Disklavier

Just a brief note to advise that my Batch 21 of midi type 1 
files emerging from roll scanning is now uploaded and available 
at:

http://members.shaw.ca/smythe/batch21.htm

Or it may be downloaded directly from:

http://members.shaw.ca/paud122/batch21.ZIP

This batch contains 157 titles, bring the total to 3,825.

By chance, it represents the first batch that does not contain 
any roll scans of my own. It is encouraging that others are 
building roll scanners and contributing their midi files to this 
ever growing library.  Special thanks to:

*  Larry Doe for contributing 100+ midi files from his own 
scanning efforts. 

*  Dave Kerr for contributing 50+ midi files from his own 
scanning efforts. 

*  Ed Gaida for contributing some midi files from scanning a 
couple of late reproducing program piano rolls

Prior visitors will note a difference.    I have rebuilt my web 
site, principally to rename my earlier uploads into a consistent 
convention of tune title ahead of catalog number.     As a 
consequence, the previous batch orientation had to be abandoned. 
100% of all my files up to and including batch 20 are now 
available in ZIP files segragated by roll type.     Those 
inclined may want to download everything and simply delete 
previous batches.  

The complete offerings of all previous batches in new format may 
be accessed and downloaded from:

http://members.shaw.ca/smythe/archive.htm

Previous visitors to this "archive.htm" page may need to 
"refresh" a couple of times to force loading off the web site 
instead of from cache.    Otherwise, links may not work.

As before, these files may be used for personal enjoyment only 
to operate pneumatic player pianos equipped with e-valves, or 
solenoid operated player pianos, or on digital pianos through a 
MIDI-IN port from a nearby computer or by transferring to floppy 
disks.   They will, of course, "play" on most any computer 
capable of accepting midi type 1 files.

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

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On Mon, 6 Feb 2006, David Kennedy wrote:

>   Would like to find out which of the several Piano Soft Solo MIDI
> files you perfer. Is it,
>
>   "David Buechner Plays Gershwin"
>   Or
>   "Gershwin Plays Gershwin"

Dave,

In addition to the above PianoSoft titles, you should consider Wayne
Stahnke's "Live Performance" disk MH-4002 "A Tribute To George
Gershwin", derived from original reproducing piano rolls using Wayne's
highly-accurate scanning procedures. The quality of these performances
is top-notch.

  http://mmd.foxtail.com/Livep

Mark Fontana

Good afternoon, everyone.

On Feb 6, 2006, at 4:18 PM, David wrote:

> Would like to find out which of the several Piano Soft Solo MIDI  
> files you perfer. Is it,
>
> "David Buechner Plays Gershwin"
>
> Or
>
> "Gershwin Plays Gershwin"
>
> Comments are welcome.
>

The big difference is that Sarah (formerly David) Buechner is a  
living pianist who has recorded a terrific album on the Disklavier  
itself, and George Gershwin recorded on a pneumatic player piano.

Gershwin's own album is a conversion of his piano roll recordings  
done by Gershwin scholar Artist Wodehouse. Some of the pieces were  
recorded for the Duo-Art reproducing piano and therefore have encoded  
dynamics. Other pieces on the disk are "realizations" of "88-note"  
rolls done by Artis. These rolls had no encoded dynamics for  
automatic playback. Instead, there were intended to be interpreted by  
someone who pumps the pedals of the player piano and uses hand levers  
to manipulate tempo and dynamics.

When realizing the 88-note roles, Artis used a period Aeolian  
"vorzetzer," which is a player mechanism that you role up to the  
piano. It has 88 felt-covered fingers that press the keys and a lever  
that manipulates the sustain pedal. Thus, she used the vorzetzer and  
rolls to play a Disklavier, imparting her interpretation during the  
recording process.

Both disks are worthwhile for different reasons.

Regards,
PianoBench