Hello There.  In Digest 000222 Brian Chesters listed the first ten
British made rolls, and a couple of days later Dan Wilson gave us some
interesting information on the launch of this series.

Can I ask if anyone can help with the roll no. 010, Impromptu No. 4
by Schubert and played by Arrau.  This is presumably what Brian
Chesters has taken off the label, but does it play this piece?  In
Charles Davis Smith's catalogue under Arrau it gives Impromptu Op 142
No 4 in A flat.

In the July 1932 catalogue of rolls for the Pianola and Duo-Art,
under the alphabetical list of titles, it is shown as No 4. in F minor.
Under the Interpreters list it is shown as No. 4 in A-flat.  We do have
rather a muddle !

 [ F minor and A-flat major bear the same key signature: four flats.
 [ The listener must decide if the piece is major or minor mode!  ;)
 [ -- Robbie

I have it on fairly good authority that the roll probably plays Op. 142
No. 5 in F minor (Deutsch 935).  Now when did Claudio Arrau actually
play this roll?

Dan Wilson suggests it was in 1919, but Arrau did not visit the UK
until 1922 when he was 19 years old.  (Was he a good enough pianist at
the age of 16 to cut Duo-Art Rolls for Aeolian in London?)  He had not
really commenced his professional career at that time.  Arrau made a
78 rpm record of No. 5. in F minor, on the Vocalion label in 1922, with
some Chopin on the reverse side.

Could he perhaps have made both record and roll at the same time?
Did he in fact make these recordings at all?  Could it have been
someone else?  Has someone got an answer to all this?

Alan Whytock