Hello folks,
Here I present a delightful little ditty of a piece. Try as I have, I cannot find any significant and authoritative biographical info on the composer, who was flourishing in the 1860s, active in London and had a musician son. He was likely born in the early 1820s, possibly in Poland. This is a work of his that was evidently very popular with his audiences from what I've read in reviews of the time. This work exists in two versions: the original is in Ab major; a transposed version by W. Smallwood is in G major and changes the ending. I acquired my copy of the original as an on-line pdf purchase from the National Library of Australia. I am, or course, playing the original version ... with one twist: I add the metronome!

I sincerely mean it when I say "Enjoy!"

Liebich - The Musical Box (3:01)

Cute little thing indeed. All this high-lying tinkling does get a bit irritating after a while IMO, but that is not your fault.
It's ok to have no bio information, as this goes in the Various page. Nice idea with the metronome clicks.
This is up on the site. Now on to Liadov's Musical Snuff Box ?
The musical box on my list is the one by Hamelin, also a most delightful little thing.

Do try Ljadov's Music-Box, as Chris says: it is much in the same vein.

Similarly, there's also Rebikov's Musical Snuffbox.

Hi Eddy,

What a novelty! Very well and convincingly played too. Reading all those high ledger-line notes must have been a challenge! I found the piece to be clever and entertaining. It provides us with a glimpse into a charming, bygone era.

David

@ Chris, what metronome clicks?

@ David. Thanks for the appreciation. This will serve as encore #2 (should I get that far) when I perform next fall. BTW, the first ritardando is not in the score ... that was my interpretation.

I loved that 'winding up' sound in the beginning and then at the end when the music runs 'out of gas' so to speak. Clever idea, Eddy, and cute!

The winding-up sounds, then.

Hi Eddy,

I had a listen to your "Musical Box" w/ metronome. I really enjoyed it. I could picture a music box when I played it! About the metronome/ what Chris is saying, listening back I had the sense it was your piano bench creaking back and forth in time? I don't know much about Liebich, but this is a good introduction. I assume he did not just write pieces for music box (or in that style), but meant to be played on a regular piano and not the mini metal piano assembly of a music box..

Look forward to some more recordings from you,

~Riley

Hi Riley,
As hinted at before, I know nothing else of this composer and have met with only frustration in my attempts to learn something more. I'm sure this will be the only piece I learn of his; it makes for a great light encore. I don't remember any seat squeaks (but I am getting arthritis - in a few fingers of all places! ); the metronome winding sounds should be quite obvious. I'm glad you liked it. It's just a fun little piece, like an after-dinner mint!

Eddy

Ha, that´s a real funny little piece! My ears are pinging from all these bell-like discant sounds. Have you have done a good and funny job here, Eddy, Bravo!