steinway-Welte pianoIn the Mahler Museum, there is a very special exhibit of instrument history: a Steinway-Welte reproducing piano, specifically a 1904 model of the Welte T 100 (red) system. The punched roll technology made it possible over 100 years ago to record and precisely reproduce musical pieces. At first glance, it looks like an ordinary piano—except the keys move by themselves.Playback is done through rolls inserted into the mechanism. The special feature: the KomponistenQuartier has one of the four rolls personally recorded by Gustav Mahler. “This is how I wanted it and how I played it,” he labeled the rolls in 1905.Trained volunteers explain the technology during the demonstration and let visitors share in the music recorded by the composer himself.The presentation is included in the museum admission, duration: 20 minutes.