When playing new or
old music rolls, consider this: The roll is an
ARRANGEMENT not a "recorded performance". Nobody
"played" the released roll. Even during my short
period with Imperial Industrial, their monthly flyers for
QRS called me a "new young pianist" on the staff.
Pretending that rolls were really played by artists was a
marketing tool of the past - and it continues today.
You should enjoy the roll. It's an
arrangement and your personal involvement is required to
make a memorable performance IF the roll is
perforated to be challenging to the listener. Even the
expression 'reproducing' rolls require tempo corrections
after 2 minutes and many have hand levers for dynamics, so
the human element is required there also.
I am not criticizing how rolls were
made in factories ... but hoping that this hoopla of "an
artist recording" and "played by" will be discontinued by
collectors in the 21st Century.
Happy
Listening - - whatever kind of rolls you play!
--
L.Douglas Henderson | ARTCRAFT Music Rolls
Wiscasset, Maine 04578 USA
http://wiscasset.net/artcraft/
artcraft@wiscasset.net/artcraft/
October 28, 2013