The article gives an overview of the early days of the Institute, then proceeds to explain the development of the research projects, the further education of research members of the Institute and finally the results of the Institute?s work in various fields: research, publishing, building of archival collections, popularization of research. We also learn about the various organizational changes that have taken place over the last decades and the developed collaboration with other institutions. The article also provides information about well known musicologists, ethnomusicologists, slavists and composers who worked with and visited the Institute.