The Magic Music Box

New From Thilmany Music Works. . .

Then in 1882, Miguel Boom of Haiti patented what became known as the disk music box. This design consists of metal disks which have been perforated. These disks are placed on a spindle, and with a few turns of a crank, revolve over one, or sometimes two combs of tuned teeth. With the invention of the disk music box came affordability for more people, as the metal disks were cheaper than cylinders. It was also much more versatile, as a variety of music could be produced and sold cheaply on nickel plated disks. Collections range from Classical to Hymns and popular tunes of the day.
The sound of the disk music box, though sometimes compared to a group of harpists or a hand bell choir, is almost impossible to describe, but most people have heard a tune played on little jewel cases and table top boxes, popular today. By 1910, the Edison phonograph began to take the place of the music box as a choice for entertainment in the home. Today only a few manufacturers still produce them.

My great-grandfather purchased a Criterion Music Box in 1901 for $45.00. In those days it was a great source of pleasure, but in time, it made its way to the attic, where it remained until my mother, a college student at the time, spotted one in an antique shop window, and subsequently announced to the family that the music box in the window was what she desired for Christmas. My grandfather climbed up to the attic, wiped off the dust, and along with more than two dozen disks, presented it to her on Christmas Day. It has remained a family treasure, and retains its original magic to this day.

We hope this CD, recorded and mixed by Patrick, brings something of this quality into your life, and evokes a sense of something timeless and enduring.
Susan

The invention of the first mechanical music box has been credited to Antoine Favre, a watchmaker in Geneva, Switzerland. His design involved a metal cylinder, with pins that were plucked by rotating the barrel over a comb of tuned teeth. This was the first step in providing "instant" music, when live performers were not available.

	Free downloads are available of songs listed below in Maroon. To download these clips...when your media player window opens for each song, click on "File", click "Save as...", choose where on your computer you would like to save it to, then click "Save". You can purchase this CD for $14.95.
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	Below is a listing of the songs on our exclusive "Magic Music Box" CD. Good Bye Dolly Gray Loin du Bal Washington Post March Trovatore Anvil Chorus--Verde Mid-Summer Night's Dream--Mendelsson William Tell Air--Blithesome & Gay, Rossini Nearer My God to Thee Oh, Promise Me--Song from Robin Hood Angel's Serenade Tanhauser, Pilgrim's Chorus Bluebells of Scotland Home Sweet Home Jesus, Lover of my Soul (Refuge) Smokey Mokes Cakewalk & Two-Step Wiener Blut Waltz--Strauss Forsaken (Verlassen, Verlassen--German Song Hearts & Flowers (New Flower Song)--Tobani Quintett from "Martha" Gartenlaube Waltzes--Strauss Erminie Air--Jacobowski Florodora--Tell Me, Pretty Maiden, song Stuart Blue Danube Waltz The Little Amazon Schottische, Militaire--Holst William Tell Tyrolienne--Rossini Intermezzo from "Cavalleria Rustican--Mascagni Waltz Rondo (Wennein Herz duttast Gefunden)--Gumebrt Cavatina from "Ernani" Just Because She Made Them Goo-Goo Eyes--song. Cannon The Holy City Song--Adams Still Night, Holy Night--Christmas Choral