Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > January 2020 > 2020.01.25 > 01Prev  Next


"Silent Night" on Cylinder Boxes
By Mark Singleton

In MMD 200121 Alison Biden expresses both surprise at the infrequency
of "Silent Night" pinned on cylinder boxes and, given it's current
status, suggests how it's rise in popularity must have been slow.

What needs to be considered here (apart from Christmas novelties she
mentions):  All Christmas carols are a rare occurrence on cylinder
boxes for the simple reason musical boxes were expensive pieces of
equipment back in the day.  Therefore a Christmas hymn, especially
so one as sacred as "Silent Night", would have rendered the box quite
uninviting for approximately 364 days of the year, thus dictating such
a piece commercially unviable.  The odd example noted was, in all
probability, a special order.

One cannot simply chart the rise to popularity of "Silent Night" on
the basis of a handful of musical boxes as suggested, indeed if we
look at this link, we see evidence of just how fast and how early it's
popularity spread:

http://www.stjohnskenton.org/hymn-spotlight-silent-night/ 

The situation changed overnight with the advent of the disc musical
box, where it quickly became a firm favourite -- seemingly stamped
in great numbers for just about every disc player we encounter today.

Mark Singleton (UK)


(Message sent Sat 25 Jan 2020, 07:44:38 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.)

Key Words in Subject:  Boxes, Cylinder, Night, Silent

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page