This is the first-ever book on the history of the musical clock and its music is written by a world-recognised historian and authority on mechanical music and its instruments.
He deals with the many styles of musical clock and their mechanisms, describing how they differ from chiming clocks. The book discusses the tunes played and the composers who wrote music specifically for these unusual timepieces. Automaton clocks, often associated with musicwork, are also included, as are musical and automaton watches including ‘libertine’ items.
An extensive and worldwide list of makers is given along with some biographical information that has never before appeared in print.
New research into the development of musical clocks and their makers is presented, as well as much information relating to the use of music in clocks. This is both the definitive book and unique in its treatment of the subject.
Extensively illustrated with numerous diagrams and many photographs, both colour and black and white.
352 pages, comprehensively illustrated. £49.99 plus post & packing
ISBN 0 9523270 0 7
Orders to: Mayfield Books; john@mayfieldbooks.co.uk