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Legal information about the decorative image: bundesfoto/Laurin Schmid © Ibero-Amerikanisches Institut
Legal information about the decorative image: bundesfoto/Laurin Schmid © Ibero-Amerikanisches Institut

Audio Library

The collection reflects the musical diversity of Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal. It includes music recordings of many genres (e.g. tango, salsa, merengue, samba, ska, calypso, son, fado, flamenco, pop, rock, mariachi, vallenato, valses, corridos, Latin jazz, reggae, art music, children's songs), recordings of writers and politicians, audio books, nature sounds, ethnographic recordings and language courses, from shellac records to CDs.

The Phonotheque's holdings consist of around 64.370 recordings (30.400 long-playing records, 2,100 singles, 16,000 shellac records, 13,370 CDs, 1,800 cassettes and 700 tapes). It can be searched for the most part via the online catalog in connection with the keyword "Tonträger". Sheet music is not part of the Phonotheque, but can be borrowed from the library.

Gérard Borras Collection

Peru, especially its capital city Lima, had a multi-faceted musical culture in the early 20th century. It combined the traditions of the Andes Mountains with North American and European influences. The rich musical life of this time has left many testimonies: scores for pianolas; shellac records, which were also played on Peruvian radio from 1924 onwards, thus making it possible for a wide audience to experience the most varied musical genres independently of a specific performance; scores published by specialized publishing houses or in illustrated magazines; theatre programs, and small-format booklets containing mainly the texts of popular music pieces and songs. All of these media also include illustrations of artists, instruments, and performances. These different historic sources in sound, text, and image can be found in the Gérard Borras Collection, which the IAI acquired between 2018 and 2019. The collection opens up a wide range of possibilities for research; from studies of popular culture to music history and ethnomusicology.

Egon Ludwig Collection

The self-taught musicologist and collector Egon Ludwig (1938-2007) amassed one of the largest private collections of Latin American music in the German-speaking world. He acquired almost 10,000 recordings on several trips through Latin America. His regional focus was on Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Paraguay. Ludwig communicated his knowledge of Latin American music in radio broadcasts on GDR radio and through articles in magazines and newspapers in both the GDR and Latin America (especially ABC Color). He also wrote two encyclopedias: "Música Latinoamericana. Lexikon der lateinamerikanischen Volks- und Populärmusik" (Lexikon Imprint Verlag, Berlin 2001, 710 p.) and "Tango-Lexikon: der Tango rioplatense. Facts and figures of the famous Latin American dance" (Lexikon Imprint Verlag, Berlin 2002, 701 p.).

Catalog of the Egon Ludwig Colection

(PDF | 34.14 MB) (opens in a new window), (this file is not accessible)

Osvaldo Alfredo Molina Collection

Osvaldo Alfredo Molina (1941-2010), an autodidact and collector, put together an extensive collection of tango scores and recordings. The main focus of the collection is Tango, Música Popular and Jazz. Professionally, he worked as a practical technician (production technology, quality control, measuring technology and general workshop technology). From the end of the 1980s, he gave lectures in Rosario on the history of tango and published some articles. In the 1990s years, he had his own programme on the local radio station in Rosario titled ‘El tango también es tango’ and was appointed a full member of the Rosario Tango Academy in 2002.  The collection at the IAI consists of around 9,000 scores, 5,400 shellac discs and 1,500 vinyl records.

Conditions and contact

Conditions of use

As a matter of principle, all sound storage media are reference collections and are not lent out. However, it is possible to have recordings made for academic purposes upon written request. It is also possible to arrange a listening appointment by prior arrangement. Overdubbing requests can also be handed in at the circulation desk together with audio-digital CD blank/s or MP3 stick.

To request the desired materials, you must complete the online form (external link, opens in a new window). Please make an appointment with the contact person listed on the right to view the materials.

Consultation hours

Monday: 2 - 4 p.m
Tuesday: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m
Wednesday: 3 - 5 p.m. 
Thursday: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m
Friday: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m

Contact us

Matthias Neumann