Introduction
By Roger Waring
Many thanks to Jody for a warm welcome to the MMD. I can see already from the variety of interests that I am going to enjoy this group! I particularly appreciate there being a moderator. I will briefly outline my interests in the hope that I can learn from such a wide and experienced audience, and hopefully add something to the collective knowledge base myself.
Restoration of players. I am a qualified piano technician and have adapted the techniques appropriate on piano actions to player actions. It has helped me to have learned correct use of tools, materials, methods etc., on pianos before attempting players. So far I have restored uprights only, with fairly straightforward actions - Aeolian, Otto Higel, Autopiano, but have more ambitious plans for a Hopkinson small grand.
I live in England, and attend a number of jazz festivals. Ragtime and New Orleans are my favourites, although I enjoy all good music, whatever the style. I have recently humped my 1922 pump-action Farrand to Upton-on-Severn and Aberystwyth festivals and entertained (or at least amused!) folk with my collection of ragtime rolls. The youngsters are fascinated by the instrument -- it has a nice tone and is as tight as a drum.
I collect rags on piano rolls (especially Joplin, Scott, Lamb), but not exclusively so. Harlem Stride (Johnson, Waller, Morton), blues and some swing also figure in my tastes.
I am really keen to get hold of two things (if they exist!):
1. Rolls of Joshua Rifkin's slower and more studied renditions of the Joplin Rags as issued on the Nonesuch label. I think that Angel records produced digital versions of these rags but were they ever cut as rolls?
2. Any rolls of Jerry Lee Lewis recordings. Has the "Killer" ever been persuaded to cut some? Is it not too late if he hasn't?!
I would also like to establish a good source for the best quality repair materials. I will browse some previous digests first, but if anyone knows of anywhere in the UK where I can get good cloth, leather, and tubing I would appreciate an E-Mail. I am aware of Laguna Rolls, the Cambridge Pianola Company, and the Piano Workshop as secondary suppliers, but I am really looking for a good original source. Of course, with a good Sterling exchange rate at the moment even importing might be worthwhile!
One to ponder for blues fans. Forgive me if you've heard this one. (literally!) "Blues for Dr. John". Let me know if you haven't - it is _sensational_.
Regards to all at MMD -
Roger Waring
roger.waring@dial.pipex.com
[ Welcome to MMD, Roger. You can surely learn about materials and their
[ sources here. We've had some discussion about the vintage rolls and
[ ragtime, but not much about contemporary (after 1940) arrangements.
[ So let's see what happens! Are you also a 'busker', carting around
[ the ol' Pianola to entertain? -- Robbie |
(Message sent Sun 9 Feb 1997, 05:08:42 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.) |
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