Another "name that tune" challenge

[KerwoodDerby]

Forgive me if "name that tune" style questions are annoying to you all -- I'm new here, so I'm taking the chance that it's OK. I'd been looking for a forum like this which is still active -- many such are moribund, of late.

Over the years I've accumulated a collection of piano rolls from antique stores, but since I have no player piano, I couldn't really "listen" to them. Also, some of them are in pretty bad shape, with lots of tears in the increasingly fragile paper. Worst of all, some have little or no markings on them, such as a title or a maker's name. With those, all I have to go on is the tune embodied within them.

I've recently contrived a computer scanning device which allows me to "read" the rolls and convert them to a MIDI file format so I can hear the tune and begin the process of curating these rolls.

Two rolls which are mysteries to me have been attached to this post. I'm guessing they were originally penned sometime between 1918 and 1925, based on the performance ornamentation and the yellowing of the paper. I'd appreciate it if anyone reading this could identify either tune, so that I can have something to use for searching the indexes of piano rolls.

Hopefully,
Marshall

[Roaring20s]

Hello Marshall,

Welcome!, and what else could you call this thread?
I enjoyed both of these tunes.

Selection 'Unknown2.mp3' has elements that are very familiar to me. I want to say that the opening melody reminds me of a 1950-60's pop-muzak rendition that looked back on tin pan alley.

Not much of a help, but it may spark in the minds of others.

Good luck,
James.

[Lenoirstreetguy]

The first one is Just a Little Love Song from 1922. The second one is a mystery to me. The Whiteman version of Just a Little Love Song is my favourite recording

[Roaring20s]

The first one is Just a Little Love Song from 1922. The second one is a mystery to me. The Whiteman version of Just a Little Love Song is my favourite recording

I just played my Whiteman copy and it was hard to make that connection until the melody was simplified and played on the 'saw'. Good call.

[KerwoodDerby]

Lenoirstreetguy: Excellent catch. I visited the Levy sheet music collection, and was amazed at how closely the piano roll followed the score. Thank you!

And as James noted, the piano roll arrangements are often, at least, highly ornamented, especially with "ringing octaves" entirely out of place in live performance. By 1910 it was understood that piano rolls were often an amplified or augmented version of the original work, rather than a replica of a human performance. Consequently, many piano rolls deliver a jarring and highly unrealistic arrangement of the titular work. Even so, some of the Fats Waller piano rolls (transcribed from actual performance) are a joy to hear.

This said, piano rolls represent a modern-era attempt at capturing the music which thrilled millions of commonfolk in the early 20th century. It's estimated that there were 100,000 unique piano rolls created, roughly 5,000 of which have been actually archived. It's my hope to contribute to this corps de l'art in its dimly-lit corner of the stage.

Thanks again,
Marshall

[larryh]

Actually the piano rolls began as a rather serious attempt to have people be able to render music on their piano somewhat as if they were playing them self. The Aeolian company had a enormous roll catalog of many serious classical pieces and many popular ones as well. For many years I had a Themeodist Metrostyle which was made in 1911. The purpose of the pointer it incorporated was to change the speed so as to make the punched out mechanical process seem more realistic. It also included the Theme melody which was a set of small holes on each side of the roll that accented the melody line. The same idea was incorporated into the latter Duo Art Reproducing Roll system.

Latter the players became the rage and as you noted many augmented types of rolls were produced of popular songs. Personally I loved the sound produced by them of the ditties of the day. On a good piano some of them were stunning to hear. It was a sound all its own and not really recreated anywhere today.

Of course also in 1904 the German Welte invented the early reproducing piano which was first a cabinet that sat in front of the piano, as were many of the first 65 note players of the earliest designs. His invention latter built into grand pianos and uprights as well recorded nearly every famous composer and conductor of the time plus many major and minor pianist as well. So early players were not just exaggerated pieces but often very serious. At one point I had many of the chopin and greig and beethoven sonatas and symphonies many taking up four very long rolls from those early periods.

We still have the last reproducing piano built by the Ampico company, a Model B Ampico, installed after the factory was closed for several years in a Steinway S. Three of those have been found over the years.

Larry

[Lenoirstreetguy]

My great pal John refers to the temolo effect in the treble as the " tenement tinkle" He grew up in New York. What the popular rolls end up being is not exactly piano duets but more like piano THREE hands. Some of the hand played rolls in the mid twenties resisted the urge to embroider a bit, but most of them indulged in just a little enhancement shall we say,especially in the last chorus.
They amuse me no end and I love'em.
Jim.
Keep your piano open

[2Bdecided]

I've recently contrived a computer scanning device which allows me to "read" the rolls and convert them to a MIDI file format so I can hear the tune and begin the process of curating these rolls.

I would love to hear more about this, if possible. I also have several roles, but have given up hope of ever getting a suitable piano. In my current house I couldn't get one through the door!

Cheers,
David.

[Henry]

Top prize goes to the first member to explain significance of the moniker "Kerwood Derby."

[barnettrp21122]

Is it in reference to Durward Kirby, Gary Moore's sidekick on early television?