I want to supply a bit of information that some may have overlooked:
the entire known listing of the AudioGraphic rolls, both domestic
and British, concludes the complete Duo-Art numerical recounting at
<www.rprf.org> the URL for the Reproducing Piano Roll Foundation.
While acknowledging the value of some of the detail of the various
submissions in recent MMD dailies, notably Julian Dyer's complete
explanation of the "ins and outs" of the U.K. issues, I feel, as
ever has been the case, that it is the _playing_ that is of primary
importance.
Before the transfer to IPAM (International Piano Archive at Maryland)
in 1977, the Duo-Art rolls, including many AudioGraphics were part of
my personal collection. Outstanding among them was the complete 6-roll
set of Stravinsky's "Firebird." This set, plus several dozen others,
sits unused and ignored on the shelves of the archive, with no plans,
to my knowledge to make any use of them. Efforts to get IPAM to lend
rolls, so that scanning could preserve them, have been unsuccessful,
as their attitude toward the collection is that, like the thousands
of other discs, tapes et al., they are to be "preserved" there, but
knowledge of their gradual disintegration doesn't seem to have affected
their policy.
That aside, let me urge any of you who have acquired a roll not listed
(as has been mentioned in the MMD) to provide me with detail: number,
composer, title of the piece, and performer. This would be much
appreciated. You will find the unidentified numbers at the conclusion
of the listings. The site has been restored, minus the Busoni tribute
(which will follow shortly) and all are welcome to make whatever use of
it is desired.
Albert M. Petrak, Founder
The Reproducing Piano Roll Foundation
http://www.rprf.org/
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