Collecting and Exhibiting Traditional and Popular Alpine Folk Music in Austria—A Case Study

Abstract

This paper presents a case study dedicated to a particular genre of folk music popular in the Alpine countries, and its collection and display in Austria in connection with a project in which the author was involved. The theoretical and practical questions related to this study reflect the needs and challenges posed by this topic in terms of museum documentation and communication. The aim of the paper is to expand the current discourse in the field by discussing the relationships between this genre of music as an intangible social phenomenon and as tangible cultural heritage. The paper presents the case study in an international context of discussion on the display of music culture and the role of sound in exhibitions, and connects theoretical considerations with practical approaches.