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 > September 2003 > 2003.09.20 > 04Prev  Next


Ampico 30000 and 40000 Series Rolls
By Bill Flynt

Robbie,  I'm given more credit than I deserve in the "List of
30000 and 40000 Series Ampico Rolls published in the 1970s" at
http://mmd.foxtail.com/MMMedia/Amp3&40000.html

Most of the rolls that came from me were drafting board creations.
You listed such things as "prepared by...", which is on some of the
early labels, I believe.  In particular, the following were drafted,
one slice at a time:

  Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (Rachmaninoff)
  Slaughter on 10th Avenue (Rodgers)
  Go Away, Little Girl
  That's All (C'est tout)

The others (i.e., simpler ones) were actually hand-played by me when
I had my crude recording piano set up in my workshop.  Also, I believe
I put the Ampico coding on "It's Impossible" (QRS), so it should show
me as "editor".

Ironically, "The Entertainer" was hand-played by me, in spite of the
multitude of existing rolls of that tune.  This was in the era of "The
Sting" movie, and people were beginning to realize that ragtime was not
a speed contest, and that the tempo was not to be unvaryingly metric
throughout.  As I recall, I had some requests to make "The Entertainer"
roll in a new hand-played version.

My hand-played rolls required copious amounts of editing, because of
the "brushed keys" phenomenon (contacts only under the keys).  But the
tempo variations were indeed accurate representations of my playing at
that time; not that I'm a Joplin expert, but at least it had that
realistic, hand-played sound.

I still have many of the hand-cut drafting board roll originals,
including the Mancini medley (Moon River, Dear Heart, and Days of Wine
and Roses), but I don't know what number was assigned.

I'll keep you updated if any more info surfaces.  Thanks for your
interest.

Bill Flynt
Dallas, Texas

 [ Thanks for the information, Bill; I'll amend your 'arranged' rolls
 [ to say "prepared by".  In the tradition of the 1920s piano rolls,
 [ unless otherwise indicated, the performance is assumed 'hand-played'.
 [ -- Robbie


(Message sent Sun 21 Sep 2003, 00:50:37 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  30000, 40000, Ampico, Rolls, Series

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