Re: [ARSCLIST] A Player Pianists Responsibilities

[Robert Hodge <rjhodge@xxxxxxx>]

VERY TRUE !!

However, all player pianos are equipped with soft bass and treble control valves and a sustain control that the player pianist was encouraged to use in order to give some interpertation to the music.
Additionally,vacuum levels to the pneumatic stack could be varied by the speed of pumping the pedals. This would provide further expression capabilities. If the motor governor was properly regulated, the speed of the air motor wouldn't vary with the amount of vacuum until it got so low as to be unusuable for any function. This would provide a regular roll speed with everything from full fortissimo to pianissimo.

Only the most uncaring user would not use these methods to impart feeling to the music, and indeed, it would sound like a robot sitting at the piano , just pumping away full tilt through the roll.  

Some rolls even had automatic sustain control holes cut in them. 
And of course, there was no reason why one had to stick to the
 " Recommended "  tempo  printed on the roll as varying them was also easily accomplished. It can be varied throughout the entire roll. 

Sure, this makes for a very busy player pianist , but you really do get out of it what you put into it.

My 2 Bits.  

Bob Hodge



Robert Hodge,
Senior Engineer
Belfer Audio Archive
Syracuse University
222 Waverly Ave .
Syracuse N.Y. 13244-2010

315-443- 7971
FAX-315-443-4866

>>> doncox@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1/18/2006 3:13 PM >>>
On 18/01/06, Robert Hodge wrote:
> ANY properly restored grand or upright piano with a properly restored
> Welte, Duo Art or Ampico A or B reproducing system will beat the pants
> off ANY electronic system that doesn't use a real piano.
> 
> IMNSHO

The player piano has more accurate sound. The problem is the precise
timing of the notes and pedalling. Even with a very well adjusted
player, there is a slight inaccuracy of timing compared to a recording.

If the player is not exceptionally well adjusted, it sounds like what it
is - a robot playing the piano.

Some listeners seem to be more sensitive to this than others.

The sad thing is that many important artists recorded only on the
simpler non-reproducing rolls, which do not record the loudness of each
note (or the pedalling). The Jelly Roll Morton rolls, for example, are
IMO useless for this reason. Fortunately there are good electrical (and
not-so-good acoustic) recordings of his playing.

Regards
-- 
Don Cox
doncox@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx