Customer Reviews

Christmas Magic (Antique Musical Boxes)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

(I believe this to be the CD re-issue of a favorite Musical Heritage Society LP). Traditional Christmas music as rendered by wonderful old music boxes of amazing (musical and presumably mechanical) complexity. The recording is of very good quality, and it is a refreshing diversion from the mind-numbing sameness of the music heard in the background in almost every commercial venue at Christmastime.

This was a nostalgic Christmas purchase for myself. I had a similar item in a 33 rpm format years ago. While the quality was slightly less than perfect the happy memories of past Christmases it awakened diminshed any
criticisim I might have had otherwise.

Beautiful, soothing, delightful music. I had this years ago on a cassette (remember those?) and was so pleased to find it on CD. Will calm the holiday frantic-ness and remind of the real reason for this holy time of year.

Christmas Magic is an entire CD of Antique music boxes playing Christmas songs. It's beautiful. I enjoy letting it play softly throughout the holidays on my indoor and outdoor speakers as beautiful holiday background music to our festivities. I highly recommend it.

Christmas Music (Antique Musical Boxes)

For those that like an old fashion sound of Christmas, you will fall in love with this Christmas Music. The music selection on this CD are the classical sounds we all grew up to enjoy, only they are being played by antique music boxes that have been preserved for our enjoyment. These music boxes aren't your ordinary type, but fully orchestrated versions dating to the 1880's. The Polyphon is just one of the music boxes, made in Leipzig, Germany in the late nineteenth century, has a rich organ-like orchestral tenor, that is unsurpassed.

The Symphonion, also made in Leipzig, is an earlier model built in the 1880's using a copper disc. It also gives the listener a very rich full sound that is pleasing and relaxing to listen to. The Swiss also made some beautiful sounding music boxes, the Empress, made in St. Croix at the beginning of the twentieth century have a full richness of tone which characterizes the later developments in the construction of music boxes. There is an American made music box featured on this CD called the Regina, made in Rahway, New Jersey in the 1880's that again has a warm welcoming sound with a full richness in the tone.

For your listening pleasure and for a warm full sound for your loved ones, you will enjoy these Christmas classics from 100 years ago. First recorded on metal discs and played on acoustic soundboard instruments, their melodic sound will absolutely charm you. These aren't the tinny sounding music boxes that you might find on a dresser in the bedroom, but are fully orchestral sounding musical performances.

For a very relaxing and enjoyable sound you will be glad that this music has been preserved for our enjoyment this holiday season. This is a fully digital recording and gives full dynamics in tonal quality. This is a quality, well-engineered recording that is well worth your money. I gave in 5 stars for its originality and quality.

I have BEEN to Rita Ford's Music Box Emporium in NYC, so I can (and hereby do!) testify that these are GENUINE antique music boxes, not sythesizers. These are the Real Deal.

Take note that the selections themselves are all a hodgepodge of cuts from at LEAST three, and possibly more, different sources, most of which I happen to have in my own record collection and can therefore identify.

However -- and with the caveat that I am judging from Amazon's *samples*, via headphones plugged into my *computer*, and NOT by sound from an actual *CD* via headphones plugged into my *stereo* -- the sound seems to be somewhat "off". It's hard to put a finger on exactly what's wrong with it, but it seems to be lacking in "depth". I *have* ordered the CD, and if after receiving and playing it I find the sound to be better than what I've heard while writing this review, I do plan to edit this review accordingly; so do please take that fact into consideration! But meanwhile, I've deducted one star for the poor sound quality (nor does it escape my notice that I'm not the only one to mention it!).

Apart from sound the slight question of sound quality, a CD *very* much worthwhile purchasing.

This has become one of my favorite Christmas CD's. When I go to a friends home over the holidays, I always take a couple of CD's and this one becomes a must have for all who hear it. It is low key and very calming.

If you love music boxes you will love this! Even though it is Christmas music it is still nice to listen too after Christmas.

The sound quality is not as good as I wished, but all in all, this is an enjoyable cd for anyone who loves the sound of antique music boxes.

I haven't seen this for 40 years! And was very doubtful that I would find it in CD format. These pieces are rare glimpses into those nostalgic times of America's late nineteenth century. Wundrbar!