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 > November 1998 > 1998.11.19 > 04Prev  Next


Compatibility of Melodant & Themodist Rolls
By Julian Dyer

Bing Gibbs asked if Angelus Melodant rolls are compatible with
Aeolian's Themodist ones, saying that earlier answers hadn't been
clear.

The answer is "yes."  Angelus Melodant rolls are identical to Themodist
rolls, other than the instructions printed on them.  Clear enough?
Most (all?) 88-note Angelus rolls were made by Aeolian, so the rolls
really are identical, being cut from the same masters.  From a practi-
cal point of view, the 'snakebite' accenting system can be regarded as
part of the 88-note roll standard.  Any accented roll will work
perfectly on any piano fitted with an accenting system.

Accented rolls are much more common in Europe than America.  Virtually
every roll maker in Europe accented their rolls.  After Themodist (and
the half-dozen other Aeolian brand names) the accented rolls most
widely encountered are Hupfeld / Animatic.

Player mechanisms to use these accented rolls are very varied and
offer all sorts of controls and interpretation devices -- it's a case
of "choose your favourite."  For me it would be Aeolian first, then
Hupfeld.  Angelus controls are less well placed and less effective for
fine control of the music.  You _can_ achieve good results with them,
it just takes more work.

Julian Dyer


(Message sent Thu 19 Nov 1998, 13:10:48 GMT, from time zone GMT.)

Key Words in Subject:  Compatibility, Melodant, Rolls, Themodist

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