The history of the music box
The music box, also called the "audio harp", is a motorized musical instrument. It originally came from the creativity of European watchmakers. In the 16th century, Swiss watchmakers gave clocks a chime to tell the time, and a device similar to a music box was born. In the 18th century, the music box began to separate from clocks and became the only device used to record and play music at that time, gradually establishing its unique status. Switzerland at that time was its center of origin. Music boxes at that time were hand-engraved with "sound patterns" on brass rollers. When used, a spring was used to drive steel teeth to read and write the pronunciation.
After the 19th century, the sophistication of music box craftsmanship was further improved. What was popular at that time was a cylindrical music box in which metal needles were embedded in a metal cylinder and the sound was produced by plucking a row of comb-like metal pieces. However, due to its high price, it could only be circulated among the nobles. At the end of the 19th century, coin-operated music boxes using round steel sheets as "music scores" appeared on the market. The rectangular holes carved into the round steel sheet can be pressed by machine, so the cost is relatively reduced. Moreover, this kind of music box can listen to a variety of music by changing the discs, so it has become a famous "jukebox".
After entering the 20th century, as record companies released a large number of records, phonographs became popular and music boxes disappeared. After the war, the music box industry was revived.
The origin of the music box
can be traced back to the European Renaissance in the Middle Ages.
At that time, in order to make the church bell tower tell time,
bells of various sizes were equipped with mechanical devices, which were called "sounding bells."
In 1598,
Matteo Ricci, an Italian Jesuit, came to Beijing for the first time.
One of the gifts he brought with him was a music instrument.
This is the earliest musical instrument recorded in historical records that entered China.
After various inventions,
around 1780,
The Swiss in La Yunfang were inspired by the principle of the puppet automatic clock and invented an amazing mechanism - the mechanical bird clock.
In 1796,
The invention of the Geneva clockmaker
brought revolutionary changes to the mechanical music box,
making music The size of the box was reduced to the limit, and it was successfully developed in the following century.
At the beginning of the 17th century,
The music box industry became the largest industry in Switzerland, surpassing the watchmaking and lace industry.
This made the Swiss dwarf The small town on the edge of Luoshan is famous all over the world.
After World War II, the Japanese vigorously entered the music box industry.
The development history of the music box
The melodious music of the music box often evokes people's memories of the good past, and even makes people dream about it, falling into the recollection of time. Perhaps the greatest charm of the mechanical music box that has swept the global market for more than 300 years lies in its ability to solidify abstract music into concrete works of art. Become the best choice for people to express their beautiful emotions and remember the past!
The history of the development of mechanical music boxes can be traced back to the invention of the bells hung on church bell towers in the early 14th century. This musical instrument is played with a clockwork device and can emit a crystal-clear sound. The music was once popular in the Netherlands, Belgium and northern France. Since 1811, Switzerland has been the center of this craft. Like the Swiss watch industry, the two complement each other and have been famous and dominant in the world for a period of time.
After World War II, American soldiers brought exquisite music boxes to Japan, which greatly comforted a nation that was groaning in pain after the war. Japanese technicians learned from Swiss manufacturing technology. , and further updates were made, which reduced the cost of the music box a lot at that time and increased the output. Just as the Japanese watch industry rose rapidly after the war, the exquisite music boxes made in Japan beat the world. It has joined many manufacturers located in the Jura Mountains of Switzerland, and gradually formed a two-legged pattern with Switzerland's Regue and Japan's Sankyo dominating the global music box market.
This situation lasted until the 1990s. With China's reform and opening up, China's economy gradually integrated into the international society, and the global machining industry began to tilt toward China. The manufacturing of music boxes No exception.
The product development of music boxes for more than 300 years is also a historical testimony of the development of human civilization for more than 300 years. The shape of the music box in each different period can reflect the different social mentality and civilization development status of the time. It has also become a mirror of the times.
Nowadays, the manufacturing of music boxes follows tradition and combines modernity. It is increasingly becoming a way for people to collect a period of time, to collect a piece of emotion, or for the pursuit of music, or for the old times. For nostalgia, or for the beautification of the room, etc., it is pursued by many tasteful people.
Music Boxes
Japanese collector Harumi Yamada recently permanently stored 200 of the 4,500 music boxes she had collected over more than ten years in the Music Box Treasures Museum of Shanghai Oriental Art Center. Including the world's first music box invented in 1796, the largest cabinet-type jukebox music box, etc.
On December 21, more than 200 antique music boxes of various shapes were officially displayed at the Music Box Treasures Museum located in the Shanghai Oriental Art Center.
A mini solid gold crown, an elegant wooden carved cabinet, a self-playing pearwood piano - these objects, which at first glance have nothing to do with a music box, can be winded up or plugged in. , can play a crisp and pleasant ding-dong sound.
The first music box invented by Swiss Antoine Fabre in 1796 is the largest cabinet-type jukebox music box. It has high requirements for the playing environment and is called the most "squeamish" music box. ——These are the treasures of Japanese collector Yamada Harumi. Among the many exhibits, a crown-shaped music box with a diameter of about 3 cm became the protagonist on the opening day of the exhibition. This is the first music box invented by the Swiss Antoine Fabre in 1796. Although hundreds of years have passed, the spring and gears of the inner box are still intact. It can not only play music, but also be used as a stamp. .
"This is the most precious piece of my many collections." Yamada Harumi said. An antique pearwood piano is still playing sweet music even when no one is playing it. Seeing the reporter's surprised expression, Yamada Harumi approached the piano, pulled up the upper cover of the piano case and explained: "This kind of piano uses punched paper as 'music score', uses compressed airflow to inflate air bags, and then pulls the arm lever to play. It was produced in the 19th century and is the predecessor of the phonograph. "
"This kind of automatic piano is the most delicate type of music box." In order to allow these antiques to be played smoothly during the exhibition, Yamada Harumi kept the air in the exhibition hall. Temperature, humidity and air pressure in the piano are all strictly controlled at fixed values. "Humidity will affect the tone of the wooden piano, temperature will affect the contraction and agitation strength of the power airbag, and the pressure determines the rise and fall speed of the keys." In order to make every All the antique automatic pianos collected in Taiwan work perfectly. Yamada Harumi also specially found craftsmen who are responsible for repairing and maintaining these antique pianos. These "guardians" accompany these pianos and work with them for many years.
"In the eyes of others, being with a music box is a happy job. In fact, it is not." Talking about the work of finding and protecting music boxes, Yamada Harumi smiled and summed it up in one sentence: "In my search No news is the worst news for those well-preserved ancient music boxes; and no news is the best news for me when the carers are restoring and maintaining these music boxes.”
Yamada Harumi often told her employees that serving music boxes and enjoying music boxes are often inseparable. Because antique music boxes are only available in limited numbers, finding them is often more difficult than maintaining them. It took half a year to find a music box and a year to repair it - this is a common thing for Yamada Harumi.
Historically, the music box has always been an aristocrat among music crafts. Since its birth in the 18th century, its exquisite craftsmanship requirements have kept its price high. After the 19th century, jukeboxes with interchangeable discs began to appear in stations and bars where crowds gathered, but their prices were still unaffordable for ordinary people. Until the advent of the phonograph, the music box had always been an unattainable dream for the common people. "After the advent of the phonograph, the history of music boxes ended. Because they have been collected by nobles, the number that can be circulated in the market is really limited.
Talking about the hard work of guarding the music box, Yamada Harumi was "helpless": "For these antiques that are non-renewable and replicable, giving it up means that the world has lost another beautiful musical instrument. ”
“After the opening ceremony of the exhibition in Shanghai, I will rush back to Japan immediately. There was word that an antique music box was up for sale in Europe, and I had to go take a look right away. "Yamada Harumi said at the end of the interview, "Although the probability of disappointment is always higher than the probability of joy, I never give up looking for it. ”
Speaking of music boxes, people always think of a stupid plastic box that sings and sings a tune. At most, there is a one-legged dancer standing on it and spinning constantly. And this year’s popular The musical instrument (box) has changed from its clumsy appearance, and its styles, repertoire, and timbres have suddenly become richer, and it has become a good gift for people visiting relatives and friends.
One instrument can sing 10 songs
The reporter saw in a newly opened specialty store on Nanjing West Road that there are many styles of music instruments this year. The octagon flower box and the white wood inlaid box are simple and rich, while the sculptures and the Guqin music instrument are the largest and unique. The height of the piano music instrument is about 1 meter, while the smallest keychain music instrument is only 2 to 3 centimeters in length. It can be worn with you and ding dong all the way. The materials include glass, crystal, wood, copper, etc., and the price ranges from The price ranges from more than 30 yuan to 58,000 yuan.
Unlike in the past, a music box could only play one tune. It is understood that today's music box can play ten or eight tunes. There are more than 800 popular music boxes in the world, ranging from classic world famous songs to pop music.
They are highly praised for their beautiful appearance and sound.
According to reports, there were only 18 music boxes in the past. After technological innovation, there are several types of musical instruments in Shanghai this year, including 30-note, 50-note, and 78-note instruments. One musical instrument that plays "The Story of Spring" has 156 notes, which is more than the keys of a piano. 68 pieces, which sound like the sounds of nature when played.
The reporter found that although many musical instruments are expensive, citizens are particularly fond of this musical gift, and one of them is the best-selling one. This is a crystal photo frame musical instrument. Many couples put their wedding photos in the photo frame, which looks good and sounds good. Blessings can also be engraved on it according to the customer's request. Everyone likes this kind of wedding gift.
So far, only Switzerland, Japan and China have the production technology of music instruments in the world, and the domestic price is only half of that abroad. It is no wonder that within a few days of the music music landing in Shanghai, it attracted many Japanese customers, and they bought all the music instruments. It is a high-end musical instrument that sells for tens of thousands of yuan.
Compose your own music for your own entertainment
The reporter also saw a musical toy called "Shake Music". It is a hand-operated punch-type musical instrument that plays music according to the densely spaced holes on the paper tape. When purchasing, the merchant also provides a blank paper tape, and the child can "shake" it by punching holes on it to "compose" music. "Play your own songs and enjoy yourself. It is reported that similar musical toys are a successful example of entertaining and entertaining in Japan and have been included in the primary school syllabus.
China's first radio station in 1992 The birth of the musical instrument with intellectual property rights in Ningbo Yunsheng, China, marks China's all-round participation in the competition in the global music piano market. Now, Yunsheng has made more technological updates on the manufacturing technology of the musical instrument. It has obtained more than 50 invention patents from many countries and regions, which has made greater improvements in terms of sound quality, volume, composition and appearance design. At present, Yunsheng Musical Instrument has occupied the global eight-tone market. The musical instrument market share is 1/4, ranking second in the world after Japan's Sankyo.
Yunsheng Music Piano Store has established its first store in Beijing in Beijing Oriental Xintiandi. It is also the only domestic brand music piano store. There are nearly 120 kinds of music instruments on display in the 66-square-meter store. As long as you walk in, you can feel the wonderful enjoyment brought by the clear and translucent sound quality of the instruments.
Here, the price of the music instrument is not very expensive, and it is very suitable as a gift for your friends. Among them, the price of the 30-tone music instrument is about 500 yuan, and the price of the 50-tone music instrument is around 500 yuan. The price is almost a thousand. But its beautiful appearance has won the favor of many white-collar workers.
The shape of the music box in each different period can reflect the different social mentality and civilization development status at that time. It has also become a mirror of the times.
The melodious music of the music box often reminds people of the beautiful past, and even makes people dream about it and fall into the reminiscence of time. Perhaps the greatest charm of the mechanical music box that has swept the global market for more than 300 years is that it can solidify abstract music into concrete works of art, becoming the best choice for people to express their beautiful emotions and recall their lost time.
There are many similarities between Japanese characters and Chinese characters. Music box is translated into Chinese as "music box". It is said that in medieval Europe, bell towers in the 17th century were tuned to play music. The octave designed at the end of the 18th century used bells and electric bells as sound sources and played relatively monotonous music. Later, after various improvements, barrel octave, manual octave, human-shaped automatic octave, automatic piano, etc. appeared.
The commentator’s live demonstration of an automatic piano produced in 1895 is particularly eye-catching. After listening to the explanation, we learned that the owner of this piano liked music very much. He first looked for the lower part of the piano, but later felt that it was too monotonous, so he looked around for a frame suitable for the upper part, and finally found it in the United States. Want to know how a player piano makes sound? Just put a roll of paper with holes punched in it in the middle. Some drum music boxes have holes punched in the metal plate. It is said that this is based on the principle of agitating tongues. As the paper is rolled, the rich and elegant piano sound pours out like running water.
Special recommendation: There are many modern music boxes of different shapes in the museum shop next to it. Some of them are lifelike imitations of products from a hundred years ago, and they are small and exquisite. The cheap ones are only more than 1,000 yen. , you will also find "MADEINCHINA" printed on a certain part of the music box.
City Beat introduced the Shanghai Music Box Exhibition Hall. After seeing it, I really wanted to go. Today I went with Crystal after getting her hair done. The exhibition hall is on the fourth floor of the Oriental Art Center. Student tickets are 30 yuan, but college students are not included. You can only buy adult tickets for 50 yuan (you have to take on responsibilities before you even enjoy the rights of adults).
However, the 50 yuan will be well worth it for those who are interested. I was still very decadent before arriving at the exhibition hall, but as soon as I entered, I was "resurrected". Since many people don't know that there is such a place in Shanghai, the business is extremely light. Crystal and I are the only two customers in the whole museum. I like the quiet and quiet feeling.
In 1796, a Swiss watchmaker invented the world's oldest music box, which was housed in a pure gold seal. Since then, with the rapid development of music boxes, the gorgeous music box culture has become the The history of music in Europe adds a touch of color.
1815 The heyday of cylindrical music box manufacturing in Switzerland 1865 The heyday of French Western-made doll manufacturing 1885 The invention of the disc-shaped music box 1900~1920 The demise of the music box 1960 Switzerland restarts the production of high-end devices
Wandering in the exhibition hall, I feel like time has stood still. . . . . .
On a wonderful afternoon in 1815, the sun gradually set, its colors warmed, and it lost the pride of the morning and became peaceful and lovely. The walls of the room are decorated with exquisite wall coverings, and a cylindrical music box is placed in the corner. The maid walked into the house carrying exquisite snacks, put down the plate and greeted the master. The master gracefully raised his hand to ask her to step aside, and wound up the music box himself. Then came the sound of the piano. Close your eyes and the music sounds like the tinkling of spring water. .
In 1865, an earl prepared a birthday gift for his daughter. What he wanted to give was a puppet music box. He spent a lot of money to hire a skilled craftsman to create this unexpected surprise. The count issued an order: the doll's clothing must be the most beautiful and fashionable in Paris, and even the doll's intact chestnut hair must be embroidered with real hair. Finally, a small music box is installed in the doll's skirt, the music starts, and the puppet starts spinning. . . . . . She became her daughter's most beautiful childhood companion.
In 1885, gentlemen and ladies drank coffee and spent time in high-end coffee shops in the United States. Mr. A wanted to propose to Ms. B. A walked to the disc music box in the center of the cafe, dropped a coin, and wound up the clockwork. Melodious music ripples in the coffee shop. A knelt on one knee under Ms. B's pomegranate skirt - "Will you marry me?"
You also saw the music box belonging to the poor, the lights of the "harlequin writer" went out, and you also saw the woman cosmetic bag, men's cigar stand.
These are all absorbed into the music box, and the dead objects also have some color and emotion. This is the magic of music.
The music box performance has ended here, and so has all the imagination. After that, news about the music box disappeared, and its history came to an abrupt end. Even though Ruijue Company later reinstalled and produced music boxes, that luxurious and glorious time had been cut off and it was difficult to pick it up again.
Letting a 200-year-old music box take you through a piece of European music history is quite interesting, if you listen carefully and appreciate it. . . . . . Those are all music boxes with stories~~~
Please accept the answer as satisfactory.