Musical clock
{{short description|Clock that marks time with a musical tune}}
File:2015 PAR 04057 0527 000(pendule monumentale a musiques depoque george iii signature de henry b).jpgFile:Ormalu7.jpg
File:Organ clock tf1 ok.jpg manufactured by Matthias Naeschke]]
File:Small World Rhythm clock.jpg]]
A musical clock is a clock that marks the hours of the day with a musical tune. They can be considered elaborate versions of striking or chiming clocks.{{cite book
| last = Ord-Hume
| first = Arthur W. J. G.
| authorlink =
| title = The Musical Clock: Musical & Automation Clocks and Watches
| publisher = Mayfield Books
| series =
| volume =
| edition =
| date = 1995
| location = Ashbourne
| pages =
| language =
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=XxNJAAAACAAJ
| doi =
| id =
| isbn = 9780952327004
| mr =
| zbl =
| jfm =
}}
Elaborate large-scale musical clocks with automatons are often installed in public places and are widespread in Japan. Unlike conventional electronic musical clocks, these clocks plays pre-recorded music samples, instead of using programmed sound synthesis. One of the earliest known domestic musical clocks was constructed by Nicholas Vallin in 1598, and it currently resides in the British Museum in London.{{Citation
| last = Clerizo
| first = Michael| author-link =
| title = Keeping Time
| newspaper = The Wall Street Journal
| pages =
| date = 27 November 2013
| url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303985504579208000110795132
| archiveurl =
| archivedate =
| accessdate = 20 July 2016
}}
Description
The music on mechanical clocks is typically played from a spiked cylinder on bells, organ pipes, or bellows.{{cite book
| author = Laurie Penman
| title = The Clock Repairer's Handbook
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=R4okAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA313
| date = 13 December 2013
| publisher = Skyhorse Publishing Company, Incorporated
| isbn = 978-1-62873-070-8
| pages = 313–
| quote = A clock that plays a melody at the hour is called a musical clock. Popular songs of the day often feature in musical clocks, and these may be used to date at least part of the mechanism.
}} On electric clocks such as quartz clocks, the music is usually generated using an electronic sound module. Most of these quartz musical clocks utilize either FM synthesis or sample-based synthesis technology for sound generation to produce high-fidelity and complex music, similar to the sound generation methods of electronic musical instruments.
Pipe organ clock
The pipe organ clock was a specific clock that chimed with a small pipe organ built into the unit. An example is a Markwick Markham made for the Turkish market, circa 1770.{{cite book|last=Baille|first=G.H.|title=Old Clocks and Watches and Their Makers|year=1955|publisher=Britten's|page=94}}
Popularity in Japan
In Japan, aside from the extensive popularity of large-scale musical clocks installed in public facilities, electronic musical wall clocks has become a popular novelty items since the late 1990s. They are mostly collected for their aesthetic and decorative values, especially those with elaborate movements and advanced music generation. Most of these clocks are manufactured by Seiko and Rhythm.
See also
{{Commons category|Musical clocks}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMSLP|work=Flötenuhrstücke, Hob.XIX:1-32 (Haydn, Joseph)|cname=Flötenuhrstücke (pieces for flute clock) by Joseph Haydn}}
{{Mechanical instruments}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Mechanical musical instruments
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