The world's finest player pianos, or "reproducing pianos," were manufactured by Welte-Mignon from 1904 to 1932. More than merely copying the notes played, these complex instruments also captured a performer's dynamics, tempi, and pedaling all encoded in ink on paper rolls that were then punched and prepared as masters for copying. Whether the reproduction accurately conveys the subtleties of the original performances is open to some speculation, since both the rolls and the pianos have suffered from time and lost trade ...
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The world's finest player pianos, or "reproducing pianos," were manufactured by Welte-Mignon from 1904 to 1932. More than merely copying the notes played, these complex instruments also captured a performer's dynamics, tempi, and pedaling all encoded in ink on paper rolls that were then punched and prepared as masters for copying. Whether the reproduction accurately conveys the subtleties of the original performances is open to some speculation, since both the rolls and the pianos have suffered from time and lost trade secrets. But at the time of their sessions, the performers gave testimonials to Welte-Mignon's accuracy, and these digital recordings of the rolls give the listener a clear idea of how well they sounded. The flashy playing of Paderewski, Lhevinne, Petri, and a young Horowitz are represented, and the sound is stunningly lifelike. The standout track may well be Walter Gieseking's breathtaking rendition of Ravel's Gaspard de la nuit since its delicate lines and sweeping runs exceed...
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