The broadly based, permanent collection is presented to the public in different areas and galleries, and includes the main audiovisual itinerary, called Orpheus, the exhibition around the central light well, The Permanence of Sound. From the Oral Tradition to Digital Recording”, the Sala dels Músics Catalans, a gallery dedicated to music and society in Barcelona from 1880 to 1950, and the Sala d’Interactius, an interactive exhibit room where visitors can handle models and try out instruments.

The museum has on show over 500 instruments from its collection of over 1,600, as well as documents and objects. The exhibition continues through different thematic spaces which are illustrated by multimedia and audiovisual displays. By combining music, images and texts, the Museu de la Música brings its visitors into close contact with the world of music in a direct and experiential way. It begins with a look at the elements that make up music and takes us on a journey which allows us to discover how music has been a vehicle for expression and communication for humans throughout the ages. The museum visit is a walk through the history of music, seen and understood from our cultural point of view and geographical area, and based on the legacy of our musical instruments, objects and documents.