Re: Gershwin Again! - Answer to Mike Waters
By Paul Johnson
Mike Waters wrote: 24/10/96
> I have to ask Paul, "Is this done using a Duo-art Vorstetzer
> or other means?
The Vorstetzer used for the project was only for the 88 note material Gershwin cut in his early recording days. Here's a quote from the liner notes from the Gershwin Nonesuch CD - "Computer programmer Richard Brandle wrote a computer simulation of the reproducing pianos which translated the computer files into MIDI representing the notes, their duration and position in time and relative loudness as executed by the old reproducing pianos. Placed in front of the recording microphone, the Disklaver concert grand then played Gershwin's reproducing rolls from floppy disks for the CD recording."
> My other question is: "converting the Duo-art coding to suit the
> Disklavier would surely be no mean feat, in your opinion Paul what
> do they sound like in comparison to the real thing (Duo-art)?"
I think they did a great job of capturing the original Duo-Art dynamics.
Maybe I missed it in the digest, but how can I purchase the Dennis Condon CDs? Who's making them and who's distributing them?
Based on other readers comments, I'll have to start listening to more Oscar Levant. I've always enjoyed Gershwin's playing style, somewhat heavy handed as it is. There's a drive and percussiveness to it that is very infectious. You can certainly hear his roots as a song plugger and show rehearsal pianist.
I would also recommend to readers the series on ASV called "The Authentic George Gershwin" as played by Jack Gibbons. There are three Cds in the series. Gibbons has studied Gershwin's original acoustic/electrical recordings as well as his roll performances and reinterprets them in Gershwin's style. He even plays George's background accompaniment from the original 78 where he backs Fred and Adele Astaire. Fun stuff.
Paul Johnson
The Piano Roll Shop |
(Message sent Sun 27 Oct 1996, 19:17:48 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.) |
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