The music is recorded on a cylinder with pins. The interior is divided into three compartments: the first contains the crank and the mechanism that operates the cylinder with pins, the second - the cylinder with pins and vibrating lamellae, and the third - two levers for starting and stopping the melody. The cylinder holds seven melodies by W.A. Mozart, which are played through the vibration of steel teeth arranged in a comb, whose tips are adjacent to the cylinder. The lid of the box features floral marquetry on its outer surface. This cultural asset is classified under the "Tezaur" category.
The Story of Musical Boxes
Musical boxes originated in Switzerland at the end of the 18th century. In 1796, watchmaker Antoine Favre-Salomon invented a pocket watch with an incorporated musical mechanism, using the principle of tuned metal lamellae. The invention quickly spread, soon leading to the creation of musical boxes independent of watches.
Initially invented and built for the salon entertainment of the aristocracy, musical boxes quickly evolved, capturing the market and public interest with these entertainment machines. The musical box industry was predominantly centered in Switzerland. Geneva remains the cradle of the musical box, even though the art of crafting these musical wonders spread to other regions of Switzerland - such as Jura, Auberson, and Sainte Croix - and later to other countries, including France, Germany, and Czechoslovakia. Some of the most notable manufacturers of musical boxes include: Mermod Frères, Paillard, Reuge, Thorens, Cuendet, Junod, Nicole Frères, Ducommun-Girod, Brémond, and L'Epee.
The musical box operated on a relatively simple principle: a cylinder with pins (cylindrical pins) would, through rotation, actuate a metal "comb" tuned to specific musical notes, both being concealed from view in one of the box's compartments. By turning the cylinder - with the help of a spring mechanism (similar to that of watches) - the pins would strike the steel "teeth" of the comb, causing them to vibrate and produce different musical notes. A musical box could have a limited number of melodies "programmed" onto the cylinder - from 4 to 12.
Over time, the cylinders were replaced with interchangeable metal discs. Based on this operating principle, large musical boxes emerged in cafés and taverns, which could be activated by inserting a coin, allowing users to select their preferred disc.
Besides the ingenious mechanism, musical boxes also stood out for the artistry of their exterior decorations, featuring materials such as precious woods, mother-of-pearl, ivory, and metal.
The decline of musical boxes began with the invention of the phonograph (1877) and the gramophone (1887). Production continued for a while, but by the early 20th century, most renowned companies had abandoned the business and started manufacturing other mechanical musical instruments.
Ion Ungureanu, a destiny enlightened by the Morning Star
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. X [XXV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Keywords: Ion Ungureanu, director, minister, drama, Morning Star.
Abstract: On September 8th, 2015, the National Museum of History of Moldova hosted an exceptional cultural event dedicated to the celebration of the 80th anniversary of prominent cultural figure - Ion Ungureanu, actor and director, ex-Minister of Culture of the Republic of Moldova, Artist of the People, Laureate of the National Award, holder of the Order of the Republic.
The event began with the opening of the exhibition "Ion Ungureanu, a destiny lightened by the Morning Star" bringing together more than 230 photos, documents, books, theater programs and posters, prizes, awards and other relics that reflect important aspects of the life and work of one of the most prominent figures of the national culture.
The artistic activity of actor and director Ion Ungureanu includes 13 roles in theatre plays, 21 roles in radio shows and 27 roles in "Moldova-film" and "Mosfilm" productions. He staged 26 plays in theatre and 8 plays in television.
Theseus, Malvolio, Dr. Dorn, von Walter; "Birds of our Youth", "Holy of Holies" and "White Church" by I. Druță, "Minodora" by A. Strâmbeanu, "Nameless Star" by M. Sebastian, "Radu Stefan, the First and the Last" by A. Bu- suioc - these are just some of the roles and performances that glorified this wonderful actor and director.
In 1970s famous Russian actor Mikhail Ulyanov considered Ion Ungureanu in line with such the greatest directors of the Soviet theater as Georgy Tovstonogov, Iury Liubimov, Anatoly Efros and Oleg Efremov.
The exhibition is a first attempt to valorise through exhibition the cultural and political work of the actor, director and public person Ion Ungureanu. The phenomenon of Ungureanu is yet to be studied, and the lesson of dignity and verticality given by this outstanding personality is yet to be assumed by contemporaries and generations to come.
List of illustrations: 1. The exhibition poster. 2. Debut on the stage of Kremlin Theatre and Vahtangov Theatre. Ion Ungureanu as Alexandru Damian in the play "Wild Flowers" by C. Condrea, 1960. 3. Ion Ungureanu (poet Boris Grădinaru) and Vladimir Zaychuk (driver Toader) in the film "When a person is not in his place", "Moldova-film", 1958. 4. Ion Ungureanu playing inspector Lodze in the film "Favorite", "Moldova-film", 1976. 5. Minister of Culture and Cults Ion Ungureanu at the event of re-opening of the monument to Stefan the Great after its restoration and relocation, August 31, 1990. 6. Sequence from the opening of the exhibition "Ion Ungureanu, a destiny enlightened by the Morning Star". 7. Fragment of the festive event dedicated to the anniversary of the actor and director Ion Ungureanu, National Museum of History of Moldova, September 8, 2015.
Elena Postică
The famine of 1946-1947 from Moldova in official documents and testimonies of survivors
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XIV [XXIX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Elena Postică
Oak from Caracui. Exhibition dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Academician Nicolae Corlăteanu
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IX [XXIV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie Chișinău, 2015
Elena Postică
Documentary photography exhibition “War after the War”
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XIII [XXVIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Elena Postică
Lawsuits initiated against participants of resistance movement from postwar Moldova
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Elena Postică
From the archives of the former KGB to the possession of the museum. History of one collection
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XII [XXVII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
The music is recorded on a cylinder with pins. The interior is divided into three compartments: the first contains the crank and the mechanism that operates the cylinder with pins, the second - the cylinder with pins and vibrating lamellae, and the third - two levers for starting and stopping the melody...
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
