-- non-subscriber, please reply to sender and MMDigest --

Some time ago I came across a series of manuscripts in Felix Arndt's
hand, in a folder marked "transcriptions," with notations such as
"add this bass-line," "if this doesn't work, send back and I'll
replay," etc.  They are stamped Aeolian music division, 1916 (two
years before he died).

I am trying to figure out what these scores are, precisely, and also
compare the scores to the final issued piano rolls.  Here are just
a few of the titles (just ones with "rag" in them -- others are all
classical medleys):

  Whipped Cream Rag (Wenrich, Wenrich and Howard, 1913)
  Ragtime Dream (Goodwin and Brown, Feist, 1913)
  Down Home Rag  (Sweatman, 1913)
  [That] International Rag (Berlin, 1913)
  Ragtime Wedding Bells (?, 1913)

Does anyone (1) know anything about the use of such manuscripts in
the cutting of piano rolls, and (2) know how I might hear these rolls,
to compare to the scores?

Thanks,
Jeff Taylor

 [ Ragtime pianist and historian "Perfessor" Bill Edwards writes
 [ about Felix Arndt:
 [
 [ "One of his more fortuitous breaks came in 1913 when he started at
 [ QRS during the advent of 'hand-played' piano rolls.  Being a fine
 [ arranger and pianist, it allowed him the opportunity to advance his
 [ skills when applied to other composer's works, and helped him in his
 [ first compositions as well the following year.  Arndt also became a
 [ staff musician for Aeolian Hall, creating Duo-Art reproducing rolls
 [ in the Popular Music genre.  In his three years for the two companies
 [ he reportedly created over 3,000 rolls, equating to four or five on
 [ an average work day."
 [ 
 [ More at http://www.perfessorbill.com/comps/farndt.shtml   -- Robbie