Hello MMD readers,  Be sure to visit our updated web page for
information about the July 4 'extra' presentation, featuring our
1929 Story & Clark 'Reprotone' player:
http://www.wiscasset.net/artcraft/pianolas.htm

Robin Pratt played one of his Artists' Choice Rolls, a reissue, on the
telephone, and this so excited me that he rushed it to Maine for the
purpose of adding it to a 'Fourth of July' program.  When the recut of
this rare 1917 roll arrived, originally issued by the Arto Co. in New
Jersey, I tried it on the Studio's Steinway & Sons AR, and found it
overwhelming, to say the least!

The roll is a Moses-Tobani composition, possibly arranged for the
full scale of the player, by Oliver Schaff (who composed for and was
associated with the Standard Music Roll Co.)  From the style of the
arrangement, it's possible that this particular roll began life as an
Electra release, since this bears little musical resemblance to their
later Arto Rolls on slightly better (but poor quality) paper stock.
(Fans of this Orange, New Jersey, company's rolls should consult this
illustrated Web page by Frank Himpsl:
http://mmd.foxtail.com/MMMedia/std.html )

The Arto #76304 roll reissue is entitled "An American Battle Scene",
and it comes on like a steam engine, and then some, outdoing any of
those 'wartime' "program" rolls heard previously.  (That's something,
after being in this field for over 50 years, to find something new in
the "School of Dramatic Agitato Music Composition"!)

The roll starts innocently enough with a shushy (dare I say "hammy")
rendition of "Scenes That Are Brightest" from the now-forgotten 1845
opera, "Maritana" by William Wallace.  (Fans of cylinder musical boxes
and or orguinettes will instantly recognize this former 'hit', since
many instruments from the 19th Century perform arias from that opera.)

These are 16 sections to the large roll: Peace; Factories of the North;
Cotton Fields; Rumors of War; Drum and Fife strains; Boarding the
Train; Army of the Blue; Army of the Gray; Thoughts of "Home, Sweet
Home"; Reveille and General Alarm; The Battle; Grand Cavalry Charge;
Patriotic Airs, spurring the Armies On; Victory; Peace Proclaimed;
General Rejoicing with "The Star Spangled Banner".

My guess is that this Arto release was a poor seller, due to the
subject being somewhat passe, since the Spanish-American War had taken
place and, now, The Great War (W.W. I) was in progress.

When I auditioned this roll yesterday at Searsport Shores, a number
of people came into their recreation hall to experience the musical
delirium.  The finale, with a "Star Spangled Banner" buried under a
phalanx of flying piano ornamentations, has to be heard to be believed!
This roll features the full scale to the fullest, and the high speed
tremolo, when employed, overpowers any listener.  Needless to say, this
test, for the 'extra' player roll presentation on the 4th of July,
went over very well.

"An American Battle Scene" can be ordered from Robin Pratt at this
Internet address, using the e-mail, telephone or PO mail information at
the bottom of the page: http://www.wiscasset.net/artcraft/pratt.htm

Supposedly, the lavish fireworks show (an annual event at the Penobscot
Bay resort) will begin as the player completes the frenzied version of
our National Anthem.

Regards,
Douglas Henderson - Artcraft Music Rolls
Wiscasset, ME 04578 USA
http://www.wiscasset.net/artcraft/