In the last Digest Douglas Henderson wrote:

> Bob [Berkman] never negated my allegations that one can tell which
> rolls in the [QRS] Celebrity Series were 'arranged' by Brian
> Williams and later on by Rudy Martin [from the marked material that
> came from the 'recording' piano], but he did write:  "We have the
> signed contracts with Mr. Bolcom, from 1975..." -- translation:
> (Well, you can figure out the gist of this for yourself).

I don't doubt your points Doug, but consider this point before you
think that QRS had been fooling us for years.  QRS has contracted many
great pianists throughout the years, and I would say that not one of
them knows the first thing about roll arranging.  I doubt that they
would be the least interested in overseeing the process of their
recording!

While I was at QRS I saw a master that the recording piano made.  It
was very rough and not very presentable, and I doubt that it would play
very well in that form.  It made me feel much better though, knowing
that I was not the only one that slogged the notes when I played.

QRS has to take the rough master and transform it into something that
is presentable and will sell.  To do this is the editor's job;  I don't
know their procedures exactly, but I do know such a master needs
almost every note redone.  It is much more work than arranging from
sheet music.  That would most likely explain why these rolls are a
little more expensive than the average QRS roll (plus they have to pay
the artist for recording the master).

Anyone can play a piano in real time and It will sound perfect to the
ear.  But when you actually record the piece, the machine (mechanical,
or MIDI-type recording) quickly points out flaws in timing that cannot
be heard by the naked ear.  So the piece will need major editing.  The
result will be somewhat altered to make it into a sellable product.
The original pianist's notation is still there, but it will sound
different.

Regular player pianos are not capable of half pedaling, nor shading
music.  The only way to get any rubato effect I have found is to
advance the melody line by two perforations (or retard the
counter-melody).

A renowned pianist is rather a strange creature anyway.  I have met
enough of them to know that they don't take well to criticism.  But I
have yet to see anyone sit down and "play in" a perfect  roll.  These
guys at QRS have to recoup their investment in a project like that.

Best Regards

Andy & Chris Taylor
Tempola Music Rolls
http://www.bootheel.net/~tempola/