[ Reg Smith wrote in 170313 MMDigest:

> The problem is that most people today have no clue as to proper
> etiquette for the recital hall, concert hall, or a friend's living
> room while she or he is playing a fine 19th century Swiss cylinder
> music box.

I kind of agree with you, Reg.  The "kind of" is because a lot of
people are used to hearing bits of music, not the whole thing; for
example, the 'William Tell Overture'.  Unless they've heard it in
full, people could be justified in thinking of it as nothing more than
a short bit of music at the beginning of The Lone Ranger.

Rachmaninov Piano Concerto Number Two in C minor.  It's a lot more than
background music to a scene in Brief Encounter, but would people who've
only seen the film know this?

There's music from our own back yards -- Fleetwood Mac "Albatross".
They made a much longer version; beautiful to listen to but how many
here have heard it?

Don't get me wrong.  This does not excuse visitors to your home (or
anywhere else for that matter) getting their grubby little fingers all
over a musical box comb!

Oh, dear, I'm so sorry about the solid rosewood lid of that custom-made
26-inch Stella falling on your fingers.  Don't worry, they might grow
back again!

Jim Weir
Kirriemuir, Angus, Scotland
combwork@aol.com.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]