Significantly improved acoustics, new technology, more space for instruments: Over the past ten months, the Chamber Music Hall at the Institute of Music has been completely refurbished.
One and a half million euros came from the HP-Invest programme of the state of Lower Saxony, while the Institute of Music, as the main user of the room, contributed 35,000 euros itself. Since the start of the summer semester, the hall has once again been available for teaching, ensemble rehearsals and events. It was officially reopened yesterday with a ceremony. "With the redesigned chamber music hall, our students and teaching staff now have an outstanding infrastructure that enables music education at a high level," says Jörg Stahlmann, Vice President for Administration and Finance.
Loudspeaker system like in the Elbphilharmonie
Building A11, in which the chamber music hall is located, was built in 1966 as part of the teacher training college. After sporadic refurbishments over the last few decades, the room was completely gutted last year. A particular challenge for the planners was to design the acoustics of the hall in such a way that different types of music sound good in it and that speech intelligibility is guaranteed in seminars. This is because the different usage scenarios require different, sometimes contradictory reverberation times. Accompanied by an acoustician, the university's building management and the Institute of Music have developed a concept that takes the various requirements into account in the best possible way.
In addition to structural elements such as an acoustic ceiling, new windows and internal blinds, a high-quality loudspeaker system with an associated audio system ensures a natural, high-resolution sound in the room. "The loudspeakers are a sound line system like the one installed in the Elbphilharmonie concert hall. With these intelligent loudspeakers, we can electronically direct the sound towards the audience and provide exactly the sound we want," explains Andreas Burau. As a student assistant, he is responsible for the Institute's event technology and helped plan the technical equipment for the new chamber music hall. Although the ensembles first had to get used to the new acoustics of the room, they are all very satisfied with the result, he adds. Peter Janssen, a lecturer at the Institute of Music, is also delighted with the new sound quality: "The transparency of the sound has improved significantly. When rehearsing pieces, you can filter out individual instruments - that's great."
New cabinets, old parquet flooring
The ventilation system is also designed to be as quiet as possible and distributes the air in the room at whisper-quiet levels - i.e. around 30 decibels - during normal operation. The electronics in the chamber music hall have also been completely renovated; the hall's technology is connected to that of the neighbouring auditorium and the Institute's recording studio. A support element above the stage makes it possible to install lighting and other event technology and thus utilise the room flexibly.
Another highlight of the new room: the entire longitudinal wall of the chamber music hall has been converted into a three-metre-high wall of cupboards. Floor-to-ceiling sliding doors make it relatively easy to store even large, heavy instruments such as a marimba or timpani. "There were a lot of instruments standing around in the old room because we didn't have much storage space. Now it all disappears into the new cupboards," says a delighted Peter Janssen.
The stage floor also catches the eye: During the demolition work, the craftsmen discovered the old parquet flooring under the carpet. It was refurbished and is now the only element reminiscent of the original chamber music hall.
