6/50 Paillard Petite Musique
Serial no. 2073; Circa 1882
6/50 Tabatiére, in it original marquetry box with all original parts.
The box was probably made by Paillard in Saint Croix, Switzerland, around 1879.
The Movement is likely to have been made by Paillard. The serial number suggests a close fit with Bulleid's Paillard chart.
Patience was first performed in 1881. Popular tunes usually appears a year later, which dates it to 1882.
The box was probably made by Paillard in Saint Croix, Switzerland, around 1879.
The Movement is likely to have been made by Paillard. The serial number suggests a close fit with Bulleid's Paillard chart.
Patience was first performed in 1881. Popular tunes usually appears a year later, which dates it to 1882.
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Tunes
These are from some of the most famous operas of the Victorian era. 1. Cornville Chanson du Mousse by Robert Planquette from the 1877 French operetta Les Cloches de Corneville (The Bells of Corneville). This was an international sensation. The "Chanson du Mousse" is a nostalgic, flowing melody sung by the character Christophe. It was a staple for music boxes due to its gentle, rhythmic lilt. 2. Pinafore: Little Buttercup is one of the most recognizable tunes from Gilbert & Sullivan’s 1878 comic opera H.M.S. Pinafore. It is the introductory song for Mrs. Cripps (Little Buttercup), a "bumboat woman" who sells supplies to the sailors. It's a cheery, bouncy waltz. 3. Patience: When I go out door From the Gilbert & Sullivan hit, Patience (1881). This is part of a duet where two "heavy dragoons" try to act like moody, aesthetic poets to impress girls. The tune is fast-paced and comical, often called the "Handy Andy" or "Silver Churn" duet. 4. Faust: Grande Valse From Charles Gounod's opera Faust (1859). This is the famous waltz from Act II. It is arguably one of the most popular waltzes ever written for the operatic stage—elegant, swirling, and perfect for the mechanical pins of a music box. 5. Guillaume Tell: Prière (Prayer) From Rossini’s final opera, William Tell (1829). While most people know the "Overture" (the "Lone Ranger" theme), the "Prière" ("Toi que l'oiseau") is a solemn, beautiful melody. In a music box, this would provide a slower, more dignified contrast to the waltzes. 6. Coro di Fattorini (Chorus of the Messengers/Grooms) This likely refers to a chorus from an Italian translation of a French operetta, most probably Offenbach's Les Brigands. It features a rhythmic, marching quality that was very popular in mechanical instruments of the 1880s. |
Click to hear My Little Buttercup from HMS Pinafore
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