Hello Larry (and List readers),

> From: toto@mammo.pndr.upenn.edu (Larry Toto)
> To: rolls@foxtail.com
>
> Subject: Re: Automatic Music Digest 96.02.18
>
> There is a beautiful, mournful rag written by William Bolcom called
> Graceful Ghost Rag.  Does this piece exist on a piano roll?  It was
> published in 1967 and is recorded by Nonesuch Records.  I have spoken
> to the fellow at Keystone Piano Rolls and see no listing in the QRS
> or Playrite catalogs.  Any leads on this one?
>
> Thanks,
> Larry Toto

    Well, do I have a deal for you!  A few years ago I too became enchanted by
Bolcom's "Graceful Ghost Rag".  A local radio commentator (Paul Duke/WETA FM)
used a recording of this by Paul Jacobs as a theme song.  Finding no roll
performances of it available, I took (MIDI) keyboard in hand and produced
a MIDI file (by the step entry method, not hand playing.)  In the process I
discovered that Graceful Ghost is but one composition of a trilogy called
"3 Ghost Rags", all composed, I understand in honor (or memory) of Bolcom's
father.  In for a penny, in for a pound, so I constructed files of the other
two pieces as well, "Dream Shadows" and "The Poltergeist Rag Fantasy".
I sent these files on floppy disk (nowadays I would "modem" them) to Richard
Tonnesen in Texas, and received in due course, wonderful perforated paper
rolls ready for playing!  Richard did a few sets which I sold at the mart
at the AMICA convention 2(?) years ago in Chicago.  I have four sets of
the three rolls left which I will sell for $35/set postpaid.  Unless the
demand would justify another perforator run, these will probably be all
that will be cut.  If you (or anyone else) is interested in a set, let
me know.
    BTW, the Graceful Ghost roll is faithful to the notated rhythm of the
original chart which is characterized by eighth note figures in the left
hand, and this is pretty much the way Bolcom himself plays it on his (audio)
recording of it.  The Jacobs performance, however, has a delightful lilting
"swing" to these figures, making them almost dotted eighth/16th figures,
something I was unable to easily duplicate in the manner in which I
constructed the files.  Regardless, the pieces are enjoyable, and unavailable
elsewhere to my knowledge.  "The Poltergeist" in particular is a real "knuckle
buster".  -John Grant