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.
Research of a tumulus near the Bandyshovka village
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IX [XXIV], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică Chișinău, 2015
Abstract
The article is devoted to analysis of the results of archaeological investigations undertaken in one of the barrows (in all there were discovered fi ve tumuli) near the village of Bandyshovka, Vinnytsia region. The grave was robbed for several times, it was also partially destroyed as a result of extracting stones from its mound. Despite these interventions, it was possible to reconstruct the burial rite. Few finds indicate the development of intercultural relations between nomadic communities in the northern Black Sea region and forrest-steppe at the turn of the 9th - 8th centuries BC.
List of illustrations: Fig. 1. Geographical and situational location of barrows near the Bandyshovka village. Fig. 2. Bandyshovka: 1 - general plan; 2 - plan of the central part; 3 - stratigraphy by control edges. Legend: 1 - mainland clay ejections; 2 - black earth of the mound; 3 - soil from the fi rst predatory excavation; 4 - buried soil; 5 - mainland clay; 6 - charred wood; 7 - soil from the second predatory excavation; 8 - animal bones; 9 - human bones; 10 - stones. Fig. 3. Bandyshovka: 1 - remains of an animal sacrifi ce; 2 - remains of the stone cover. Fig. 4. Bandyshovka. General plan of the central part: 1 - bronze buckle “lunnitsa”; 2 - bronze beads; 3 - fragments of bronze vessel; 4 - clay spindle whorl. Legend: 1 - mainland clay ejections; 2 - wood of the ceiling; 3 - stone (sandstone); 4 - animal bones (grave goods in the mound); 5 - animal bones; 6 - human skull. Fig. 5. Bandyshovka. Profi les of the burial chamber: 1 - the profi le by the line А-А1; 2 - the profi le by the line Б-Б1; 3 - scheme of the vertical sections. Legend: 1 - mound; 2 - outburst; 3 - remains of wood; 4 - stone (sandstone). Fig. 6. Bandyshovka. Remains of stone structures. Legend: 1 - stones at a depth of 20-160 cm; 2 - stones in the fi lling of the burial chamber at a depth of 170-360 cm; 3 - vertically set stones as wall cladding. Fig. 7. Bandyshovka. Arrangement of the burial chamber: 1, 2 - horizontal section; 3 - vertical section. Legend: 1 - stones that were lying horizontally; 2 - stones that were arranged vertically; 3 - charcoals. Fig. 8. Bandyshovka. Findings from the fi lling of the burial chamber and from a predatory manhole: 1-8 - bronze beads; 9 - clay spindle whorl; 10-12 - fragments of the handles and lip of a bronze vessel; 13 - bronze buckle “lunnitsa”.
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
