MusicSphere is an EU-funded Horizon Europe project that develops advanced digital tools to preserve, study, and share Europe’s musical heritage, especially traditional pipe organs and the ancient Hydraulis.
Working within the Cultural Heritage Cloud (ECCCH) developed by ECHOES, the project blends heritage and modern technology through 3D scanning, acoustic analysis, and immersive digital experiences. It captures not only the physical form of these instruments, but also their mechanical behaviour, sound, and interaction with architectural spaces.
Through VR and AR, users can explore and play historical instruments in immersive environments, bringing their stories and craftsmanship to life. The project also enables the creation of highly accurate digital twins, ensuring that even fragile or endangered instruments can be studied, reconstructed, and experienced long after their physical counterparts can no longer be played. At the same time, MusicSphere provides new tools for conservators, supporting long-term preservation and understanding how these instruments age.
Traditional musical organs are complex cultural heritage artefacts whose sound, mechanics and historical context are at risk due to ageing materials, limited accessibility and the challenges of restoration and documentation.
The Challange
MusicSphere combines advanced digital technologies to create precise digital replicas of traditional organs, capturing their physical, mechanical and acoustic characteristics while supporting preservation and restoration processes.
MusicSphere Approach
By integrating 3D visual data, acoustic simulations and interactive digital tools, MusicSphere enables immersive access to these instruments, offering new ways to study, experience and safeguard their artistic and functional significance.
