The Player Piano Group is 50!  The society (Patron: Sir Charles
Mackerras, President: Peter Katin) is the main UK body for promoting
the exploration of musical repertoire via the player piano and related
instruments and, in 2009, celebrates it's 50 anniversary.  This year,
being our Golden Jubilee, we've got some fine events lined up.

This weekend (Saturday 31st January) is our syncopated music and light
classics concert at St Albans Organ Theatre.  On May 2nd 2009 is our
50th AGM and Concert Day to be held at the historic Sir David Salomons
House near Tunbridge Well in Kent, England.  Members attending will be
treated in the afternoon to (amongst other things) a full length
concert on the Welte Philharmonic Organ together with the opportunity
to hear the instrument play Style 10 Welte Orchestrion music from it's
dual tracker capability.  Dinner is in the evening followed by an
exceptional full length Grand Pianola Concert featuring late-romantic
period music played by means of an original 1910 Pianola upon the grand
piano.

Featured in the programme is fine melodic repertoire by composers
Bizet, Busoni, Scharwenka, Sir Edward German and others.  Additionally
will be the opportunity to hear works composed specifically for the
genre.  The live musical performances interpreted through the medium of
the Pianola will be performed by some of the finest exponents of the
art in the UK today.  PPG members AGM Concet Day tickets are fully
inclusive off all of this but there are about 100 seats for the public
available additionally via Salomons.  Friends of the Welte Organ get
a Salomons discount.

  http://www.salomonsconferences.org.uk/images/downloads/CalEvents2009.pdf 

On May 3rd and May 4th we are performing "Dead Pianists Live".  The
concerts are a part of the annual Brighton Festival fringe and will
be held at the Ralli Memorial Hall in Hove, East Sussex.  Tickets
available via the Festival box-office or via the PPG direct.  Tickets
£15, concessions £12 (see press and box office for details) and
various other multi-buy offers.  There are two performances each day:
a matinee at 2.30pm and an evening performance at 7.30pm.  Tickets
on sale via the Festival box-office from 9th February onwards.  PPG
members will be sent details individually and receive concessionary
tickets.  Surplus funds generated will go to local good causes.

Our annual Weekend Away is in the autumn as are other events -- details
to follow!

For the umpteenth year running membership of the Player Piano Group is
still only £12 per annum.  European membership is only £12.50 and
USA/Canada and the rest of the world is remains just £15.  If you buy
3-years membership there is a discount also.  Membership includes
quarterly printed journal and roll-auction subscription and concert
ticket subsidy etc.

With the UK pound now so low against the euro and the US dollar there
has never been a better time to join -- and that's a fact!

Regards,
Adam Ramet
http://www.playerpianogroup.org.uk/