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Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten

Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten is one of the most popular monuments in Riga’s Old Town. It was created by a sculptor from Bremen, presented to Riga as a gift from its twin city Bremen, and installed in 1990. The sculpture stands opposite the Convent Courtyard, in front of the yellow Eck convent building, by the altar section of St. Peter’s Church on Skarnu Street. St. John’s Church is located to the northeast. The composition shows the four animals from the Brothers Grimm fairy tale at the moment they peek into a window at forest robbers. It is also sometimes interpreted as a symbol of the end of the Cold War and the union of two blocs.

Bronze Bremer Stadtmusikanten sculpture with a donkey, dog, cat, and rooster stacked in a tower against a brick wall.
The Bremer Stadtmusikanten bronze monument shows the four animals stacked in a vertical tower.
July 2024 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bremer Stadtmusikanten bronze sculpture of a donkey, dog, cat, and rooster stacked in a metal frame beside a brick building.
The Bremer Stadtmusikanten sculpture stands outdoors beside a red brick building with snow on the ground.
© · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bremer Stadtmusikanten sculpture with stacked donkey, dog, cat, and rooster on snowy ground beside a brick building.
The Bremer Stadtmusikanten sculpture stands outdoors on a snowy day beside red brick architecture.
© · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bremer Stadtmusikanten bronze sculpture stacked in front of a brick building in Riga.
The Bremer Stadtmusikanten sculpture stands in front of a weathered brick building in Riga.
July 2019 © · CC0
A winter scene with a red-brick building, a green spire, a streetlamp, and people walking near a snowy wall.
Winter view near the Bremer Stadtmusikanten monument area in Riga, with a red-brick building and people walking by the snow.
© · CC BY 3.0

Identification

TitleDie Bremer Stadtmusikanten
TypeSculpture
SubjectThe Bremen Town Musicians

Historical context

Date created1990
Date installed1990

Creator

ArtistChrista Baumgärtel

Discovery and provenance

Based onA 1953 sculpture by Gerhard Marcks standing in front of Bremen Town Hall
Original referenced sculpture artistGerhard Marcks
DonorCity of Bremen
Gift recipientRiga, the partner city
Original referenced sculpture year1953

Location and ownership

Inscription languageLatvian and German
Current locationOld Town of Riga, Latvia
Specific locationOpposite the Convent Courtyard, in front of the yellow building of the Eck Convent, by the altar part of St. Peter's Church on Skarnu Street
Nearby landmarkSt. John's Church is located to the northeast of the monument
German inscription donor wordingFree Hanseatic City of Bremen
Inscription contentNames the sculpture, the artist, and the donor; German text reads: "DIE BREMER STADTMUSIKANTEN / KÜNSTLERIN: CHRISTA BAUMGÄRTEL, 1990 / GESCHENK DER FREIEN HANSESTADT BREMEN"

Physical characteristics

Nose colorThe animals' noses are golden-colored from repeated rubbing
Height3 meters
BaseStone pedestal

Materials

MaterialBronze

Appearance

Formal arrangementThe animal group is arranged between two massive metal bands
Depicted figuresA donkey, a dog, a cat, and a rooster
Depicted momentThe moment when the Bremen Town Musicians are looking into the window at forest robbers
CompositionFour animals stacked one on top of another

Iconography and meaning

Symbolic interpretationA playful interpretation says it symbolizes the end of the Cold War and the unification of the two blocs
Symbolic interpretationThe gap through which the animals look represents the unexpectedly opened Iron Curtain
Expressive qualitiesThe animals' facial expressions and posture convey surprise and emotions associated with the opening of the curtain and the new freedom it brought
Belief associated with the sculptureRubbing the animals' noses is believed to bring good luck; the higher one reaches, the more luck one is said to receive, with the rooster being the hardest to reach and granting the most secret wish
Ritual variationAnother version says each next animal increases the chances of one cherished wish coming true

Significance

PopularityOne of the most popular monuments in Riga's Old Town
Tourist significancePart of the standard tourist program for visitors to Riga; tour guides recommend the nose-rubbing ritual