As I announced previously, we are having a centennial celebration
for our Aeolian pipe organ.  The three day event is planned to
separate the attendees into different groups of varying music taste
and sophistication.  For the musically astute, the presentation will
both highlight the instrument as well as the virtuoso performances
available on the Duo-Art organ rolls.  For those who are just curious,
the program is less intense.

My dilemma has become what should be included in the comprehensive
virtuoso performances program for the musically sophisticated.  The
big names like Eddy, Courboin and Dupre are no problem.  But I am
trying to include the first movement of the Beethoven Violin Sonata
Op. 47, "Kreutzer", as "interpreted by" Harry Rowe Shelley.  There
is some question whether Shelley actually played the roll or arranged
it.

Shelley's activities at Aeolian include both of those talents.  As
a student of Dvorak, his arrangement of the New World Symphony is
superb.  But he was an organist of known merit, too.  The roll, 3566,
is absolutely hot.  It gets all the way through this toe-tapping
movement in just a little over ten minutes.

At the end, the chromatic octave runs of the piano part are just
a little unbelievable, and I have adjusted the tempo just a bit...
Earlier in the composition, roll displays complex and different parts
representing the violin and piano, but played on two organ manuals.
Could Shelley actually do this?

My feeling is that I cannot in good faith represent this performance
as being hand played.  But at the same time, the artistry within the
roll, and the wonderful transcription, are not to be taken lightly.
Isn't this a virtuoso performance of mechanical music?

What comments do you have?

(Only the first two movements made it into the Duo-Art library.  The
second movement is certainly hand played as it states that on the roll.)

Bob Taylor
Missouri

 [ Found at http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/40851331/ 
 [ The Indianapolis News, Wednesday, November 16, 1904
 [
 [  "Harry Rowe Shelley, the distinguished composer and organist ...
 [  To illustrate his talk Mr. Shelley will play on the organ themes
 [  of the compositions of M. Ysaye's program, the principal feature
 [  of which will be Beethoven's "Kreutzer" sonata and Bruch's
 [  D minor concerto."
 [
 [ -- Robbie