Hi All.  I went to Spencer's web site via the URL in last nights
MMD, and downloaded the ROL file of Saint-Saens Piano Concerto in
G Minor, 3rd. mvt., played by Harold Bauer.

As I listened to this via the "WindPlay" software and the sound card,
I was amazed at the blizzard of notes.  As I do not have much exper-
ience in classical music, I had to listen to the piece several times
to understand the musical meaning.

I then copied the file to the computer in the Pianomation to see if
my Foster upright piano could "keep up", or would it fall flat on it's
face?  I was about to find out!

I had tweaked WindPlay to express within the power range of the 52"
Foster; I have written articles in MMD before explaining the compound
levers I had added to the solenoids, to drive the piano exactly the
same way the old pneumatic action did.

I thought I knew the capabilities of this particular "why don't you
throw that thing away" piano very well, being built mainly out of
parts of wrecked Foster uprights, using a replacement strung back, new
pinblock, hammers, butts -- the whole works.  Top that off with a modi-
fied Pianomation to replace the old stack someone ripped out years ago
-- well, you get the idea.  80-year-old Florida pianos don't arrive
here in very good shape.

Spencer's file played flawlessly, expressed _excellently_, and the
upright piano gave an _outstanding_ performance, I dare say, better than
many grands I have heard.  It's got to take something _really_ special
to make me take notice, and actually make me amazed about a piano I
built, and know very well.  I was taken totally aback with what I heard
my instrument do with this music file.  As such, I recommend Spencer's
music roll transcriptions highly.

Andy Taylor

(PS: If any of you don't believe that an upright piano with a solenoid
action can play this piece, feel free to call me and I will be glad to
play it for you.  Tel.: 573-748-5527

Tempola Player Piano Rolls, MIDI files, Restoration & Piano Moving
http://home.i1.net/~tempola/index.html