Composing Our 20-Year Bond in 21 Music Box Melodies
Composing Our 20-Year Bond in 21 Music Box Melodies
This is more than just a music box; it is my most heartfelt declaration of love to my wife, and a chronicle of the 20-year journey our family has walked together through life’s storms.
As a professional working in a high-pressure environment for many years, I have often asked myself: what kind of gift can truly carry the weight of two decades? Last year, on my wife’s birthday, I discovered Muro Box. I decided to push the limits and commission 21 custom-composed melodies, with each piece representing a chapter of our shared life since we first met—each step of the journey we have taken together.
Discover Phil’s story through a podcast — how he used 21 custom‑composed music box melodies to record the 20‑year life bond he shares with his wife:
The Melodies That Sustained Us Through the Darkness
Over the past 20 years, we have faced more challenges than we could have imagined. My wife once endured a severe health crisis and came through a life-and-death ordeal. I also experienced the profound pain of losing a close family member.
There were years when tears felt like a daily companion. Yet, in those darkest times, the most comforting moments were simply sitting quietly beside her, listening to her play the pieces we both loved.
To transform these intangible emotions into a form of lasting presence, I embarked on a nearly year-long “dream fulfillment project.” During my conversations with Muro Box arranger Hung-Yin Liu, I was deeply impressed by her dedication to her craft. I have very high standards when it comes to music, and she was always able to precisely capture the atmosphere I was aiming for. In a great piece of music, the soul often lies in those key, defining passages. With remarkable patience, she listened, refined, and revised repeatedly, bringing the capabilities of the programmable music box to their fullest expression.
Three of the 21 Melodies Carry the Imprint of My Life
Movement I: Departure and Hope
Kiki’s Delivery Service OST – Departure (Takkyūbin / “Tabidachi”)
It represents the joy we felt when we welcomed a new life. It symbolizes how, no matter how many unknowns the future may hold, we have always maintained our hope for life—full of excitement, as if embarking on a brand-new journey.
Movement II: Unyielding Faith —
Hercules OST – Go the Distance
This was my source of courage during the lowest point of my life, when I had to shoulder everything on my own. This song continually reminded and inspired me: for my family, I must become the hero—no matter how hard it gets, I cannot fall, and I must keep moving forward with unwavering determination.
Movement III: Eternal Commitment —
Michael Jackson – I Just Can’t Stop Loving You
After experiencing all the flavors life has to offer, I wanted to tell her through this piece: “True love carries us through everything—I cannot stop loving you in this lifetime.” With Ms. Liu’s masterful arrangement, this lingering resonance surpassed all my expectations.
Turning Memories into Eternal Companionship
When our family of four returned from an overseas trip and sat together in the living room, listening to the music box play its familiar melodies, I felt deeply in that moment: all the pain we had once endured together had transformed into the most precious form of happiness.
On the music box, I specially asked the team to engrave a custom plaque:
“We are meant to be. Always have, always will. The true love comes once in a lifetime.”
I often find myself reflecting on how technology can extend beauty, and how a single idea can give rise to an entirely new industry. Muro Box gave me the answer. This is no longer just a device that plays music—it is a work of art, a vessel for my emotions. I am grateful for the persistence I once held, which allowed these intangible memories to finally have a warm, lasting presence.
