Hello all,  I'm a musicologist (presently a Fellow at the Newberry
Library) working on popular music in the USA during World War One.
I'm writing a book, and there is a website under way, built in
conjunction with the University of Illinois and the Newberry Library.
I'm starting primarily with sheet music but using recordings and --
crucially! -- piano rolls from the period to determine how the music
actually sounded at the time, which is often different from what
appears on the page.

I'm not a collector, and rolls themselves can't help me (other than
through the labels and other written information), but MIDI versions
(or recordings) made from rolls are very important to me.  I'm aware of
(and use) the resources at IAMMP, trachtman.org, and arcade-museum.com;
but these barely scratch the surface.  So my request is for assistance
with (a) finding recordings (MIDI or instrumental) made from war-related
piano rolls during 1914-1919; and (b) rollographic and company histories
that will help me untangle the firms, the players, and the chronology.
If any of you have anything of interest, please be in touch (you can
use my academic email [below] if you wish).

In particular at this time I'm searching for recordings of piano rolls
made of the song "America, I Love You" in 1915-16.  There were at least
a dozen made, by my count.  I especially need to hear the five earliest,
released in November 1915 on Rythmodik, Artempo, Perfection, Connorized,
and QRS.

Very many thanks for what you all do and for any help you can offer.

Best wishes,

Bill Brooks
University of Illinois
w-brooks@illinois.edu.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]