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Rachmaninoff And His Ampico Recordings
By Dave Krall

While surfing around YouTube today I came across this restored recording
of Rachmaninoff playing his 2nd Piano Concerto with Leopold Stokowski and
the Philadelphia Orchestra, an electrical recording made in 1929.  It
is wonderful to listen to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddTVZy-ZwVI
Attachment thumbnail In the comments section there is a short discussion of Rachmaninoff and his Ampico rolls. One poster, FJCrotiata, makes some mild disparaging comments about the roll recordings, particularly as to their "very rough sense of dynamics". He goes on to say that Rachmaninoff did not even own an Ampico and that he did not participate in the editing process. Now, I seem to remember reading somewhere that Rachmaninoff did indeed own an upright Ampico (probably a gift to him of American Piano Company) located at his summer home on Long Island. I might have even seen a photo of him with it, but I am sure of seeing a photo of his daughter, seated on the piano bench and listening to one of her father's rolls. I seem also to remember reading (but I don't recall where) that Edgar Fairchild would come out to Long Island and work with Rachmaninoff on the final editing of his rolls. I'm sure there are knowledgeable members here that can enlighten me on this subject. Thanks, Dave Krall [ See also "Ampico Rachmaninoff Second Piano Concerto" at [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Archives/Digests/201305/2013.05.24.02.html

(Message sent Thu, 18 May 2017 14:17:37 +0000 (UTC) , from time zone +0000.)

Key Words in Subject:  Ampico, His, Rachmaninoff, Recordings