In the 060402 MMDigest I announced finding four Duo-Art organ rolls
that are not in any known catalogs. I have made MIDI files of these
four rolls and in so doing have become aware that one roll is quite
different.  That roll is 3531 Finlandia (Sibelius).

Since the roll and box carry a modified Aeolian-Skinner label, the
type used for the Aeolian Hammond electric organ, it is assumed that
the roll was issued around 1938 or 1939.  No artist is named.  It
appears as if the same composition is available as roll 236 on the
Hammond organ.

My work in converting over 500 organ rolls to MIDI has given me a keen
eye in observing the Duo-Art format.   I have concluded that roll 3531
was never a finished project.  The roll is clearly a hand-played roll.
It comes from the sequence of numbers used for the rolls recorded by
Archer Gibson.  It does not sound like Archer Gibson, though.

Evidence of incomplete editing is in three areas.  The first area
I noticed was that some stop changes seem to be out of time with the
music.  Second, I noticed what I thought were late stop changes
turning on the trumpets, but in reality, were the complete absence of
notes for the trumpets.  Third, the pedal notes don't sound in some
very noticeable places.  Close examination reveals that the pedal line
is present, but the "2nd octave" feature is not used to sound the notes
above CC.  In another area, the pedal line is dropped from the lower
row of holes and placed in the upper row, and the code to make that
switch is not present in the roll (hole 176, pedal to upper).

Within my MIDI file of this roll, I have made the changes that I think
are needed.  The roll is impressive and is a very interesting performance
of this well loved melody known to many as "Be Still My Soul".

I don't think the facts about roll 3531 will ever be known.  I do
believe that when it was released, the skilled editors at Aeolian had
gone elsewhere.  A picture of the roll box is on my web site.

Bob Taylor
http://members.socket.net/~rtaylor/aeolian_pipe_organ.html