I'm sure many of you play your 88-note piano rolls with enough
expression to be classed as 'authentic', but not enough to be recorded!
To be a true pianolist is very difficult indeed. I know of only a few
people who can do this, and do it very well. I for one find it very
hard to pedal, use the pianola levers to bring out the important notes,
and then try and change the tempo as the roll goes along; there's so
much to remember! Not forgetting, of course, to enjoy the music.
A suggestion that helps me with authenticity is to lower the speed of
the roll, e.g., instead of Tempo 70 try 50. The piece becomes much
more enjoyable then, pedalling away to yourself. Also, it doesn't
sound as if it should be a piece of music from 'The Benny Hill Show'.
Christine Robinson
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