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MMD > Archives > October 2026 > 2026.10.01 > 02Prev  Next


Unknown QRS Piano Roll
By Royce Rathbone

A while back I posted on 26.09.09 MMD about a mystery QRS piano roll
which I could not identify. Still, I have gotten no leads or anything on
the song so if anyone could help, that would be great. Someone told me
to look underneath the leader for any numbers, but I forgot to mention
that the roll is missing the leader.

It is an instrumental QRS roll with no line along the left indicating
volume, which to me is common on instrumental rolls. The time frame on
the roll matches around 1918-1920, but the paper is unusually dark
compared to others in the time period. The note holes have a slightly
fuzzy edge to them.

Somebody on Facebook said the roll was called "Dance Of The Blind Crows"
but no songs seem to exist under that name, for what I've researched.

It might have been made in Chicago, Illinois. The flanges say QRS USA on
them. Looking in every single spot on the roll, front and back, the only
ink on the entire roll is the Tempo box.

Like I said, if anyone knows any information on this roll, please tell
me so I can get this documented on YouTube.

Thanks in advance,
Royce Rathbone

Attachments:
[ This is the MP3 of the song.
[ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/26/10/01/261001_035631_Unknown_Dance.mp3 
[ This is the MIDI of the song.
[ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/26/10/01/261001_035631_Unknown_Dance.mid 

(Message sent Thu, 1 Oct 2026 03:56:31 -0700, from time zone -0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  Piano, QRS, Roll, Unknown

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