John Miller asked about the Stravinsky "Rite of Spring" piano rolls.
I could not lay my hands on the reference this morning but I read
somewhere that Stravinsky, with the Pleyel company, recorded or edited
or oversaw the production of piano rolls of 4-hand arrangements of
several of his early compositions.  I assume this was in the late
1910's or early 1920's.  He said something about making sure future
performers knew how he wanted his compositions played, his tempos, etc.

In the 1960's or early 1970's Artona recut the first two rolls of "Rite
of Spring."  I bought these two rolls and hoped Artona would do more of
them, but as far as I know they never did any more.  Perhaps the market
was not large enough or they did not have access to other Stravinsky
rolls.  I suspect there may be several sets of the first two rolls
around but I don't think you will find Artona recuts of the third and
fourth.

David Sharpe

 [ An article by Jean Touselet in AMICA Bulletin, Vol. 20, Nr. 7,
 [ 1983, page 187, says that fourteen compositions spanning "50 rolls
 [ exactly" were made by composer Igor Stravinsky for Pleyela of France.
 [
 [ Douglas Henderson wrote in 990526 MMDigest, "'Sonata Sauvage' was
 [ a piece designed to top Igor Stravinsky's rolls of 'Rite of Spring',
 [ and Antheil's writings reveal a competitive relationship with the
 [ Russian composer (after the two had arrived in Paris).  Stravinsky
 [ had a loft at the Pleyel piano factory at this time, and it wasn't
 [ long before Antheil also had the company perforate his own music,
 [ though very badly, as I mentioned in a previous MMD posting."
 [
 [ Douglas wrote in 991120 MMDigest, "... I have a book which details
 [ his [Stravinsky's] letters with the Pleyel roll factory during the
 [ arranging of rolls in his name."
 [
 [ One question remains, though: I cannot find evidence in the MMD
 [ Archive that "Pleyela" music rolls were perforated by Pleyel.
 [ Based on their appearance and mechanical attributes, Douglas Heffer
 [ speculates in 020208 MMDigest that "Pleyela" rolls may have been
 [ produced for Pleyel by l'EMP of France.  -- Robbie