MMD > Archives > February 1999 > 1999.02.22 > 03Prev  Next


Mechanical Music Terms - Pianolas
By Peter Coggins

Seems to me that certain names for players attract instant response
by those offended by them.  I cannot understand the reaction; why
is it such a big issue that it continually appears in the MMD?

Just about everyone here in Australia calls all player pianos
"pianolas", regardless of which maker made them.  I'm not 'offended',
and, as long as everyone understands what others are saying, does
it really matter?

Even the name 'Half Duo-Art' obviously comes from the fact that there
is only half the expression holes working and half the accordions!
Simple, really.  Nobody has suggested that you only get half a tune --
it still has an 88-note keyboard.

Perhaps, being the 90's, we could come up with some acronyms :-)

  POLDA - Pedal one lung Duo- Art
  PAM - Pedal Ampico - Marque
  PEDA - Pedal Electric Duo-Art  (Hey, that one is used!)
  SWIG - Steinway Welte in grand
  SEDAG - Steck Electric Duo-Art Grand

The possibilities are endless :-)

I may not like certain terms either but the most important thing
is the end result: the music.  So let's get on with it.

Peter Coggins



(Message sent Mon, 22 Feb 1999 21:28:27 +1100 , from time zone +1100.)

Key Words in Subject:  Mechanical, Music, Pianolas, Terms