--- forwarded message, please reply to sender and MMD ---

It has come to my attention that recent postings on the MMD have cast
some doubt on the authenticity of QRS Celebrity Series rolls.  I can
tell you categorically that every roll in the series was in fact
recorded by the artist(s) listed.  None of them were arrangements by
Brian Williams or Rudy Martin or anyone else.

There is no question that the rolls were edited, as rolls from every
manufacturer always have been, in order to make satisfactory commercial
products.  By the very nature of editing it is impossible for an editor
not to leave his mark, and it isn't hard to identify the work of a
particular editor if you are familiar with it; but editing is not
arranging.

I regret that my words were used for purposes not intended:  When I
made reference to William Bolcom's signed contract, I did so for no
other reason than to refute the odd suggestion that when he played here
he had been unaware he was recording, implying we had issued the Bolcom
rolls without his knowledge or consent.

Thank you for the opportunity to set the record straight.

Sincerely yours,

Robert J. Berkman, Chief Operating Officer
QRS Music, Inc.

 [ Editor's note:
 [
 [ And thank you for writing, Bob.  There is much interest in this
 [ subject, as you know.  Many fans of the piano have a fascination
 [ for the music roll, to the extent that they don't want to believe
 [ that lots of editing is necessary to make a finished product.
 [ The _reaction_ to these beliefs is almost equally obsessive.  In
 [ any event, a lot of discussion has been published in the MMD forum
 [ which is hard to find at social meetings or in the society journals,
 [ and I hope that our readers aren't confused or dismayed by it all.
 [
 [ Best wishes from MMD for the continuing success of QRS Music Inc.
 [
 [ Robbie & Jody