Silence is normal -expected- in a library, and only a compelling reason justifies breaking it. But the Biblioteca Musical Víctor Espinós (Calle del Conde Duque, 11) is no ordinary library. Here, what prevails above all else is music, and the reason is to be found in its motto, inspired by a reflection of Sancho in Don Quixote:“Where there is music, there is no bad thing“.
This maxim is the one that has been greasing the gears of this particular institution -a rara avis in Madrid and in Spain as it is a public library and, at the same time, specialized- since its foundation in 1919.
Its ideologist was Víctor Espinós, the person after whom it is named: a Fine Arts academic, musicologist and critic who wanted to launch a cultural project “that would offer the possibility of learning music to people who could not study it due to lack of economic resources,” explains Inmaculada Seldas, director of this space since 2014.
And although since its origins the library has changed location until reaching the current one, what has remained unchanged is its spirit of public service to make music accessible to anyone. That is why, in 1932, Espinós started up a free instrument lending service that the residents of Madrid can still benefit from today: “It has been the beginning of many musical vocations and you have helped them get started,” Seldas proudly points out.
This conviction is also reinforced by the experiences shared by users over the years. Recently, the director tells us, they were visited by a musician from the Madrid Symphony Orchestra who knew the library when he was still at Imperial, where they lent him his first violin. “Now he is a very well known musician and it makes you excited”.
What instruments does the Biblioteca Musical Víctor Espinós lend?
Every year at the beginning of the school year, the Víctor Espinós Music Library lends out the following instruments: violin, cello, viola, clarinet, flute, oboe, saxophone, horn, trumpet and guitar. And the only requirements to be able to apply for one are to be registered in Madrid and to be studying music.
But music is also played inside the library itself: there are rehearsal booths with piano, individual, for groups, for singers… and some have instruments for exclusive use in these spaces (cello 4/4, violin 4/4, viola 4/4, double bass and guitar).
The most modern ones are located in the tower and are designed for rock bands (or similar) where they provide musicians with, among other things, drums and amplifiers.
The library collection
In addition to the instruments, the library’s collection includes sheet music, books on musical methodology, biographies, magazines, records… and even musical toys, which in themselves form, in a way, a small museum.
In the showcases arranged throughout the space you can find pieces of authentic musical archeology, such as a 19th century music box from Geneva (donated by the Infantes of Spain), an ariston -a kind of barrel organ from the early 20th century that plays cardboard records-, an automatic zither, a jukebox or a tape recorder.
There is also a listening area with different types of players, such as mini-chains:“At the end of the 1950s, people came to use the record player because they couldn’t afford to have one at home,” Seldas tells us. It is even possible, thanks to its collection of old records, to listen to a multitude of slate records that have been digitized.
Another fundamental part of the library’s task of disseminating music is the organization of activities such as exhibitions, workshops, concerts and guided tours.
All this work does not go unnoticed by users – here you can find out how to get a library card – who have the opportunity to see a live concert for the first time with the proximity provided by its rooms, to rehearse with their group or to get started in the study of music thanks to the loan of instruments.
In 2017, some of them expressed their gratitude on a board that the library made available on the occasion of the 85th anniversary of the service. One of them was Íñigo, with an honesty that only children seem to be capable of: “Thank you for giving me my saxophone, it makes me let off steam when I’m angry, although I’m often lazy and don’t want to play it, but I like it a lot…”.
Most of the messages are quite emotional (is it possible, or even desirable, to separate music from emotion?): “Thank you for giving me my violin. Without it I would not have found my passion for music” or “Thank you for the loan that makes a house so musical, joyful and fun.” But they could all be summed up in a single sentence, which could also be read handwritten on that board: “Thank you for reaching out to music!