As I understand this issue, the answer is very specific to the piece(s). Not all should be played, not all should sit idle. If it should be played, then there are all the other questions - by whom? - when? -why? -where?
So far as music boxes go, someone recently posted a website that had reproductions for sale. I'd do a search, find the manufacturer and talk to them about the pros and cons of using an historic one. I'd also consider consulting one of the respected music museums (Shrine to Music, Vermillion, South Dakota is one I'd check with).
The issue brings back a couple of upsetting memories for me - one of the director/curator of an institution bustling through during a busy open house, hastily cranking up the music boxes and hustling off again. (a clue as to how the place operated.) Another was of a visiting educator stoping by a museum where I worked. She was meeting with me and board members. She was touched and enthusiastic that someone at a previous museum had played the music boxes just for her. I was appauled and horrified. So after " If? " - Who? Why? Where? How? When?
This email reflects the opinion of the author and not that of her employer.
>>> [log in to unmask] 04/08/04 12:54PM >>>
We are planning on doing what Lucy Sperlin has said.. And making the
recording available by push-button, so that visitors can hear the sound
while looking at the instrument
I have wanted to demonstrate to certain tour groups how our edision player
works. Since we have hundreds of Edison cylinder records, It would not hurt
to demonstrate it only a few times each year for tours. We have thought
that, for one season, this would be alright. I haven't decided to take
advantage of it yet.
> Dear Colleagues,
> A community member who is an accomplished organist and repairs and restores
> music boxes has suggested that we play our music boxes for the public.
> According to him, they are like any other instrument and need to be played
> in order to give them the best care. I have heard that the Stradivarius
> Museum plays their violins regularly- so there must be something to this.
> In general, we do not use our artifacts as intended (we don't wind our
> clocks, run our motors, use our carriages, etc.) Common sense tells me
> that if you use something you are wearing it out a little every time that
> you use it. This goes contrary to preventive conservation principles. We
> have several music boxes that are part of a larger collection that were
> obviously very expensive and top of the line models when new. These
> probably would sound quite beautiful. I have been asked by our curator to
> put this question on Museum-L. If you have music boxes- or other musical
> instruments in your collections, do you ever play them? Thank you for
> any thoughts you have on this topic.
> Sincerely,
> David Ryan
> Registrar
> Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum
> www.cspm.org
>
> =========================================================
> Important Subscriber Information:
>
> The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/
> . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a
> one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the
> message should read "help" (without the quotes).
>
> If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to
> [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff
> Museum-L" (without the quotes).
>
>
--
Yakima Valley Museum
yakimavalleymuseum.org
=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:
The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).
=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:
The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).
|
