became affiliated to the Ethnological Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic from January 1st, 2003, due to the merging of the former Musicological Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic with the Ethnological Institute. The original Musicological Institute was founded on January 1st, 1962; ten years later, it became a branch of the Institute of Art Theory and History of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. On May 1st, 1990, it was temporarily renewed as an independent academic unit. During its existence, the Institute was dedicated to the historic research of music culture in the Bohemian Lands, from the earliest times to the present day, and also to research in music theory, music aesthetics and the psychology of music.

Today’s Department of Music History has fourteen employees, five of which hold part time jobs. The Head of the Department is Prof. PhDr. Jarmila Gabrielová, CSc. The Department focuses on the historical research of the music sources from the 17th-20th centuries and critical editions of music of this period. It takes part in the Institutional Research Project (IRP) “Cultural Identities and Cultural Regionalism in Process of Shaping the Ethnic Map of Europe” (2005-2010), Reg. no. AVOZ 90580513, and several grant projects. The prime place is held by the demanding research and editorial project of the Nové souborné vydání děl Antonína Dvořáka [The New Complete Edition of the Works of Antonín Dvořák], which, after the period of preparation (2000-2004) enters its starting phase (see also: www.antonindvorak.org). Further work might be the renewal of the series Musica antiqua bohemica. The newest project is publishing the literary and music sources of Leoš Janáček’s estate. Continuing projects are dedicated to the research of sacred music of Prague early 18th century composers, music societies and institutions in Bohemia and Moravia in the 19th-20th centuries and vocal music of the early 20th century.