8/130 Cuendet Sublime Piccolo three comb movement Serial no. 19895 circa 1896
Sublime Piccolo
The left and centre combs are tuned to produce the sublime harmonic effect, with being tuned to the same scale but with slightly different frequency for each pitch. When teeth of the same pitch on each comb are plucked together the combined frequencies 'interfere' with each other to give a slight vibrato effect. The left comb has 44 teeth and the centre comb has 43. Why? Probably because the first bass tooth of the left comb is the only one that is not used to produce the sublime effect. Slow vibration in pairs does not always produce the desired effect at the lower end of the scale's register.
The right hand comb produces the piccolo effect. It has 43 teeth tuned to a higher but matching pitch to the treble end of the other two combs. Instead of detectable vibrato, when plucked at the same time as their counterparts on the other two combs, the higher frequency and shorter period of vibration produces a sort of 'descant' effect, riding above the melody. Although the scale range for just 43 teeth will be small, probably about four octaves, the musical effect depends on the skill of the unknown arranger, which is often overlooked.
The left and centre combs are tuned to produce the sublime harmonic effect, with being tuned to the same scale but with slightly different frequency for each pitch. When teeth of the same pitch on each comb are plucked together the combined frequencies 'interfere' with each other to give a slight vibrato effect. The left comb has 44 teeth and the centre comb has 43. Why? Probably because the first bass tooth of the left comb is the only one that is not used to produce the sublime effect. Slow vibration in pairs does not always produce the desired effect at the lower end of the scale's register.
The right hand comb produces the piccolo effect. It has 43 teeth tuned to a higher but matching pitch to the treble end of the other two combs. Instead of detectable vibrato, when plucked at the same time as their counterparts on the other two combs, the higher frequency and shorter period of vibration produces a sort of 'descant' effect, riding above the melody. Although the scale range for just 43 teeth will be small, probably about four octaves, the musical effect depends on the skill of the unknown arranger, which is often overlooked.
Purchased at Auction in August 2022. This huge 30' long case appeared to be in relatively good overall condition.
It has three separate combs 44+43+43 and has it's original tune sheet intact.
However, when it arrived I found the springs fully wound and the cylinder stopped part way through a tune. I also discovered some damage to the teeth of the great wheel and various other issues such as many missing and bent pins and dampers plus a broken tooth, all of which needed professional restoration by The Music Box Restorer.
But firstly, I do my bit - lots of cleaning.
See it in the workshop
It has three separate combs 44+43+43 and has it's original tune sheet intact.
However, when it arrived I found the springs fully wound and the cylinder stopped part way through a tune. I also discovered some damage to the teeth of the great wheel and various other issues such as many missing and bent pins and dampers plus a broken tooth, all of which needed professional restoration by The Music Box Restorer.
But firstly, I do my bit - lots of cleaning.
See it in the workshop
See Workshop page for more detail on the restoration.
The videos below were recorded on 6th July, immediately after getting this box safely home. Obviously the lid was open and so it is possible to hear every click and tick. I will record the tunes again using audio only and wit the lid closed.
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Tune 1 - La Fille du régiment "Marche" by Donizetti
The Daughter of the Regiment is an opera in two acts by Gaetano Donizetti first performed in Paris on 11th February 1840. |
Tune 2 - Les Cloches de Corneille by Planquette
The Bells of Corneille is an opera comique in three acts composed by Robert Planquette to a libretto by Louis Clairville and Charles Gabet. It was first performed at the Fantasies- Parisiennes on 19th April 1877. |
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Tune 3 - Lohengrin (Wagner-Werks-Verzeichnis 75) is a romantic opera in three acts composed and written by Richard Wagner, first performed in 1850. The most popular and recognisable part is The Bridal Chorus, colloquially known in English speaking countries as "Here Comes The Bride".
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Tune 4 - Il Trovatore "Coro des Zingari" by Verde
The Troubadour is an opera in four acts by Guiseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto largely written by Salvadore Cammarano based on the play El trovador (1836) by Antonio Garcia Gutiérrez. It premiered a the Teatro Apollo in Rome on 19th January 1853 |
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Tune 5 - Orphee aux enfers is a comic opera composed by Jaques Offenbach to a French text written by Ludovic Halévy.
Orpheus in the Underworld was first performed as a two act opera in Paris on 21st October 1858 and was extensively revised and expanded in a four act 'opéra féerie" version presented at the Théâtre de la Gaîté in Paris on 7th February 1874. |
Tune 6 - La Marjolaine is an opéra bouffe in three acts by Charles Lecocq. Words by Eugène Leterrier and Albert Vanloo. It opened at the Théâtre de la Renaissance, Paris on 3rd February 1877. Set in Flanders, it depicts a deceitful, and ultimately unsuccessful, attempt to damage a virtuous woman's reputation.
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Tune 7 - Overture de Poéte et Paysan by Franz von Suppe
Poet and Peasant Overture. Almost unheard of on a Music Box say some, but other say it's in the top 40. |
Tune 8 - Vie D'artiste by Johann Strauss II 1867
The Artist's Life followed closely on the success of the popular The Blue Danube. Also known as Kunstlerleben. |