The Welte-Mignon, as it was called, became the first self-playing piano utilizing rolls performed by these artists. It was a complex process, which offered more dynamic variety, rubato, and even the touch and shadings of the particular player, and he or she could edit the performance before it was finalized. Weite & Söhn, took the piano player in another direction-the rolls made by the painstaking transcription from actual performances of the greatest artists of the day. Meanwhile, the well-known German company Freiburg, M. Roll innards Piano Roll Grieg plays Grieg Butterfly, Op. The manufacturers realized that building the mechanism into the piano would make much more sense (and money.) The instruments became so popular, and gaudy, that every saloon had to have one, and all types of music-ragtime, film music, and Sousa marches-were produced by the mechanical perforating device. By 1914 several companies vied to produce the popular piano player, which outsold regular pianos. Votey developed a pneumatic piano player, which was available by 1898, did the instrument capture the imaginations of the general public. The French and Italians attempted their own versions as early as 1874, but not until Edwin S. A traveling perforated paper roll from forty-four to sixty-five notes’ compass actuated felt-tipped wooden rods that dropped down on the piano keys and played them.” “You rolled it up to your piano keyboard, adjusted several knobs for height, then sat in front of it (some distance by now from the piano itself) and pumped two treadles that worked its pneumatic insides. The first ‘piano players’ appeared in the 1890s and were on wheels.
A piano that could play itself, and entertain guests seemed like the perfect answer, though a bit far-fetched.
The dearth of good teachers and endless hours of daily practice discouraged more than a few young ladies. Refined, well-bred women were expected to play the instrument, but not everyone could master the art of piano-playing. Owning a piano implied you had attained a certain stature in society in the 19th century. I learned that many distinguished artists produced piano rolls. Once we returned home I quickly did some research and discovered there is a Pianola Museum in Amsterdam.
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