#Exhibit of the Month

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.

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Publications

Library „Tyragetia"

Elena Ploșnița

Museum. Museumification of the immovable cultural heritage

Biblioteca „Tyragetia” XXXIV, Chișinău, 2021, 232 p. ISBN 978-9975-80-903-0; 978-9975-166-26-3

A museum is one of the oldest cultural institutions. Over time, the concept of a museum has undergone many changes, the institution being approached from different points of view. Today, the concept of a museum is the subject of extensive debate in the world of museum professionals. New approaches and interpretations related to the mission and vision of a museum are proposed, new models of museum institutions appear. A museum is becoming an indispensable cultural institution for a modern society that preserves and develops the heritage. The development is a universal way of preserving cultural heritage, contributing to tolerance and cohesion in society. The level of development of the heritage also determines the level of development of the society. Effective development of the heritage is achieved through museumification. Museumification leads to the promotion of monuments, their successful use for educational purposes, complex study, interdisciplinary approach and amplification of the process of knowledge and awareness of the need to protect them. The subject of this book is the preservation and optimal development of cultural heritage through museumification, in order to sustain the development of society, the spiritual development of people. The approach to this topic starts from the belief that such research is necessary and can be useful. Museumification is seen as a tool for the protection and development of immovable cultural heritage. This paper presents an important page in the history of national culture, concerning museums and museumification, heritage and heritageization. The topic touched upon here, we believe, relates to museology, heritage science, the areas that are complex, but important for national culture. Museumification is a complex process involving the transformation of cultural and natural heritage into museum objects with the aim of maximizing their preservation, revealing their historical, cultural, scientific, artistic value, and for their promotion. Museumification is considered as an optimal way to protect and relay the socio-cultural experience through the use of memorial houses, archaeological sites, religious monuments, literary and memorial complexes. The process of museumification in the Republic of Moldova is presented in the paper in historical dynamics, in various forms in which it manifested itself - as a museum activity, as a way of preserving and using historical monuments, and as an important factor in the development of the museum system and museography in general. The work includes three chapters with a complex documentary and bibliographic basis.

CONTENTS

Preface (by Liliana Condraticova)

A book about museum and museumification (by Ioan Opriș)

Argument

I. MUSEUM INSTITUTION. PROFESSIONALIZATION OF THE MUSEOGRAPHIC FIELD

I.1. About a museum
I.2. National and international organizations as important tools in forming the professional community
I.3. Professional training of museographers
I.4. Specialized press in the professional communication system
I.5. Professionalization standards: Code of ethics
I.6. Accreditation of museums as a new stage in the professionalization of the museographic field

II. MUSEUMS AND HISTORIC MONUMENTS IN THE INSTITUTIONAL AND LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM

II.1. Institutional structures dedicated to museums
II.2. Museum institution. Legislative aspects
II.3. The contemporary museum between tradition and modernity
II.4. Heritage and heritageization
II.5. Historical monuments in the institutional system
II.6. Legislation regarding historical monuments

III. MUSEUMIFICATION OF IMMOVABLE HERITAGE

III.1. The grammar of the museumification of cultural heritage
III.2. Muzeumification of memorial houses
III.3. Museum and church: problems of museumification
III.4. Archeology and the museumification process
III.5. Museumification of medieval fortresses
III.6. Museumification of historical sites

CONCLUSION

Bibliography

List of abbreviations

Abstract

Резюме

Annexes

Index of proper names

Index of museums

Index of historical monuments