Larry Greenfield wrote:

> ... we need more music box input.

Good timing, Larry!  After listening to the "Phantom of the Opera"
soundtrack for the umpteenth time this past weekend, I have a music box
question.

A music box with a monkey figure is the focus of attention several
times during the musical.  The box, which belonged to the Phantom, is
auctioned off at the beginning of the play:

   "Lot 665, ladies and gentlemen: a papier-mache musical box, in the
    shape of a barrel-organ.  Attached, the figure of a monkey in
    Persian robes, playing the cymbals.  This item, discovered in the
    vaults of the theatre, still in working order." ("Phantom of the
    Opera," Prologue, Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Lyrics by Charles
    Hart)

I have assumed that box used in the play is a mock-up rather than a
real music box, and that the music heard in theatrical productions
comes from the sound system rather than the box itself.  Does anyone
have any further information on this, especially if a "real" music box
of this type exists?

An animated picture of the music box used in "Phantom" can be seen at:

  http://www.shadowsong.com/phantom/monkey.html

The picture is dark and difficult to see, and I apologize for the
quality, but it may give you some idea of its appearance.

Joyce Brite
Player Piano and Mechanical Music Exchange     * Buy - Sell - Trade *
http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~brite/