The foundation of the work of the institute is the unique collection of sources which encompasses material on many other artists apart from its namesake. Apart from Johannes Brahms, the collection also focuses on Robert and Clara Schumann, Theodor Kirchner and Joseph Joachim, as well as other, lesser known interprets and composers Brahms surrounded himself with. The inventory comprises sources of musical works: precious handwritten manuscripts, master's copies, first and early printing editions. Furthermore, it includes extensive self-testimony (letters etc.). Another emphasis lies on the iconographic inventory of pictures, images and drawings (with a large part of Brahms' personal photo collection). Bundles of programmes for many premieres, early and later performances provide important documentation of the history of reception. A large portion of these too stem directly from the Brahms estate. Today, a large part of the collection available digitally.

Collecting means responsibility!

According with this statement, the institute has made it one of its primary tasks to expand, scientifically explore and care for their inventories through targeted acquisitions. Thanks to generous support of many foundations, the institute was able to expand its collection of manuscripts by numerous top-class sources. A myriad of publications by the institute, including but not limited to basic works such as the Brahms compendium, have enriched the research on Brahms in recent years. The institute's library is open to scientists, students and interested non-professionals: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 to 13 o'clock and furthermore upon consultation.

A part of maintaining and expanding the collection is, apart from providing the sources as digital copies, the presentation of varying exhibitions. The museum is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 14 to 18 o'clock. Since its founding the institute has realised a series of research and interpretation projects. With the aid of financial support by many foundations and state funds the institute was able to digitalise and render accessible the partial estates of many of Brahms' friends; Joseph Joachim (Hermann Reemtsma Foundation), Julius Stockhausen (Wessel Foundation, Gemmeinn¨¹tzige Sparkassenstiftung zu 球探足球比分, Possehl Foundation) and Theodor Kirchner (Schleswig Holstein State). Its most important projects include the Brahms-Briefwechsel-Verzeichnis (BBV) funded from 2006 to 2009 by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), the setup of a digital inventory data base funded by the state of Schleswig-Holstein from 2018 to 2020 and the large-scale project of the Brahms Portal that has been in the works since 2022, funded by the Possehl Foundation and the state of Schleswig-Holstein.

Based on the complete works of Brahms, a large part of the already digitalised pieces from the collection are connected. The project is being realised by the help of the institute's partners including Dataport (Kiel), digi-CULT-Verbund eG (Kiel), the Verbundzentrale des GBV (VZG) G?ttingen and the collaboration with the Deutsche Grammophon GmbH as well as numerous external authors. For this purpose, the collection of the Brahms Institute is gathered anew in compliance with the FAIR-principles and made compatible in accordance with Linked Open Data. This way, the objects are accessible via the Portal Museen Nord, the Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek and the Europeana. The launch of the Brahms Portal is planned for August 1st 2025.

Thanks to the close connection of the Brahms Institute and the MHL, the lasting exchange of music research and artistic practice has intensified greatly. The Brahms Festival of the MHL, which is a product of this collaboration, numbers among the highlights of the MHL's event schedule every year. Monthly events of the institute like ?Musik im Museum? or the ?Brahms-Caf¨¦s? in the summer provide students of the MHL the opportunity to gain stage experience. The Hansesaal of the manor supplies an impressive location for concerts and lectures shedding a light on Johannes Brahms and his time from many perspectives.