Musée de la Musique mécanique

74260 Les Gets, France (Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes)

Inventing new techniques, adapting musical instruments to record and reproduce sounds, multiplying the possibilities of sound under the fingers of the same person, imagining the most audacious musical machines capable of doing without men, these are some of the dreams and fantasies that have led ingenious inventors to create mechanical musical instruments, incredible wonders of science and art.

The history of these sound reproducing devices and their evolution through the ages had to be rediscovered. These machines made by great designers, genius craftsmen and talented musicians reflect the lifestyles and music in vogue at each time.

The Association de la Musique Mécanique has therefore gathered for nearly 40 years a unique, irreplaceable and very high level collection, the collective work of a team of enthusiasts. It includes:
chimes,
clocks and music boxes;
street, dance and carousel organs
mechanical and pneumatic pianos;
animated boards and automatons;
accordions and automatic violins;
harmoniums, orchestras and orchestrions (replacing an orchestra!);
phonographs,
gramophones and
juke-boxes,
to name only the main types of instruments....

Nearly 900 pieces are presented in the context of their era through different rooms, the animated visits will amaze your eyes and ears. This collection, by its originality and its value, is today recognized by specialists from all over the world and the Public Authorities.

The Museum, by its reputation, its success, its prestigious acquisitions, has continued to attract the heritage of many countries and a large part of the works could not be exhibited. In 1996, after the purchase of a house of character, nearby, the idea of enlarging the existing Museum was launched. The building is connected to the current premises by a large gallery "La galerie Impériale" where the barrel organs are exhibited, temporary exhibitions and a whole educational space.

The Association of Mechanical Music continues to keep this collection alive with a renewed influence. Moreover, it does not allow itself to be confined within its walls. Its merry-go-round of wooden horses animates the town hall square and the automatic Philharmonic Organ offers concerts in the church of Les Gets.

Finally, events such as the International Festival of Mechanical Music which brings together every two years more than 450 organ players and street singers from all over the world,
reinforce the notoriety of this action.

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