The New Music for Music Boxes Challenge Project
for Composers/Arrangers

The Challenge

To express musical ideas within the constraints [see below] required to produce an actual 15.5 inch musical box metal disc playable by antique Regina or Polyphon Musical Boxes.

Project Overview

The goal is to produce a compilation of short musical pieces, (newly composed or newly arranged/adapted ), written specifically for music box. This compilation may take the form of a CD recording of the pieces (played by an actual music box ) and/or production of a limited number of actual 15.5" metal discs, historically called 'tune sheets'. Composers/arrangers/adapters whose work has reflected an interest in, and appreciation for, the special qualities of musical box performances will be invited to participate.

There are a number of successful musicians working today, in many genres, who have produced works for music boxes, in one form or another. Most of these works could not actually have been 'put' on a real music box, for one reason of another. This project will give artists the opportunity to modify their pieces, creating 'true' music box compositions.

[A example of a recent composition which did make it onto an actual music box is Bjork's "Frosti", from her CD, Vespertine , with adaptation to music box by Jack Perron.]

The Music

Original compositions, or arrangements/adaptations of existing material will all be considered for inclusion in this project. However, the final form of the music must be such that THE MUSIC IN ITS ENTIRETY COULD BE FIT ON A SINGLE REGINA\POLYPHON 15.5 INCH METAL DISC, AND SUCCESSFULLY PERFORMED BY A SINGLE MUSIC BOX.

Traditionally, the role of the music box, before the advent of the Victrola, was largely to provide a means of hearing popular songs of the time. Consequently, music box pieces tended not to stray far from the familiar melody, nor was precious disc space often used for 'mood' establishing bridges, intros, etc. Today, the music box has been freed from the yeoman's task of documenting the current melodies. New possibilites exist.

The Musical Challenge

There are many unique problems involved in creating a 'true' music box piece. I believe it will prove an interesting challenge for accomplished musicians to create either traditional sounding music box pieces, using time-tested 'tricks of the trade', or to explore new methods and techniques to expand the range of musical ideas expressible with a traditional music box.

There are two areas of technical concern to creators of music box compositions:

First, the target musical box (Regina/Polyphon 15.5" disc box) has certain physical limitations which rigorously constrain the musical possibilities. Most obvious among these is the total playing time (length) of the piece, which MUST not be longer than 59 secs, and SHOULD not be shorter than 54 secs. Less obvious are such matters as the minimum 'repeat' time required before a particular tine can be struck a second time. In addition, each note has its own fixed duration, volume, 'attack', and 'decay' over which the musician has NO control. Also, range and the non-chromatic nature of the scale must be taken into account.

A second area of concern involves the acoustical qualities of music box combs. A knowledge of which sorts of musical figures will sound better than others is helpful. In addition, during the heydey years (~1880's - 1920's) of disc musical boxes, arrangers discovered a number of 'tricks' which produced effective results and a number of impressive arrangements.

The Project Process

Once a musician has agreed to participate, the Project Coordinator [see below] will provide technical assistance enabling the composer/arranger to adapt his or her piece of music to the target music box. The Coordinator can also materially participate in the adaptation, if the musician requests.... making suggestions for trills, for example. The participating musician, alone, will determine if the final result is satisfactory.

The participating musician will at all times retain full rights to his/her work, and will be under NO OBLIGATIONS whatsoever.

Either the participating musician, or the Project Coordinator, may discontinue work on the project without obligation at any time.

At the completion of work on a musical piece, the Project Coordinator , dba Jack Perron Associates, may request a license to distribute a recording of the final piece, as performed either by an actual music box, or by the MusicBox15 simulator.

The Project Coordinator