Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > July 1997 > 1997.07.02 > 04Prev  Next


Avant-garde Music Rolls in Germany
By Robbie Rhodes

Two MMDer's in Germany have created contemporary (avant-garde?) music
for standard 88-note player piano systems, and also some for
Themodist/Solodant and possibly Duo-Art.

Horst Mohr, of Kuerten (near Cologne), made many experiments with
computer-generated music, from which he selected one piece, entitled
"Elections", which Wolfgang Heisig later perforated.  Copies might still
be available from Wolfgang.

And in a city near Dresden, in the former East Germany, pianist-composer-
noteur Wolfgang Heisig is continuing his production of piano rolls
of contemporary music.  He recently published a list of 11 currently-
available offerings, including compositions by Lyonel Feininger, Jakob
Ullman, Tom Johnson, Ernst Toch, and Wolfgang Heisig.

Many of these works have been performed in concert, featuring a Hupfeld
Phonola Vorsetzer (push-up player) with Heisig "at the pedals".  For
example, Horst Mohr recalled hearing and enjoying this piece which is
offered in the list (No. 5):

  "Prestissimo for Mechanical Piano" by Jacob Ullmann.
   Synopsis:  A finely crafted, brilliant and sparkling pearl
   necklace of tones which swings over the entire piano-keyboard,
   and as imperceptibly as it arrives, again vanishes.
   Price: 63.25 DM (2 minutes, 10 seconds)

Contact:

   HEISIGROLLEN
   Wolfgang Heisig
   Grimmaer Str. 16
   D-04703 Leisnig
   GERMANY
   tel/fax: 03421-12995

I translated the announcement to English and I'll be happy to send
the complete text of his offering list via email upon request.

Robbie Rhodes
rrhodes@foxtail.com


(Message sent Thu 3 Jul 1997, 00:45:06 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  Avant-garde, Germany, Music, Rolls

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page