News : 02-2008

Our Paypal payment facility is now fully up and running for all those wishing to join and also renew their subscriptions easily online. We are also offering reduced rate 3-year subscriptions saving you money and the hassle of annual renewals. Visit the "Join" membership page!

Forum

Join the Pianola Forum free for real-time forum chat about player pianos and mechanical music. General discussion, queries, photos, events, it's up to you!

Click here to go to the forum. The idea of this online forum is the brainchild of PPGer Neil Ramsay from Herefordshire - help make it a continued success!

Roll Auction

We've just completed our 63rd very successful music roll auction. Our dedicated team of volunteers run postal lists 3 times annually of between 800-1000 lots each time. Music for all types of players is included and this is also the outlet where new roll boxes, labels, tag and tubing diagrams may be obtained.

A catalogue is automatically sent free to every member or emailed if so desired. It is a great way to affordably build up a superb library of music you like!

e-Concert #1

Billy Mayerl's "Echo" roll recordings

These are electronic scans of non-reproducing piano rolls. They contain the note tracks without dynamic information. The originals have printed dynamics instructions intended for interactive use in conjunction with a player piano.

Echo D1379V Annabelle (foxtrot) - Brown-Henderson

Echo D1401V You've got to see Mama ev'ry night (blues) - Rose-Conrad

Echo D1416V Last Night on the Back Porch (foxtrot) - Brown-Straubstader

Echo D1419V Felix kept on walking (foxtrot) - David

Echo D1421V Seven and Eleven (blues) - Walter Donaldson

Echo D1438V Just keep on dancing (foxtrot) - Mayerl-Paul

Echo D1445V Ah Fim Loo (Chinese foxtrot) - Theo Norman

Echo D1448V Joyce (foxtrot) - Jack Hylton

Echo D1461V I am surprised (one-step) - Howard Flynn

Echo D1465X Oom Pah (one-step) - Daly-Lannin. Originally featured in the show "Stop Flirting" and danced by Fred and Adele Astaire (see the original sheet-music cover below!)

Echo D1467V Horsey keep your tail up (foxtrot) - Hirsch-Kaplan




Commissioning New Compositions

To the composer the player offers many novel possibilities. The player piano is capable of pianistic musical effects unbounded by the technical limitations of human performers. Composers to have explored these waters are numerous and include Saint Saens, Moskowski, Stravinsky, Casella, Hindemith, Grainger, Nancarrow and Bax to name just a random few. We are always delighted to discuss and illustrate the musical possibilities to enthusiastic musicians, composers, teachers,academics or students who are considering exploring new musical avenues.

many thanks to Robert Perry for kindly contributing the midi scan of Annabelle from his own collection.