Etude On The Roll And Beyond* Revisited
*...with more recent techniques simulating the piano roll principles ( - like live midi)

Etude On The Roll And Beyond Revisited

Arensky: Etude Op 36 No 13.  Gitta Gradova*** Sep.1927, on Duo-Art 71520. Recorded for educational and pedagogical purposes  2016, and the rec. updated Feb 22, 2019** by VViljanen (by permission) from the digitized copy of the original reproducing piano roll.
ANY KIND OF COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED.
Photo: Gitta Gradova with her colleaque and friend Vladimir Horowitz (cont'd below with a short biography***)
Gitta Gradova (1904 – April 26, 1985), also known as Gitta Cottle and Gertrude Weinstock, was an American pianist. At 19, she performed with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. She was a friend of Sergei Rachmaninoff and Vladimir Horowitz; Arturo Toscanini praised her work.
Basic info* of the original reproducing piano roll in 1927:
ETUDE, Op. 36, No. 13 in F-sharp from "Twenty-Four Morceaux"
Roll Number: 7152, 71520
Composer/Creator: Arensky
Pianist: Gradova
Roll System: Duo-Art
Country: US
Date: September, 1927
Category: classical
Original Price: $2.50
*source of the info:  from The Player Piano Group web page (by permission)
**with Grand Petrof model 275, re-configurated and setup by VV.
***SHORT BIOGRAPHY:
Gertrude Weinstock (1904 – April 26, 1985), also known as Gitta Gradova and Gitta Cottle, was an American pianist.
Gertrude Weinstock was born in Chicago, the youngest child of Joseph and Sonya Weinstock. Her parents were both Russian Jewish immigrants to the United States; Gertrude was their only American-born child. Her father, Joseph Weinstock, was a rabbi by profession; both of her parents had been actors in Yiddish theatre when young.[1] Identified as a musical talent in childhood[2] she was already performing as a soloist in Chicago before her teens.[3][4] Her teacher in Chicago from age 7 was Esther Harris Dua.[5][6] Gitta Weinstock was sent to New York at age 13, to study piano with Sergei Prokofiev.
At 19, Gertrude Weinstock (using the name Gitta Gradova) performed with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. She was a friend of Sergei Rachmaninoff and Vladimir Horowitz; Arturo Toscanini praised her work.[8] "Miss Gradova is a pianist whose own brilliancy, accuracy, and forcefulness become a transforming medium for what she plays," wrote a Chicago critic in 1931.[9] She toured in Europe in 1935, and was featured at the Chicago's outdoor Ravinia Festival in 1938 and 1941.
Although she retired from performing in 1942, she never stopped practicing daily at home; she taught piano, and played for guests and friends, according to her son. At the time of her death, she was planning for a return to the concert stage, to play Rachmaninoff's First Piano Concerto with the Chicago Symphony under James Levine.
She married a doctor, Maurice Cottle. They had two children, Thomas and Judy; both of her children earned PhDs. Judy became a cabaret singer in New York.[13] Gitta Cottle died in 1985, aged 80, in Chicago.
 Her son Thomas Cottle wrote a memoir about her, When the Music Stopped: Discovering my Mother (SUNY Press 2004). 
Several recordings of her playing, including a private 1950 recording of Gradova and Horowitz playing a Mozart piano duet, are now available online.
(From Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gertrude_Weinstock )

Arensky: Etude  Op. 36 No 13.  Gitta Gradova Sep.1927 on Duo-Art 71520

(This is another piano roll rec of this etude by Irene Scharrer, the other one, from separate recording, has been  posted here previously)
Chopin: Etude Op.25 No.11 "Winterwind" played by Irene Scharrer  on DuoArt  073. Recorded 2016 (and rec updated 30 Sep 2017) from a digitized copy of the original reproducing piano roll  by VV (by permission).
ANY KIND OF COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED.
The basic info of the original roll:
ETUDE (Winter Wind), Op. 25, No. 11 in A-minor (Lento)
Roll Number: 073, 073
Composer/Creator: Chopin
Pianist: Scharrer
Roll System: Duo-Art
Country: UK
Date: by September, 1923
Category: classical
Original Price: n/a
*Info source: The Piano Player Group web page (by permission)

Chopin: Etude "Winterwind" Op.25 No 11. Irene Scharrer in 1923 on Duo-Art  073

Alfred Cortot plays in 1920 Camille Saint-Saens: Etude En Forme De Valse on Duo-Art Piano-Roll No 6372. Recorded  Apr 26, 2017 by VViljanen (by permission) from the digitally simulated reconstructed original reproducing piano roll. 
The rec updated Feb 9, 2023 by VV.
Because of the apparent exaggeration of the roll tempo by the roll manufacturer (for weii-known commercial reasons), it has here been reduced into 0.8 of that shown as the original roll tempo, and now is about the same as can be heardd on his audio record from year 1919. 
ANY KIND OF COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED.
Info* of the original piano roll:
Photo: Alfred Cortot 1877-1962.
The basic info* of this roll:
ETUDE EN FORME DE VALSE, Op. 52, No. 6 in D-flat 
Roll Number: 6372, 6372-4
Composer/Creator: Saint-Saens
Pianist: Cortot
Roll System: Duo-Art
Country: US
Date: December, 1920
Category: classical
Original Price: $3.00 (Price after 1922)
*source: http://rolls.playerpianogroup.org.uk/ (by permission)

D

Saint-Saens: Etude en Forme de Valse. Alfred Cortot 1920 on Duo-Art 6372

Arthur Friedheim** plays Henselt Etude 'Si Oiseau J'étais'[Were I A Bird], on DuoArt 5705.
Recorded 2016 by VV (by permission)from the digitized copy of the original reproducing piano roll (Instrument here: J.Schanz 1790 with 392Hz tuning).
COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED.
The Basic Info* of the original roll:
ETUDE (Were I A Bird), Op. 2, No. 6
Roll Number: 5705, 57058
Composer/Creator: Henselt
Pianist: Friedheim
Roll System: Duo-Art
Country: US
Date: December, 1915
Category: classical
Original Price: $2.00 (Price after 1922)
*Info source: The Piano Player Group web page (by permission)
**Arthur Friedheim (Russian: Артур Фридхайм, 26 October 1859  – 19 October 1932) was a Russian-born concert pianist who was one of Franz Liszt's foremost pupils. One of Friedheim's students was Rildia Bee O'Bryan Cliburn, the mother of 20th-century piano virtuoso Van Cliburn.

Henselt: Etude 'Si Oiseau J'étais'[Were I A Bird]. Arthur Friedheim in 1915 on  Duo-Art 5705

Sergei Rachmaninoff plays his Etude Tableaux Op.39 No.4, on Ampico 69593.
Re-recorded in 2016 by VViljanen (by permission)from the digitized copy of the original reproducing piano roll with virtual Grand Bluethner Model One, tone/sound modified/designed by VV.
COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED. 
Basic info of the original piano roll:
ETUDE TABLEAUX (PICTURE STUDY) Op. 39, No. 4, B minor
Roll Number: 69593, 69593H
Composer/Creator: Rachmaninoff
Pianist: Rachmaninoff
Roll System: Ampico
Country: US
Date: February, 1929
Category: classical
Original Price: $2.00

Rachmaninoff: Etude Tableau Op. 39 No. 4, Sergei Rachmaninoff on Ampico 69593

Tomford Harris plays Lyapunov: Etude Transcendante 'Lesghinka' op.11  in 1926 on Ampico 65513.
Recorded in 2017 by VViljanen (by permission)from the digitized copy of the original reproducing piano roll - Only for educational and pedagogical use,
ANY KIND OF COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED. 
Photo; Sergei Lyapunov 1859-1924
Info* of the original piano roll:
LESGHINKA (GEORGIAN DANCE) "Etude Transcendante" Op. 11, No. 10, B minor
Roll Number: 65513, 65513H
Composer/Creator: Liapounow
Pianist: Harris
Roll System: Ampico
Country: US
Date: January, 1926
Category: classical
Original Price: $2.00
*Roll info source: fro The Piano Player Group web page (by permission)

Lyapunov: Etude Transcendante 'Lesghinka' op. 11. Tomford Harris in 1926 on Ampico 65513

Aurelio Giorni plays Henselt: Etude Op.5 No.2 (Pensez Un Peu à Moi), in 1920 on Duo-Art 6353.
Recorded Feb2017 by VViljanen (by permission)from the digitized copy of the original reproducing piano roll, with virtual Grand Bluethner Model One (tone/sound modified/re-designed by VV).
COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED.
Photo: Aurelio_Giorni 1895-1938
ETUDE, Op. 5, No. 2 (Pensez un Peu a Moi) from "Characteristic Concert Studies"
Roll Number: 6353, 63538
Composer/Creator: Henselt
Pianist: Giorni
Roll System: Duo-Art
Country: US
Date: November, 1920
Category: classical
Original Price: $2.00 (Price after 1922*Info source: The Piano Player Group web page (by permission)

Henselt: Etude Op. 5 No. 2 (Pensez Un Peu à Moi). Aurelio Giorni 1920 on Duo-Art 6353

Alfred Cortot plays Scriabin: Etude Pathetique Op. 8 No 12 in 1923 on Duo-Art 6623.
Recorded Feb 2017, and the rec updated 28 Dec 2017,  by VViljanen (by permission)from the digitized copy of the original reproducing piano roll, with virtual Grand Bluethner Model One (tone/sound modified/re-designed by VV).
COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED.
Photo: Alfred Cortot 1877-1962
Basic info* of the original piano roll:
ETUDE (Pathetic), Op. 8, No. 12 in D-sharp minor
Roll Number: 6623, 66230
Composer/Creator: Scriabin
Pianist: Cortot
Roll System: Duo-Art
Country: US
Date: May, 1923
Category: classical
Original Price: $2.50
*source: The Piano Player Group web page

Alexander Scriabin: Etude 'Pathetique' Op. 8 No 12. Alfred Cortot in 1923 on Duo-Art 6623

Mendelssohn: Etude Op.104 Bb, Harold Bauer in 1923, on Duo-Art 66140.
Re-recorded in 2017 by VViljanen (by permission)from the digitized copy of the original reproducing piano roll with virtual Grand Bluethner Model One, tone/sound modified/designed by VV.
COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED.
Photo: Harold Bauer 1873-1951 in 1899
The basic  information* of the original piano roll:
ETUDE, Op. 104 in B-flat (Book 2, No. 1)
Roll Number: 6614, 66140
Composer/Creator: Mendelssohn
Pianist: Bauer
Roll System: Duo-Art
Country: US
Date: April, 1923
Category: classical
Original Price: $2.50
*source: The Piano Player Group web page

Mendelssohn: Etude Op.104 Bb, Harold Bauer in 1923, on Duo - Art 66140

Leschetizky: Arabesque En Forme D'étude Op.43  No.1, Ethel Leginska in 1921 on Duo-Art 6388. 
Re-recorded 22Feb 2017 by VViljanen - (by permission)from the digitized copy of the original reproducing piano roll . 
ANY KIND OF COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED.
Photo: Ethel Leginska 1886-1970, was a British pianist, composer, conductor and music educator. She was a student of Theodor Leschetizky, later studying composition with Rubin Goldmark and Ernest Bloch, and conducting with Eugene Goossens, Robert Heger and Gennaro Papi. Among her students were harpsichordist Gavin Williamson, James Henry Fields, Daniel Pollack and Bruce Sutherland. She was a pioneer of women's opportunity in music performance and conducting, being the first woman to conduct many of the world's leading orchestras. (source: Wikipedia)
Basic info of the original piano roll:
ARABESQUE EN FORM D'ETUDE, Op. 45, No. 1 in A-flat
Roll Number: 6388, 6388-4
Composer/Creator: Leschetizky
Pianist: Leginska
Roll System: Duo-Art
Country: US
Date: February, 1921
Category: classical
Original Price: $3.00 (Price after 1922)

Leschetizky: Arabesque en Forme d'Étude Op.43:1. Ethel Leginska 1921 on Duo-Art 6388

Chopin: Etude Op. 25 No 5. Doris Madden Un 1910's On Artrio 8087.
Recorded 30 Mar 2017 by VViljanen (by permission)from a digitally processed copy of the original reproducing piano roll.
COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED. 
Photo: Frederic Chopin in 1849(the only known photograph of Chopin)
Doris Madden (1886-1976) was Australian-born concert pianist, and the accompanist of the legendary coloratura soprano Nellie Melba.

Chopin: Etude Op. 25 No 5. Doris Madden in 1910's on Artrio 8087

Saint-Saëns:  Etude en Forme de Valse. Frances Nash in 1922, on Ampico 60813.
Recorded  31 Mar 2017 (...and the rec updated 24 Apr 2017)  by VViljanen (by permission)from a digitally processed copy of the original reproducing piano roll.
ANY KIND OF COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED. 
Photo: Frances Nash in 1923
The Basic info* of the original piano roll:
ETUDE IN WALTZ FORM Op. 52, No. 6
Roll Number: 60813, 60813H
Composer/Creator: Saint-Saens
Pianist: Nash
Roll System: Ampico
Country: US
Date: June, 1922
Category: classical, dance, popular
Original Price: $2.00
*source: The Piano Player Group web page

Saint-Saëns:  Etude en Forme de Valse. Frances Nash in 1922, on Ampico 60813

Chopin: Etude Op 25 No 7 C#m . George Proctor In 1910's On Ampico 57816.
Virtually audio-recorded from the digitized copy of the original piano roll 3 Apr 2017 by VViljanen.
COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED.
Photo: James Proctor in ca.1910 (on the right), the housle-headed pianist and future Professor of The New England Conservatory (source: 'Cultivating Music in America: Women Patrons and Activists Since 1860')
The basic info* of the original piano roll:
ETUDE Op. 25, No. 7, C sharp minor
Roll Number: 57816, 57816H
Composer/Creator: Chopin
Pianist: Proctor
Roll System: Ampico
Country: US
Date: n/a
Category: classical
Original Price: $2.00
'source: The Piano Player Group web page

Chopin: Etude Op 25 No 7 C#m . George Proctor In 1910's On Ampico 57816

Chopin: Etude Gb Op 25 No 9 'Butterfly'. James Whittaker In 1910's On Ampico 51612. 
Audio-recorded 3 Apr 2017 by VViljanen (by permission) from digitally simulated original piano roll.
ANY KIND OF COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED. 
Photo: from Butterfly Watching Nepal
The Basic info* of the original piano roll:
ETUDE Op. 25, No. 9, G flat (Butterfly)
Roll Number: 51612, 51612D
Composer/Creator: Chopin
Pianist: Whittaker
Roll System: Ampico
Country: US
Date: n/a
Category: classical
Original Price: $1.00
*source: The Piano Player Group web page (by permission)

Chopin: Etude Gb Op 25 No 9 'Butterfly'. James Whittaker In 1910's On Ampico 51612

Rachmaninoff: Etude Tableau Op 39 No 6 Am . Sergei Rachmaninoff in 1922, on Ampico 60891.
Recorded 3 Apr, and the rec. updated 13 Dec 2017 by VViljanen (by permission)from a digitally processed copy of the original reproducing piano roll.
ANY KIND OF COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED. 
Photo: Sergei Rachmaninoff 
The Basic info* of the original piano roll:
ETUDE TABLEAUX Op. 39, No. 6
Roll Number: 60891, 60891H
Composer/Creator: Rachmaninoff
Pianist: Rachmaninoff
Roll System: Ampico
Country: US
Date: July, 1922
Category: classical
Original Price: $2.00
*source: The Piano Player Group web page

Rachmaninoff: Etude Tableau Op 39 No 6 A Minor . Sergei Rachmaninoff 1922 on Ampico 60891

Chopin: Etude Op.10 No.4 C#m. Tina Lerner in 1928 on Ampico 68543.
Recorded by VViljanen 6 Apr 2017 (by permission) from the digitized piano roll copy.
COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED.
Photo: Tina Lerner,  Russian Pianist in 1913, on the Moscow Philharmonic US Tour.
The basic info* of the original piano roll:
(1. GAVOTTE Op. 14, A flat minor Sgambati;) 
2. ETUDE Op. 10, No. 4, C sharp minor
Roll Number: 68543, 68543H
Composer/Creator: Chopin
Pianist: Lerner
Roll System: Ampico
Country: US
Date: February, 1928
Category: classical
Original Price: $2.00
*source: The Player Piano Group web page (by permission)

Chopin: Etude Op. 10 No. 4 C#m. Tina Lerner in 1928 on Ampico 68543

Scriabin: Etude in D Flat Op. 8 No.10. Nikolaj Orloff in 1927, on Ampico 67271.
Recorded 8 Apr 2017 by VViljanen (by permission)from a digitally processed copy of the original reproducing piano roll.
COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED. 
Photo: Nikolaj Orloff and Jean Sibelius
The Basic info* of the original piano roll:
ETUDE Op. 8, No. 10, D flat
Roll Number: 67271, 67271H
Composer/Creator: Scriabin
Pianist: Orloff
Roll System: Ampico
Country: US
Date: March, 1927
Category: classical
Original Price: $2.00
*source: The Piano Player Group web page

Scriabin: Etude D Flat Op. 8 No.10. Nikolaj Orloff in 1927, on Ampico 67271

Schumann: Symphonic Etudes Op. 13 Nos 8 - 12. Percy Grainger in 1925, on Duo-Art 6868.
Recorded by VViljanen 10 Apr 2017 and the rec. updated Feb 9, 2023  from by Julian Dyer digitally simulated reconstructed original piano roll Duo-Art 6868, using a modelled Blüthner Model One/'morphed' with selected properties of Petrof Mistral 284), modified, revoiced and rec.setup made by VV. Tempo of used here has been reduced into 0.97 indicated on the original roll, because of the apparent exaggeration of it by the Duo-Art roll manufacturer - very typical of  them in the roll era!
COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED.
Photo: Percy Grainger(1882, Melbourne -  1961, NewYork), Australian composer and pianist.
The basic info* of the original piano roll:
SYMPHONIC STUDIES, Op. 13, Part 1, nos 1 to 7
Roll Number: 6859, 6859-4
Composer/Creator: Schumann
Pianist: Grainger
Roll System: Duo-Art
Country: US
Date: March, 1925
Category: classical
Original Price: $3.00
*source: The Player Piano Group web page (by permission)

Schumann: Symphonic Etudes Op. 13 Nos 8 - 12. Percy Grainger 1925 on Duo-Art 6868

Schumann; Symphonic Etudes Op.13, Nos 1 - 17, Percy Grainger In 1925 , On Duo - Art 6859.
Recorded by VViljanen 8 Apr 2017 (by permission) from, by Julian Dyer simulated, reconstructed, original piano roll, using for its playback and rec. update Feb 9, 2023 a modelled Grand (Bluethner Model One & Petrof Mistral 284, mixed/'morphed'), reconfigured, revoiced and rec.settings made by VV.
The playback tempo used here has been reduced into 0.97 indicated on the original roll, because of the apparent exaggeration of it by the Duo-Art roll manufacturer - very typical of  them in the roll era!
COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED.
Photo: Percy Grainger(1882, Melbourne - 1961, NewYork), Australian composer and pianist.
The basic info* of the original piano roll:
SYMPHONIC STUDIES, Op. 13, Part 2, nos 8 to 12
Roll Number: 6868, 6868-4
Composer/Creator: Schumann
Pianist: Grainger
Roll System: Duo-Art
Country: US
Date: April, 1925
Category: classical
Original Price: $3.00
*source: The Piano Player Group web page

Schumann: Symphonic Etudes Op.13 Nos 1 - 7. Percy Grainger 1925, on Duo-Art 6859

Arensky: Etude On a Chinese Theme. Robert Braun in 1922, on Ampico 60903.
Recorded  25 May 2017, by VViljanen (by permission)from the digitized copy of the original reproducing piano roll.
ANY KIND OF COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED.
Photo: Robert Braun with his teacher, famed concert pianist Leopold Godowsky in 1922.
Basic info* of the original piano roll:
STUDY ON A CHINESE THEME Op. 25, No. 3
Roll Number: 60903, 60903H
Composer/Creator: Arensky
Pianist: Braun
Roll System: Ampico
Country: US
Date: July, 1922
Category: classical
Original Price: $2.00
*source: from The Piano Player Group web page (by permission)

Arensky: Etude On A Chinese Theme. Robert Braun 1922 on Ampico 60903

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 small LIST of MY MODEST 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.

Etude On The Roll And Beyond Revisited

Veikko Viljanen