such a pleasure to listen to this great piece, thank you Veikko and my warmest wishes for the New Year...

Updates of the piano roll recs and beyond - from the recent few days, just prior the beginning of 2019, and after....

"Archive Updates Jan 1, 2019-2025" - A New Year's Concert

Brodmann PE-187 grand piano. AKGPerception mics. Pro Tools recording.

Chopin Mazurka Fm op63no2

Chopin: Etude op25no12 "Ocean"

gym class heroes & ryan tedder | the fighter

miley cyrus | can't be tamed

Love song written by Joe Brooks and first released by Kasey Cisyk 1977 on single "You Light Up My Life". Re-scored, virtually re-rendered, and recorded by VV Apr2016 with aBluethner modeled grand, revoiced %reconfigured, and the rec.setup made by VV, from a  sequence (for a jazz band) of an anonymous renderer. Photo by VV 2015.

You Light Up My Life

While Bach was the end-all-be-all of the Baroque period, Chopin was the golden boy of the Romantic era. Just like the early Romantics rejected the cool objectivity of their predecessors, Chopin's music was all about expressing the self in all its various forms. In exploring new harmonic realms and tonal relationships, he had to come up with new forms to contain his highly individual creative messages. This resulted in his "character pieces" or piano miniatures - the shortest of which weighs in at just 16 measly measures. His Nocturnes, 19 in all, are particularly soulful and expressive, making them some of Chopin's most intimate pieces. Interestingly, Chopin has been wrongly credited with creating the genre of the romantic night piece. In fact, that honor goes to John Field, who composed 17 Nocturnes, the first three of which appeared when Chopin was just four years old. But don't let that take away from Chopin's supreme talent in the Nocturne genre. In short, Chopin was a true master of the Nocturne and his contributions to the genre will never be forgotten. Or at least until the next guy comes along and claims he invented it.

The Dublin-born Field was a pianist of wide acclaim throughout Europe. He was a student of Muzio Clementi and even worked in his piano shop. Field composed a ton of music, including eight piano concertos and 17 Nocturnes, the first three of which appeared in 1814 - when Chopin was just four years old. Most authors of books on Chopin try to downplay the influence of the Irish composer on the Polish master. Field may have invented the genre, but it was Chopin who really took it to the next level. You could say that Chopin took the essentials of the Nocturne and intensified them a thousandfold - like adding extra hot sauce to your already spicy burrito.

Even if you believe that Field invented the genre of the Nocturne, there's no denying that Chopin was a supreme practitioner in the field (pun intended). His piano style fully exploited the singing quality of the instrument and created a whole world of sonorities. He also used the sustaining pedal to amplify the piece's distinctive sonority, and his use of rubato contributed to the poetic ambiance. On a musical level, Chopin introduced the element of chromaticism into his harmonic structure, which influenced virtually all composers who came after him. Chopin's 19 Nocturnes are a real mixed bag - some are dreamy, some are tear-jerkers, and some are just plain stoic. The E-major Nocturne on this program is the 18th and final one that Chopin published in his lifetime (he did leave us with one more, but that was published posthumously). It's a real crowd-pleaser - it's got a nice, flowing melody and some fancy filigree, all held together by some sturdy chordal accompaniment. But don't worry, things don't stay calm for long - the left hand starts moving like crazy, and we get a new melody to go along with it. Then things get really interesting - we've got some syncopated, agitated music that really raises the tension. But don't worry, the main theme comes back to calm things down. And just when you think it's over, Chopin pulls out a little two-measure epilogue that some people might find a little unnecessary. But hey, who are we to question the master?

This is a live recording from Auer Hall at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music of one of Frederic Chopin's last works, the Nocturne in E major, op. 62, no. 2. 
[please share and comment]

My SoundCloud Channel: https://soundcloud.com/archie-chen
Official Website: http://www.archiechen.com
Youtube DIPF https://www.youtube.com/c/PianofestivalIe
Youtube Archie https://www.youtube.com/c/ArchieChenPianist
Festival Website: http://www.pianofestival.ie
Teaching Website: http://www.pianoacademy.ie

Piano: New York Steinway & Sons Model D

Frederic Chopin Nocturne in E major, op. 62, no. 2

https://www.aleksandramikulska.com​

https://bio.to/aleksandra​

European Melodies

Glanes de Woronince: Complainte (Dumka)

Liszt - Glanes de Woronince – Complainte (Dumka) (Live)

GabrielMarie: Causerie (Conversation), Pauline Haggard 1925 on Duo-Art 6840.
Recorded by VViljanen (by permission) from playback of the digitally simulated reconstructed  original reproducing piano roll. The rec updated Feb 6, 2023 by VV using a modelled Blüthner grand modified and revoiced by VV.
ANY KIND OF COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED.
Photo: Gabriel Marie (1852-1928). Jean Gabriel Prosper Marie (8 January 1852, Paris – 29 August 1928, Puigcerdà, Girona, Spain) was a French romantic composer and conductor.
The basic info of the original piano roll:
CONVERSATION (Salon Piece)
Roll Number: 6840, 68407
Composer/Creator: Marie
Pianist: Haggard
Roll System: Duo-Art
Country: US
Date: February, 1925
Category: popular, salon
Original Price: $1.75
(Source of the roll info: The Piano Player Group web page)

Gabriel Marie: Causerie (Conversation).  Pauline Haggard 1925 on Duo-Art 6840

Vals que Frederic Chopin dedicara a Maria Wodzińska

Valse de l'adieu

Soyoung Choe performs excerpts from Debussy's Preludes, Book 1. Recorded live during the Marion Rubin Berman ’31 Piano Honors Concert April 12, 2012 in NEC's Jordan Hall in Boston.

Debussy: Préludes, Book 1- La fille aux cheveux de lin

Herman Hupfeld: As Time Goes By. Victor Arden 1932 on Ampico 213801.
Recorded from digitized original reproducing piano roll by VViljanen Dec 29, 2018
ANY KIND OF COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED.
Photo: As Time Goes By sheet music cover from 1942 (this song was used in the movie Casablanca)
Basic info* of the original piano roll:
AS TIME GOES BY Fox-Trot
Roll Number: 213801, 213801
Composer/Creator: Hupfeld
Pianist: Arden
Roll System: Ampico
Country: US
Date: January, 1932
Category: dance, popular, salon, song
Original Price: n/a
Notes: With word
*Info source: The Piano Player Group web page (by permission)

Hupfeld: As Time Goes By. Victor Arden 1932 on Ampico 213801

herman Hupfeld: Sing Something Simple. Harry Shipman** 1930 on Ampico 213051.
Recorded from digitized original reproducing piano roll by VViljanen Dec 29, 2018. Updated with lyrics*** Feb22, 2019.
ANY KIND OF COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED.
Photo: Sing Something Simple sheet music cover (Paris 1930)
Basic info* of the original piano roll:
SING SOMETHING SIMPLE "The Little Show" Fox-Trot
Roll Number: 213051, 213051
Composer/Creator: Hupfeld
Pianist: Shipman
Roll System: Ampico
Country: US
Date: November, 1930
Category: dance, popular, salon, song
Original Price: n/a
Notes: With words
*Info source: The Piano Player Group web page (by permission)
**Harry Shipman was pseudonym of several well-known pianists playing on the piano rolls  in the 1920's - 30's :
Adam Carroll
Angelico Valerio
Edgar Fairchild (Milton Suskind)
Herbert Clair
***LYRICS:
SING SOMETHING SIMPLE
from 1930 New York review "The Second Little Show"
(Herman Hupfield 1930)
as recorded by Maxine Sullivan
August 22nd 1939 New York

Sing something simple,
A little ditty that's sweet and simple;
You'll get the swing of it soon,
For here's a tune
That any child can sing.

"D" stands for dimple,
The words are silly, the song is simple,
And after hearing it once,
The dumbest dunce
Can memorise the thing.

Do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-ti-do, you can't go wrong;
All say it's bound to sound like some other song!

But lord knows, it's simple,
So get together and let's be simple!
I don't know whether or not you knew
They called it "classic I love you!".

Sing something simple,
It doesn't make any sense, it's simple.
It says a man in the moon
Will marry soon,
George Washington is here!

"D" stands for dimple,
Without the "s" we could not be simple.
I know a fellow who threads a needle now
Without a piece of thread!

Do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-ti-do, you can't go wrong;
Do-ti-la-sol-fa-mi-re-do, a silly song!

But lord knows, it's simple,
So let's get together and let's be simple!
And when you've finished that song,
You're through, that's why
They call it "I love you!".
(Transcribed by Peter Akers - December 2013)

Hupfeld: Sing Something Simple. Harry Shipman** 1930 on Ampico 213051

Johann Strauss Jr: Artist's Life Waltzes Op.136. Ernö Rapée 1921 on Duo-Art 6447.
Recorded from digitally simulated reconstructed original reproducing piano roll Dec 31, 2018 and the rec.  updated Jan 14, 2023 by VViljanen, using on its replay and recording a modelled year 1896 Bechstein grand, reconfigured, revoiced and setup by VV
ANY KIND OF COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED.
Photo: Ernö Rapee (1891 -1945)  was Hungarian-born American symphonic conductor in the first half of the 20th Century whose prolific career spanned both classical and popular music. His most famous tenure was as the head conductor of the Radio City Symphony Orchestra, the resident orchestra of the Radio City Music Hall, whose music was also heard by millions over the air.
A virtuoso pianist, Rapée is also remembered for popular songs that he wrote in the late 1920s as photoplay music for silent films. When not conducting live orchestras, he supervised film scores for sound pictures, compiling a substantial list of films on which he worked as composer, arranger or musical director.
Basic Info* of the original piano roll:
ARTIST'S LIFE (Kunstler Leben), Waltz, Op. 136
Roll Number: 6447, 6447
Composer/Creator: Strauss
Pianist: Rapee
Roll System: Duo-Art
Country: US
Date: June, 1921
Category: classical, dance, popular
Original Price: $2.50 (Price after 1922)
'Info source: The Piano Player Group web page (by permission)

Artist Life Waltzes op.136

Johann Strauss Jr: Artist's Life Waltzes Op.136. Ernö Rapée 1921 on Duo-Art 6447

Kahn & Warren: Where The Shy Little Violets Grow. Pauline Alpert 1929 on Duo-Art 0616.
Recorded from digitized original reproducing piano roll Jan 2, 2018 by VViljanen.
ANY KIND OF COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED.
Photo: Where Shy Little Violets Grow sheet music cover, 1928
Basic info* of the original piano roll:
WHERE THE SHY LITTLE VIOLETS GROW (Fox-Trot Song)
Roll Number: 0616, 0616
Composer/Creator: Kahn, Warren
Pianist: Alpert
Roll System: Duo-Art
Country: US
Date: February, 1929
Category: dance, popular, song
Original Price: $1.25 (Avg price (between $0.65 and $2.00))
Notes: With words
*Info source: The Piano Player Group web page (by permission)

Kahn & Warren: Where The Shy Little Violets Grow. Pauline Alpert 1929 on Duo-Art 0616

Arranged by Phil Snyder. Recorded live in Greenville, SC, October 23, 2012.

Anitra's Dance by Edvard Grieg

David Loebel conducts the NEC Philharmonia in a live concert performance of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37, featuring NEC Concerto Competition winner, Ji Yong Kim. The concerto is generally thought to have been composed in 1800, although it didn't receive it's first performance until 5 April 1803, with Beethoven himself as soloist. The composition is in three movements, and is dedicated to Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia.

Beethoven - Piano Concerto No. 3 In C Minor, Op. 37 I. Allegro Con Brio

My warmest thanks to everyone stopping by for listening to my  'REVIEW   OF THE PAST TIME PIANISTS' INTERPRETATIONS ON THE HISTORICAL PIANO ROLLS, and also to a minor LIST of MY MY OWN RENDITIONS, all of the latter representing a variety of piano music & some pipe-organ classics, - and  TO THE Growing LISTS OF (just lately done and reproduced)  TRANSCRIPTIONS OF VARIOUS CHAMBER MUSIC CLASSICAL PEARLS FOR TWO PIANOS.
A HEADSET IS RECOMMENDED for optimal sound experience!
This kind of 'touching' on these old pre-sound-rec. era works by the great performers of the past, and giving my sound to these old 'punch rolls',  makes me feel  deep humbleness, .and I wish that this modest attempt to bring these  performances alive will satisfy you listening to them!
To introduce myself...
I am a Finnish M.D., PhD. and Hand Surgeon (now retired), previously when young with 10 years of professionally orientated piano studies at Turku Conservatory in 1965-1975, partly  along with medical University studies. 
The digital sound techniques have become very familiar to me already from 1980's along with my university research work  
and my musical activities.
As continuation to my musical and professional experience, I have, during the last few years of my retirement, adopted a music historical challenge
to bring the past time major and minor pianists, prior to sound-recording era, onto the same 'start line' with the present pianists, by making their presentations, played onto 'punch rolls' i.e. piano rolls, audible with modern digital techniques. This wouldn't be possible without the pioneering  efforts of Richard Stibbons, Wayne Stahnke, Terry Smythe, Warren Trachtman, Spencer Chase, and others, who developed the optical digitizing techniques of the piano rolls, and digitized them.

The main part of my recordings here in SC consists of selection recorded by me from optically digitized piano-rolls** (from 1910's on or earlier, classical and 'vintage era'). These recordings of mine are not and will not be commercially unavailable. - The rolls were first optically scanned and converted into a digital form by diverse operators** (see also to the info of each piece). The pieces here were partly (minor part) picked from various open net sources, publicly available, but mainly from the huge archive (n=ca.5000) of digitized copies copies of the original reproducing piano rolls, made available to me by one of the pioneers of roll digitizing tehchniques (willing to keep anonymous), and then recorded from this archive mainly with virtual grand piano (called by me 'Bluethner Model One') modified/re-designed by me, as well as the rec settings. 
Also a minor selection of my own renditions among my records can be found here, included on my playlist 'Bach Goes Virtual', the name of the list telling something about the techniques used for getting the end result... The list includes various organ works by J.S.Bach and others, and also a few piano renditions of mine. Then there are included also various pieces which have been in my repertoire, but here played mainly by the  'guest' great players of the past (before the sound recording era).
MY MOST HUMBLE THANKS TO THE NOBLE DONOR  OF THIS INVALUABLE PIANO ROLL MATERIAL FOR MY USE!!!
My Sincere Thanks also to The Player Piano Group, UK, for providing me their permission to use the information about the piano rolls collected and provided on their web page ( https://rolls.playerpianogroup.org.uk ),  and for simplifying my short historical presentations of these renditions on their re-publication here!
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, MY MOST HUMBLE THANKS TO EVERYONE  OF YOU FOR LISTENING, AND FOR YOUR 'LIKES' & COMMENTS !
YOUR LISTENING & FEEDBACK IS TRULY APPRECIATED..!!.
Use of good headphones or speakers will make your music experience more enjoyable!
Best wishes, all the best
Veikko
These recordings are not commercially available, and ANY KIND OF THEIR COMMERCIAL USE IS PROHIBITED.

Johann Strauss Jr: Artist's Life Waltzes Op.136. Ernö Rapée 1921 on Duo-Art 6447

Veikko Viljanen

Recent comments

Liz Dicker

Heidi-Marie Arapa

Related tracks