First, thanks to all of you who wrote me personally and in the MMD
about my trauma at the ex-Bellm collection in Sarasota.  This really
is a wonderful and caring group of people.  I printed everything and
intend to send it all down to the new owner for his disposal.  After
feeling a bit guilty for having flamed someone, I would now like to
balance my Karma by being charitable before the year is over.

I was recently surprised to read in the MMD that there is yet another
mechanical music nut here in Atlanta, one who's focus is on the roll
manufacturing side of this multi-faceted group.  I was even more
surprised to find that Tim Baxter lives right down the street from me!

A couple evenings ago Tim took the time to have me over and demonstrate
the first 4 rolls published by his Meliora Music Rolls company, all
Scott Joplin Rags, and a delightful Christmas medley for 4 hands
arranged by Leroy Anderson.  I'm no roll-music critic and won't bore
you here by analyzing each song or try tell you what I thought I did or
did not hear on these rolls.  I will tell you about Tim and a
little about his music.

Tim is a young professional (lawyer) with sense of humor.  He claims he
is no great pianist but its obvious by listening to him (or sound clips
on his web page) that he has something to say musically.  I had listened
to his web samples, but to hear everything on Tim's beautiful sounding
Kohler and Campbell upright pumper was a unexpected and pleasant
surprise.

If you are the type who is happiest when your player is sounding like
a thundering herd (music for 8 hands at Tempo 85), or if you like your
music loud and fast (maybe to help compensate for a poorly-regulated
action), or if you think the best way to play your piano is to sit
down, get a good grip and pump like crazy, well, Tim's style might be
a little tame for you.

By that I mean that Tim takes the Joplin rags and almost makes them
classical music.  The suggested tempo is slower than you might expect
for rags but the tempo varies nicely within the roll.  These pieces
are most definitely played by 2 hands and with little unneeded
embellishment.  This kind of music comes across crisp, clean and clear.
It is the type of music that mixes the relationship between the music
and the player equally.  One not overpowering the other.  It's dance
music for a machine, and it will showcase a good player (both kinds).

I might have gotten a bit cosmic there but I wanted to try to try
to express what I felt when I heard his rolls.  All of the rolls were
done with intelligence, sensitivity and restraint, and are simple and
complex at the same time, lively, without being raucous, elegant,
without being formal, and most importantly, fun.

It takes a lot of effort and probably not a little expense to produce
your own music rolls, and if there was something already available just
like it, why bother.  What I heard was not just more music for player
pianos, but a new (OK, different) look at what roll music can and maybe
should be.  Tim says that his next effort will be classical.  My bet is
that it will be worth the wait.

I am in no way affiliated with Tim Baxter or any of his enterprises and
had never met or even spoken with him (except Email) before he invited
me over to hear his rolls.  I would like to see Tim continue this
calling and wish him the best.

Oh yes, the rolls come in nice lizard embossed boxes with printed
labels and are on first rate paper punched by the Tonnesens at Custom
Music Rolls in Texas.  Also check out his web page, my choice for the
best links honorable mention:

    http://members.aol.com/meliorarol

Norman Narmore