Curator’s tour through “Musica di Strada”

The barrel organ and the pianola used to bring the latest and most popular songs to Berlin’s backyards and salons. At the Pankow Museum, you can see these fascinating instruments and listen to real street hits on barrel organs and serinettas. At the same time, the tour with curator Bettina Tacke provides insights into Italian immigration in the 19th century, the reasons for migration and life in Berlin’s little Italy in Prenzlauer Berg.

Three immigrants founded the company Cocchi, Bacigalupo and Graffigna, which had a worldwide reputation in barrel organ building. Their large orchestrion “Fratihymnia” still invites you to dance today with its large repertoire of hits and operettas.