Following a brief comparison of the present European economic alliance with the mediaeval Hanseatic League it becomes clear that economic communities developed into multifunctional systems that triggered changes in the culture of music long before the 20th century. With reference to the Hanseatic League the article shows how contacts within the culture of music were used for cultural exchange. Aspects of the expansion of musical repertoires are highlighted, as are spread of musical instruments and legal issues pertaining to dealings with musicians. Turning our gaze to the present we see that an examination of the many and varied questions relating to contemporary musical interrelations in Europe remains appealing and worthwile today.