Introduction

Located in Tajrish Square, Tehran, the Tehran Museum of Music is dedicated to conserving the country’s rich musical heritage. The museum houses an extensive collection of musical instruments, including percussion, string, wind, and traditional Iranian instruments. It also features a treasure collection, an audio-visual archive, a specialized library, a workshop showing instrument construction, a repository for optimizing instruments, and even a coffee shop.

History

The building was originally constructed in 1972 as a residential property. After renovations in 2003, it was transformed into the Museum of Music, officially opening in 2008.

Architecture

The museum occupies a three-story building covering approximately 3,650 square meters, with an infrastructure of around 1,400 square meters. Its layout allows for efficient display of instruments, educational activities, and audio-visual presentations.

Exhibitions and Halls

The museum features about 240 instruments of 200 different types, including both Iranian traditional and regional instruments as well as Western instruments. Some items are on loan from renowned musicians, such as Mohammad Reza Darvishi and Majid Kiani.

Ground Floor:

  • String and wind instruments hall, divided into two sections

  • Percussion hall, displaying one-sided and two-sided percussion instruments

  • Traditional instruments hall, featuring instruments like the Tonbak

Audio-Visual Archive:

  • Preserves the legacy of Mohammad Ali Golshan Ebrahimi and other valuable collections, many of which are being digitized

Treasure Collection:

  • Includes Ali Tajvidi’s clock, Heshmat Sanjari’s conductor’s baton, Hossein Malek’s santur, and Taghi Masoudieh’s desktop calendar

Library:

  • Holds 3,000 books in 6,000 volumes, with 1,600 titles focused on music, art, and literature

Recording and Playing Hall:

  • Displays historical music recording and playback devices

Visiting Hours

  • Sunday to Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  • Saturday: Closed

The Tehran Museum of Music offers visitors a comprehensive journey through Iranian and international music, blending history, craftsmanship, and cultural education.

For detailed information about the Music Museum of Iran, including its extensive collections and digitization efforts, visit the University of Hildesheim’s Center for World Music page.

Explore visual content from the Music Museum of Iran, including instrument showcases and live performances, on their Instagram page.