Preserving the Past, Inspiring the Future.
Coimbra is a city where music echoes in every corner, reflecting centuries of tradition and evolution. Known as the city of student fado, its musical heritage extends far beyond this iconic genre. With this broad vision, the Museum of Music of Coimbra Cultural Association (MUS.MUS.CBR) was born – an institution dedicated to preserving, studying, and promoting our musical heritage on a local, national, and even international scale. The idea of creating this association stemmed from Coimbra’s deep musical identity. As a true cultural center, the city boasts a unique urban song tradition, exceptional musicians, renowned choirs, and an incredibly active musical community. Given this richness, it made perfect sense to create a museum space that would not only preserve but also celebrate this heritage.
The Museum of Music of Coimbra is much more than just an exhibition space. Its mission extends beyond display – it is dedicated to gathering, preserving, and promoting both tangible and intangible elements of musical history. To achieve this, the association engages in research, conservation, and restoration of musical instruments, organizes events and exhibitions, and provides a dynamic educational space with courses, workshops, and masterclasses.
One of the museum’s major ongoing projects is the revitalization of nearly extinct instruments, such as the Toeira Guitar, the Guitarrinho de Coimbra, and the Bandolão, as well as the recovery of forgotten regional musical repertoires.
The association is committed to studying and promoting Coimbra’s diverse musical expressions, from academic traditions linked to the university culture to popular music tied to local festivities and traditions. The Museum of Music of Coimbra houses a rich and diverse collection. Among its exhibits are original instruments and replicas, accompanied by historical documentation that provides valuable insight into the city’s musical evolution. The museum also features a collection of instruments from around the world. One of the rarest and most significant pieces is the Júlio Teixeira mandolin, an instrument that played a fundamental role in the development of the Portuguese mandolin.
The craft of instrument making has been experiencing a revival in recent years, and their Luthiers’ School has been instrumental in fostering this passion. With a flexible teaching approach tailored to each student’s needs, the school has attracted an increasing number of enthusiasts, eager to bring musical instruments to life. In parallel, another fundamental pillar of the association’s work is the conservation and restoration of historical musical instruments, carried out at the Laboratory for Conservation and Restoration of Musical Instruments (LCRIM).
Here, restoration is approached as a multidisciplinary process, combining artistic expertise with scientific analysis. Each piece undergoes thorough examination, including laboratory tests and historical research, to ensure its original characteristics are carefully preserved. The greatest challenge? Mastering the techniques and processes needed to restore materials while respecting the integrity of each instrument.
At the Museum of Music of Coimbra, visitors are invited to explore a unique collection of musical instruments, where they will find the emblematic Toeira Guitar, the distinctive Guitarrinho de Coimbra, the resonant Bandolão, charming Banjos, and the intriguing three-string Rabecão, among many others. Each piece, with its unique history and sound, reflects the rich musical tradition of Coimbra and various cultures worldwide, offering a journey through soundscapes filled with memories and emotions. More than just a museum, the Cultural Association Museum of Music of Coimbra is a true center of musical knowledge and innovation. Through research, education, and the appreciation of the city’s musical heritage, the Association actively contributes to ensuring that Coimbra’s rich musical traditions continue to inspire future generations.
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