Cuckoo-Clock Shop - Black Forest Cuckoo Clocks

Information on music

Music is a popular additional feature on some cuckoo clocks. All cuckoo clocks have the typical cuckoo sound, but not all cuckoo clocks play music.

Mechanical cuckoo clocks

All musical movements of mechanical cuckoo clocks (1-day and 8-day clockwork) we sell have been made by Reuge (Switzerland). Reuge is one of the most renowned manufacturers of musical movements and music boxes in the world.

When does the music play?

Cuckoo clocks with a 1-day movement play music every half and full hour. 8-day cuckoo clocks and quartz cuckoo clocks play music every full hour. The music usually starts after the cuckoo has called.

What kind of melodies do the musical clocks play?

Most musical cuckoo clocks alternately play two different melodies. There are a few larger cuckoo clocks that play 3 melodies. Most of the clocks nowadays play the two popular German folksongs Edelweiss and Der Froehliche Wanderer (“Happy Wanderer”). Some clocks with moving beer drinkers play Trink Bruederlein Trink and In Muenchen Steht Ein Hofbraeuhaus to underline the Bavarian style of these cuckoo clocks.

Number of tones

The number of tones (variety of tones) is a sign of the quality of the music that a cuckoo clock plays. The more tones a musical cuckoo clock plays the better the music will sound. Still, all the musical movements are very good and all clocks sound good. The larger, more expensive cuckoo clocks usually have musical movements with more tones.

Quartz cuckoo clocks

Most quartz cuckoo clocks play music every hour and have up to 12 alternating melodies. Most melodies are accompanied with the sound of water flowing.

Prices

As described above the music comes from an additional musical movement made in Switzerland and as consequence increases the price of musical cuckoo clocks compared to clocks without music. But the higher price is definitely worth it for most cuckoo clock lovers and collectors, because a cuckoo clock lasts for decades and is often even handed over to the next generation.Music is a popular additional feature on some cuckoo clocks. All cuckoo clocks have the typical cuckoo sound, but not all cuckoo clocks play music.