Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > June 2012 > 2012.06.01 > 03Prev  Next


Piano Roll Arrangements vs. Transcriptions
By Julian Dyer

"Transcription" is from the Latin for "writing across", so exactly as
folks have said it's a basically unaltered, but 'ported', version of
the original.  On the other hand, an "arrangement" takes more liberties,
matching its meaning of "(re-)organising" something.

Regarding the question about how rolls were created, have a look at the
page on my web site which considers how Aeolian recorded hand-played
performances -- which started around 1910 -- or transcribed sheet music
directly into the roll:

  http://www.pianorolls.co.uk/Duo-Art%20recording%20process.html 

Aeolian were almost certainly the only reproducing roll manufacturer
that tried to create a playable roll in real time; this included
perforating both the notes and the expression coding.  "Tried" is the
operative word: it's thought that they failed to figure a workable
way of adding the 'snakebite' accenting perforations in real time so
they punched them in later.  There are surviving 'original' rolls of
hand-played recordings, so this is fully proven with hard evidence.

Many other rolls were simply created at a music desk, commonly known
as "arranged" rolls even though, as we have discussed, many are really
transcripts.  Aeolian transcribed Pianola versions from orchestral
scores as well as using published piano transcriptions or arrangements.
Some rolls were labelled "arranged for Pianola", though, so it seems
the lack of care with the two terms is a long-standing issue!

Julian Dyer


(Message sent Fri 1 Jun 2012, 17:12:47 GMT, from time zone GMT+0100.)

Key Words in Subject:  Arrangements, Piano, Roll, Transcriptions, vs

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page