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MMD > Archives > July 2009 > 2009.07.31 > 03Prev  Next


Piano Roll: Listening to a Birch Tree
By Terry Smythe

Many years ago a student of my local University School of Music
brought to my home a couple of piano rolls he made by overlaying blank
roll paper onto a road map, then perforating through both with a single
hole punch, following the streets and highways.  The result to my eyes
was intriguing, but offensive to my ears.  He, a student of contemporary
music, was delighted.

There are some options for Maria Elena González:

* She can convert her JPEG files into BMP, then use Anthony Robinson's
BMP2CIS utility to convert the BMP into a CIS file, from which a roll
could theoretically be made.  For this, she will need access to a real
conventional paper-roll actuated acoustic player piano.  Anthony's
utility can be downloaded from http://semitone440.co.uk/rolls/utils/ 

* If she really wants to hear a birch tree on a real acoustic piano,
she can convert the CIS file into a MIDI file that can be used to
actuate most any solenoid player piano, such as a Yamaha Disklavier.
The utilities she will need can be downloaded from my web site,
http://members.shaw.ca/terry122/software.htm 

* She can do what the student did many years ago -- overlay blank roll
paper onto birch bark and perforate through both with same single hole
punch.  Likely a hammer over a block of hardwood will be needed.  For
this, she will need access to a real conventional paper-roll actuated
acoustic player piano.

Something to think about.

Regards,
Terry Smythe
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
http://members.shaw.ca/smythe/rebirth.htm 


(Message sent Fri 31 Jul 2009, 21:44:23 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Birch, Listening, Piano, Roll, Tree

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