Forschungsschwerpunkt "Kinder, Musik und das Militär von der Antike bis in die Gegenwart"

Several current projects being pursued by the research group "Music, Conflict and the State" focus on the connection between children, music and the military.

The historical period covered ranges from antiquity to the present day.
Most of the projects deal specifically with the recruitment of children as soldiers: in previous centuries, boys were often employed by the army as drummers, and even today children often play a role as musicians and entertainers in military and paramilitary contexts.

In addition, we are looking at the role played generally by music in the life of juvenile combatants and at military references in music for children.


Read more on current research projects here:

Children as Military Musicians in British Regiments, ca. 1750-ca. 1815

Child Soldiers and Music in the Sierra Leonean Civil War