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The world's finest player pianos, or "reproducing pianos," were manufactured by Welte-Mignon from 1904 to 1932. More than merely copying the notes played, these complex instruments also captured a performer's dynamics, tempi, and pedaling all encoded in ink on paper rolls that were then punched and prepared as masters for copying. Whether the reproduction accurately conveys the subtleties of the original performances is open to some speculation, since both the rolls and the pianos have suffered from time and lost trade secrets. But at the time of their sessions, the performers gave testimonials to Welte-Mignon's accuracy, and these digital recordings of the rolls give the listener a clear idea of how well they sounded. The flashy playing of Paderewski, Lhevinne, Petri, and a young Horowitz are represented, and the sound is stunningly lifelike. The standout track may well be Walter Gieseking's breathtaking rendition of Ravel's Gaspard de la nuit since its delicate lines and sweeping runs exceed expectations of what a player piano can reproduce. Also of interest is Saint-Saëns' own performance of his Rapsodie d'Auvergne, a rarity from 1905. The Steinway-Welte used in this recording was spared damage in World War II and is one of the few remaining pianos that can play the preserved rolls with fidelity.
© TiVo
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6 Humoresques de concert, Op. 14, Book 1 "À l'antique" (Ignacy Jan Paderewski)
Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Composer, Artist, MainArtist
(C) 2003 Naxos (P) 2003 Naxos
Arabesken über "An der schönen blauen Donau" von Johann Strauss (Johann Strauss I)
Josef Lhevinne, Artist, MainArtist - Adolf Schulz-Evler, Composer
(C) 2003 Naxos (P) 2003 Naxos
Rhapsodie d'Auvergne, op. 73 (Camille Saint-Saëns)
CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS, Composer, Artist, MainArtist
(C) 2003 Naxos (P) 2003 Naxos
Polonaise No. 5 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 44 (Frédéric Chopin)
Frederic Chopin, Composer - Josef Hofmann, Artist, MainArtist
(C) 2003 Naxos (P) 2003 Naxos
Grandes études de Paganini, S. 141 (Franz Liszt)
Franz Liszt, Composer - Egon Petri, Artist, MainArtist
(C) 2003 Naxos (P) 2003 Naxos
3 Marches militaires, Op. 51, No. 1 in D Major (Franz Schubert)
Franz Schubert, Composer - Telemaque Lambrino, Artist, MainArtist
(C) 2003 Naxos (P) 2003 Naxos
Dinner Waltz from The Man About Town (Alfred Grünfeld)
Alfred Grünfeld, Composer, Artist, MainArtist
(C) 2003 Naxos (P) 2003 Naxos
Gaspard de la Nuit, M. 55 (Maurice Ravel)
Maurice Ravel, Composer - Walter Gieseking, Artist, MainArtist
(C) 2003 Naxos (P) 2003 Naxos
Symphony No. 94 in G Major, Hob. I:94, "The Surprise" (Rudolph Ganz)
Franz Joseph Haydn, Composer - Rudolph Ganz, Artist, MainArtist
(C) 2003 Naxos (P) 2003 Naxos
Renaissance, Book 1 (Leopold Godowsky)
Leopold Godowsky, Composer - Hans Haass, Artist, MainArtist
(C) 2003 Naxos (P) 2003 Naxos
Variations on Themes from Carmen (Georges Bizet)
Vladimir Horowitz, Composer, Artist, MainArtist
(C) 2003 Naxos (P) 2003 Naxos
La Nuit (Alexandre Glazounov)
Alexander Glazunov, Composer - Rudolph Ganz, Artist, MainArtist
(C) 2003 Naxos (P) 2003 Naxos
Staccato Caprice in F-Sharp Major (Max Vogrich)
Yolanda Mero, Artist, MainArtist - Max Vogrich, Composer
(C) 2003 Naxos (P) 2003 Naxos
Album review
The world's finest player pianos, or "reproducing pianos," were manufactured by Welte-Mignon from 1904 to 1932. More than merely copying the notes played, these complex instruments also captured a performer's dynamics, tempi, and pedaling all encoded in ink on paper rolls that were then punched and prepared as masters for copying. Whether the reproduction accurately conveys the subtleties of the original performances is open to some speculation, since both the rolls and the pianos have suffered from time and lost trade secrets. But at the time of their sessions, the performers gave testimonials to Welte-Mignon's accuracy, and these digital recordings of the rolls give the listener a clear idea of how well they sounded. The flashy playing of Paderewski, Lhevinne, Petri, and a young Horowitz are represented, and the sound is stunningly lifelike. The standout track may well be Walter Gieseking's breathtaking rendition of Ravel's Gaspard de la nuit since its delicate lines and sweeping runs exceed expectations of what a player piano can reproduce. Also of interest is Saint-Saëns' own performance of his Rapsodie d'Auvergne, a rarity from 1905. The Steinway-Welte used in this recording was spared damage in World War II and is one of the few remaining pianos that can play the preserved rolls with fidelity.
© TiVo
Details of original recording : 68:02 - DDD - Enregistré en août 2000 en Californie sur un piano mécanique Steinway-Welte restauré
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 01:09:16
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artist: Ignacy Jan Paderewski
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Naxos
- Genre: Classical
- Collection: Naxos Historical
(C) 2003 Naxos (P) 2003 Naxos
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