Leipziger Notenspur Leipziger Notenspur Leipziger Notenspur

History

The project dates back to the year 1998 when its founder Prof. Dr. Werner Schneider came up with the idea of the “Notenspur” (Music Trail). However, the project proposals submitted in 1998 and 2003 were classified by the city’s authorities as unnecessary and unrealizable. In autumn 2005 several employees of music organizations and higher education institutions in Leipzig decided to demonstrate the project's feasibility as well as its benefits for the city.
Dr. Petra Dießner of Schumann Association, Prof. Dr. Hella Brock of Grieg Memorial Centre and Prof. Dr. Eszter Fontana of the Grassi Museum of Musical Instruments were those who supported the project from the very first day. A feasibility study was compiled on a volunteer basis by the members of the emerging network.

The Construction and Industrial Engineering Friends’ Association of Leipzig University (Verein der Freunde des Bauingenieur- und Wirtschaftsingenieurwesens der Universität Leipzig e. V.) carried out the urban and spatial division of the Notenspur music routes as well as the estimation of the upcoming costs. A preliminary draft of the route guidance system was designed by Klaus Hübner of the Leipzig Academy of Visual Arts (German: Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig).
The composers’ houses and the Grassi Museum of Musical Instruments undertook the development of the musicological aspects. The feasibility study prompted the Cultural Department to take up the project in the second half of the year 2006. Due to the promising interest on behalf of tourists, the study was highly welcomed by Leipzig Tourism and Marketing Ltd. (LTM). Therefore, the project has been developed in cooperation with LTM since autumn 2006. All the prominent music institutions in Leipzig have become members as well as active partners of
the Leipziger Notenspur by the beginning of 2007. The City of Leipzig has actively supported the project ever since.