Reich Music Examination Office

The Reich Music Examination Office (German: Reichsmusikprüfstelle) was an organisation within the Reich Ministry for Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda whose role was to prevent the distribution of 'undesirable' music within Nazi Germany.

As part of its work, the Reich Music Examination Office published lists of 'undesirable' compositions, the first of which was produced on 31 August 1938 and published in the Music Chamber's official journal on 1 September.

Five more of these lists were published (containing in total 83 titles or composers' names).

[1] This small number indicates that the mere existence of the office had a self-regulatory effect.

Much of the banned material comprised what the Nazis called degenerate music, such as jazz or negermusik as well as the compositions of Jewish composers like Mahler.