Batch 20 Now Available
2005-12-23 by Terry Smythe
My 20th batch of midi files emerging from scanning century old player piano music rolls is now available for download. This batch of 234 midi files again represents one of the principal reasons why we are scanning these old piano rolls in hope of extending the life of their content well beyond their paper form. The midi files emerge as an automatic by-product of the scanning process. Of the 234 titles, many of them are no longer playable on a conventional player piano due to damage of some kind. Many were simply played to death in their day. As a simple matter of economics, it is highly likely that the vast majority will not ever again be made available in new recut piano roll form. They may be downloaded by clicking on: http://members.shaw.ca/irish122/batch20.ZIP or through clickable links off: http://members.shaw.ca/smythe/archive.htm An ever growing spreadsheet listing all ~3,500 midi files is available at: http://members.shaw.ca/irish122/complete-uploads.ZIP The current batch will be found at the bottom of the list. Will make it possible to sort in any order of choice, by title, composer, or artist, etc. Observant users will note a discrepancy between the number of entries on this spreadsheet and the actual number of midi files available. This emerged as a consequence of my own roll documentation errors within individual midi files that provoked my spreadsheet making utility to ignore them. One day I will attempt to correct these minor errors. The batch includes some very unusual music emerging from Alan Turner's collection of rare Solo Apollo rolls. These rolls are huge, 15 1/4" wide. They are relatively rare, from the period 1900-1905, as are the Melville Clark player pianos they were aimed at. Scanning was made possible using Kevin Keymer's twin array wide roll scanner. As before, all these files will work on all solenoid pianos such as Disklavier, Pianodisc, Pianomation and Pianocorder. For those inclined to tinker with the midi files, a very good free utility is "MidiMod", available from Spencer Chase's web site: http://www.spencerserolls.com/Files4Download.html For this 20th batch, special thanks go to: * Richard Canedo for contributing some rolls, including some Recordo rolls. * Alan Turner for contributing his collection of Solo Apollo rolls. * Lee Roan for contributing midi files from his efforts in scanning A-Roll nickelodeon rolls on a unique roll scanner he devised and built. * Dave Kerr for contributing midi files from his own scanning endeavors. * John McClelland for contributing Welte (Licensee) midi files from his own scanning endeavors. * Anthony Robinson for contributing midi files from his own scanning endeavors. Enjoy! Regards, Terry Terry Smythe 204-832-3982 (land line) 55 Rowand Avenue 204-981-3229 (cell) Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3J 2N6 smythe@... Preserving a unique slice of our Musical Heritage http://members.shaw.ca/smythe/rebirth.htm