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The purpose and meaning of the music box

The main part consists of two parts: roller and reed.

The principle is that the spring drives the roller with small bumps on the surface to rotate. When the bump passes the reed, it will move the reed (first slowly lift it up, and then suddenly put it down) to make the reed vibrate. Make a sound. The reed and sounding part of the music box is made from a large steel plate cut into thin strips of different lengths. The roller is the musical score. It is basically the same as a music box. Regular bumps are welded on a circular shaft. There is a metal sheet nearby. The circular shaft rotates and the bumps sweep from the edge of the metal sheet. Due to the different bumps, the pronunciation is different. In addition, the fixed The speed of the instrument will produce a fixed piece of music after one revolution. [Edit this paragraph] The origin of the music box To explain the term "music box", we must first clarify what "music box" is. There is this record in the "Three Character Classic" in ancient my country: "Gao, leather, wood, stone and gold. Silk and bamboo are the eight tones." It can be seen that it is the collective name of ancient musical instruments, namely, soil, leather, wood, stone, gold, Eight categories: silk and bamboo. Among the ancient musical instruments, the sheng and yu belong to the gou type; category; pipes, flutes, flutes, etc. belong to the bamboo category. It is not difficult to see that gourd, soil, leather, wood, stone, gold, silk and bamboo refer to the raw materials used in making musical instruments. These eight raw materials can be said to be used to make all musical instruments. The so-called "music box" is a vivid and colorful definition. That is to say, this box includes the sounds of all musical instruments, the sounds of all music, and the sounds of all musical expressions. Later, the emergence of music boxes using perforated paper as "music scores" and compressed air flow to produce sounds led to the advent of the phonograph. This once led to the decline of the music box. It was not until the 1960s that the Guido Rijue couple in Switzerland, the birthplace of the music box, resumed their family's traditional business. The Ruijue company they founded is still the only company in the world that makes music boxes by hand... The first domestic Shanghai Music Box Treasures Exhibition Hall with an area of ??400 square meters has been opened, displaying more than 200 classic music box collections of different ages and types carefully selected by the Arashiyama Music Box Museum in Kyoto, Japan. [Edit this paragraph] The history of the music box In 1796, the Swiss Antoine Fabre developed a cylindrical music box, which is the oldest music box in the world. It is reported that the oldest music box in the world is collected by the Arashiyama Music Box Museum in Kyoto, Japan, and has only been publicly displayed in Shanghai for one year. The music box, born in 1796, is so small, only about 10 centimeters in height. It was invented and made by the watchmaker Antoine Fabre. It is actually a very practical and luxurious solid gold seal, but it has a music box hidden at the bottom. When people turn the ring on the upper part of the seal, the switch on the pedestal starts playing. Antoine Fabre's invention used "a cylinder device and a metal comb to adjust the melody to play music by plucking metal sheets."

As the production of music boxes required exquisite craftsmanship, they were quite expensive in the 18th and 19th centuries. They were only popular among nobles and were looked down upon by ordinary people.

Category:

Disk type music box: The disc rotates, and the protruding part behind the disc causes the claw wheel to rotate. The claw wheel moves the comb teeth to play music. Just replace the disc. You can change the tune.

Cylindrical music box: The cylinder rotates, and the needle mounted on the cylinder moves the comb teeth to play music. The oldest music box in the world was made based on this principle. [Edit this paragraph] 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 and fall 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 the leader for a period of time, dominating the world.

After World War II, American soldiers brought exquisite music boxes to Japan, which greatly comforted this nation that was groaning in pain after the war. Japanese technicians learned from Swiss manufacturing technology. , and made further updates, which reduced the cost of the music box a lot at that time and increased the output. This was just like the rapid rise of Japan's watch industry after the war. The exquisite music boxes made in Japan beat all other countries around 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 at that time. It has also become a mirror of the times.

Nowadays, the manufacturing of music boxes continues 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. [Edit this paragraph] Japanese music box collector Yamada Harumi recently permanently stored 200 of the 4,500 music boxes she had collected over more than ten years in the Music Box Treasures Hall of the Shanghai Oriental Art Center, including the world's first music box invented in 1796. A music box, 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 pure gold crown, an elegant wooden carved cabinet, a self-playing pearwood piano - these objects, which at first glance seem to have nothing to do with a music box, can be wound up or turned on. , 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 among 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 changed the atmosphere 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 for a time. Precisely because they have been collected by nobles, there are so many that can be circulated in the market." Talking about the hard work of guarding the music boxes, Yamada Harumi was "helpless": "For these non-renewable For replica antiques, giving it up means that the world will no longer be able to see a beautiful musical instrument."

"After the opening ceremony of the exhibition in Shanghai, I will rush back to Japan immediately. There is an antique music box for sale in Europe, and I have to go take a look immediately," Yamada Harumi said at the end of the interview, "Although the chance of disappointment is always higher than the chance of joy, I never give up. "Looking for it."

When it comes to music boxes, people always think of a stupid plastic box that sings a tune, and at most there is a one-legged dancer standing on it and spinning. However, this year's popular music instrument (box) has changed its clumsy appearance, and its styles, repertoire, and tone colors have suddenly become richer, and it has become a good gift for people to visit relatives and friends.

One piano 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 octagonal flower boxes and white wood inlaid boxes are simple and rich, while the sculptures and guqin and eight-note harps are elegant and unique. The largest upright piano music instrument is about 1 meter high, while the smallest keychain music instrument is only 2 to 3 centimeters long on a side. It can be worn everywhere and jingle along the way. The materials include glass, crystal, wood, copper, etc., and the prices range from more than 30 yuan to 58,000 yuan.

Unlike the past where a music box could only play one tune, today’s music box can easily play ten or eight. It is understood that there are more than 800 popular music pieces on the market, ranging from classic world famous songs to pop music.

They are highly praised for their good looks and sound.

According to reports, music boxes in the past only had 18 tones, but after technological innovation, the music boxes in Shanghai this year have 30 tones, 50 tones, 78 tones, etc. Several species. A musical instrument that plays "The Story of Spring" has 156 notes, 68 more keys than a piano. When played, it sounds like the sound of nature.

The reporter found that although many musical instruments are expensive, citizens are particularly fond of this musical gift. The best-selling one is a crystal photo frame music instrument. Many couples put wedding photos in the photo frame, which looks and sounds good. Blessings can also be engraved on them according to the customer's requirements. Everyone likes this kind of wedding gift.

It is reported that 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. No wonder the music instruments have attracted a lot of attention within a few days after landing in Shanghai. There are few Japanese customers, and the ones they buy are high-end music instruments that cost tens of thousands of yuan.

Compose your own music to entertain yourself

The reporter also saw a musical toy called "Shake Music". In fact, it is a hand-operated punch-type musical instrument that plays music according to the dense and dense holes on the paper tape. When purchasing, the merchant also provides blank paper tape, and children can punch holes in it to "compose" music, and then they can "shake" their own music and have fun. It is reported that similar musical toys have been included in the primary school syllabus as a successful example of entertaining and entertaining in Japan.

In 1992, China’s first musical instrument with intellectual property rights was born in Yunsheng, Ningbo, China, marking China’s all-round participation in the competition in the global music piano market. Now, Yunsheng is competing against the eight instruments. The manufacturing technology of the musical instrument has undergone more technical updates, and more than 50 invention patents have been obtained in many countries and regions. This has made the musical instrument more innovative in terms of sound quality, volume, composition and appearance design. improve. At present, Yunsheng Music Piano has occupied 1/4 of the global music piano market share, 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 about 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 remember the past. .

Japanese characters and Chinese characters have many similarities. 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 that a certain part of the music box will be printed with "EINCHINA".

City Beat introduced the Shanghai Music Box Exhibition Hall, and after seeing it, I really wanted to go. I went with Crystal after having her hair done today. Went there. The exhibition hall is on the fourth floor of the Oriental Art Center. The student ticket is 30 yuan, but college students are not included. You can only buy an adult ticket for 50 yuan (you have to take on the responsibilities before you enjoy the rights of adults).

However, 50 yuan will be worth it for those who are interested. I was very decadent before arriving at the exhibition hall, but I was "resurrected" as soon as I entered.

Since many people don't know that there is such a place in Shanghai, the business is extremely light. There are only two customers in the whole museum, Crystal and I. I really like the quiet and quiet feeling.

In 1796, a Swiss watchmaker invented the world's oldest music box, which was contained in a pure gold seal. Since then, with the rapid development of music boxes, the gorgeous music box culture has 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 Western-made doll manufacturing in France 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

Walking in the exhibition hall, I feel that time has stood still...

In 1815, on a wonderful afternoon, the sun gradually set, the color became warmer, and the pride in the morning was lost, becoming peaceful and lovely. stand up. 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 was installed in the doll's skirt, the music started, and the puppet began to spin... She became the most beautiful companion of her daughter's childhood.

In 1885, in high-end coffee shops in the United States, gentlemen and ladies drank coffee and spent time. Mr. A wanted to propose to Ms. B. A walked to the disc music box in the center of the coffee shop, 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 performance of the music box 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.

It is quite interesting to let a 200-year-old music box take you to experience a piece of European music history. If you listen carefully and appreciate it...those are music boxes with stories.