Library
The Orpheus Institute keeps its own specialized and discipline-specific library which favours works in performance-oriented, music-theoretical, aesthetic and (artistic) philosophical areas. The library catalogue currently contains about 20000 books, scores and audio-visual recordings.
Orpheus library collection
The Orpheus library collection contains publications on themes as musical practice, execution of music, creativity, experiment, philosophy and aesthetics. The library also houses a collection of specialised journals, recordings and scores. And of course, all publications of the Orpheus Institute, its researchers and graduate students are kept in the collection.
Ton Koopman collection
In 2020 the Orpheus Institute acquired the prestigious library of Ton Koopman. The focus of the collection is 17th- and 18th-century music, its cultural context and performance practice.
In the course of his sixty-year career, Koopman has collected an impressive collection of books and music. Among the thousands of prints and manuscripts are numerous unique works, including a cantata by Handel unknown until recently. In addition to this historical library with works from the 15th to the 19th century, Koopman has also collected thousands of modern books and periodicals on Baroque music and culture. Many of the books, both old and modern, have been annotated extensively by the artist himself, making the collection unique.
The collection is the subject of the research group Resounding Libraries led by Dr Bruno Forment (principal investigator). The cluster develops projects around the library to encourage innovative artistic practices and develop new methods within the digital humanities. In this context, the Orpheus Institute also opens up the collection digitally to make it available to researchers in Belgium and beyond.
photos: Michael De Lausnay
Visit the Ton Koopman collection
Orpheus Instituut Koetshuis
Korte Meer 20A, 9000 Ghent
Contact: dr. Bruno Forment
Library officers: Sigrid T'Hooft & Liesa Deville
Fonds Johan Huys
The ‘Fonds Johan Huys’ is a donation from Johan Huys, chair of the board of governors of the Orpheus Institute and former principal of the Ghent Conservatory. As an organ player Johan Huys developed a specific interest in music and literature from the 18th and 19th century. The collection contains a number of original reference books from this period.
Fonds Gerard Corver
The ‘Fonds Gerard Corver’ is the legacy of philosopher Gerard Corver. Gerard Corver (1929-2009) was professor Philosophy at the University of Groningen. His main fields of expertise were philosophical anthropology, phenomenology and art history, with a personal interest for Kant, Cassirer and Adorno. During his life, he has gathered a significant collection of works on art philosophy and psychology. Over 750 books are now to be consulted in the Orpheus Institute library.
Fonds Paul Thwaites
The ‘Fonds Paul Thwaites’ was bequeathed by the friends and family of Paul Thwaites (1954-2020). For his respected blog Semi-Brevity, Paul Thwaites collected thousands of records on the pioneers of historical performance practice. He has also left an archive of concert programmes, interviews and literature on the subject.
Other specialized collections
- Fonds Gusta Goldschmidt: photographs, press clippings, and manuscripts around the early music pioneer Gusta Goldschmidt (1913-2005).
Visit the library
Korte Meer 12, 9000 Ghent
Mon-Thu: 10:00-13:00 & 14:00-16:00
Fri: 10:00-13:00
Sat, Sun and official holidays: closed
Library materials can only be consulted on-site during office hours.
Please make an appointment at least one week in advance.
Contact: Kathleen Snyers
Catalogue
Our library catalogue is available via CaGeWeB: www.cageweb.be
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