Hello.

I've been lurking on the list for some time and thought
I might introduce myself with a short message.

I'm a recently "doctored" electrical engineer from Carnegie
Mellon University in Pittsburgh and come to music
in a variety of ways, few of them automated, I'm afraid,
but still I'd like to contribute a few tidbits to the list.

Piano player (1928 Steinway Model L) at heart and vocalist
by way of socialization (Pittsburgh Camerata) I found my way
here via Terry Smythe a while back. A message I had
posted about my great grandfather led me to Terry who
lead me to AMICA and now here (lurking) on the list.

Indeed it is my great grandfather, Josef Hofmann, who
provides me with the link to the automated music world.
After visiting IPAM (International Piano Archives at Music)
and seeing some of the large number of rolls that he produced
during his lifetime, and recently getting hold of four "new"
CD's of his music (remastered from LP's but still not
of particularly high quality) I still have a very personal interest
in trying to hear his music as others did during his lifetime.
Unfortunately, he died several years before I was born.

Having at my disposal a Macintosh and a Clavinova, I was
hoping that souls the likes of Artis Wodehouse or Richard Tonnesen
might be persuaded to take some of the old Hofmann piano rolls and
"transcribe" them to MIDI (and of course to a high-quality
recording.)  From this list, it seems others
may have the same desires and/or ability. I've done
nothing about this interest for a year or so (during which
time I gave birth to a Ph.D dissertation) but am now
renewing my search.

I personally own nothing related to rolls or reproducing pianos
but someday would love to be able to pop in a MIDI file
and hear Hofmann coming out of my Clavinova (at least
most of the notes....I think its 16 voice limitation
might present a problem for some of his playing!)

Oh, the Steinway that I learned to play on, of course,
was his. So at least, in some way  I can hear the NOTES
that he had played, but my fingers will never be
able to duplicate his MUSIC.

So the question: is there anyone out there who has Hofmann rolls
converted to MIDI? I would be pleased to know of any leads
and also just how many Hofmann rolls are still surviving
and listened to out there.

Thanks for your time.

-- Howard C. Read