Hi Robbie and all. Mention of the "Scherzo Waltz" by Ilgenfritz
prompts me to point to an interesting comparison. The transcription
on the late John Roache's web site is from an Ampico B roll published
in August 1929. However, Ilgenfritz recorded the same piece for the
Duo-Art in August 1914. The Duo-Art recording, being one of the
dreaded "first 100" leaves much to be desired, as does my emulation
of the expression.
Despite such problems, it's still possible to hear a very obvious
difference in musical styles. The 1914 Duo-Art performance clearly
belongs in an Edwardian drawing room whereas the Ampico version,
produced a mere fifteen years later, would be at home in a stylish
cocktail bar. Comparison of the two performances provides a good
indication of the great changes, both technical and musical, which
took place during the player piano "heyday" years.
A MIDI file of the Duo-Art transcription has been sent to
<editor_0505@foxtail.com>. I claim no rights to it and it's probably
out of copyright; do as you wish with it. If you wish to add the
Ampico version alongside, that's okay by me, but this might be a
different matter as far as the rights are concerned.
Richard Stibbons
[ Thanks for sharing your work, Richard. I'll place the Duo-Art
[ version at the MMD Sounds site with a link also to the Ampico
[ transcription at the John Roache web site; watch at
[ http://mmd.foxtail.com/Sounds/
[ -- Robbie
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