Many works of the history of European music would have been lost had it not been for Santini's collection.

The Roman abbot Fortunato Santini (1778-1861) was passionate about music. This passion started when he was about 20 years old and went on to become his lifetime goal: to collect autographs or copies of manuscripts and scores of ancient music. His ambitious plan was easiest to carry out in Rome where there were hundreds of important libraries, private as well as ecclesiastic. His plan was also successful, however, thanks to his acquaintances and contacts in abbeys in Italy and throughout Europe. In only fifty years' time this collection of 20,000 titles in 4500 manuscripts and 1200 prints became the most complete musical library in the world. Many works of the history of European music would have been lost had it not been for Santini's collection. What motivated this man to build up such a huge collection? Was it instinct or passion? Or did he do it for money? Why today is the most vast and complete collection of Italian music from the 1500s to the 1800s in the city of Munster, region of Westfalia, Germany and not in Rome?—Georg Brintrup