I feel I have to defend the much misunderstood Aeolian Organ Guild
Duo-Art Rolls in the light of recent comments.

Most people reading this may be unaware that Aeolian had a system
called "Duo-Art" for their player organs as well as the much better
known "Duo-Art" piano system.  They were _totally_ different systems,
however.

Some of the earliest organ rolls were said to be interpreted by "The
Aeolian Organ Guild" and many people think these were just "graph paper
type" rolls with registration added.  A brief thought should indicate
that this would not work!  There must be some dynamics added, too,
otherwise the results would be completely un-musical.  Unfortunately,
all too often these rolls are condemned as if that is what they were.

Now, whereas I do not _know_ how they were recorded, it seems to me
highly likely that they were recordings of 116-note rolls _played by
competent operators_ at the recording organ.  This organ (or indeed
organs) is shown in several pictures, and the console has a 116-note
roll player so what I am proposing would be no difficulty at all.

So let's be clear.  I think when the Duo-Art roll says "Interpreted
by the AOG" what you hear when you play it is a _performance_ of a
116-note roll played artistically with tempo changes, rubato, etc.
(dynamics) and stop changes (registration) done automatically by the
176-note Duo-Art roll.

How should we regard such rolls?  Opinion is divided, but if the music
is playable by hand and foot, then many people would prefer the efforts
of a human performer understandably, but just as a well played pianola
will sound just like a pianist, the same will obtain for the well
performed organ roll.

When, however, the music is _not_ playable by a person, then the AOG
rolls are the only alternative.  Things like orchestral transcriptions
come into this category.  And they sound good!  So, whereas we may not
_like_ the interpretation by the AOG, let us understand it for what it
was.

Paul Morris