Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-03-26
News of Music
Player Piano Rolls, Rescued From Barn,
Used to Record Style of Dead Artists
By Alice Eversmon

came popular, this enterprise Of
the Welte company was put aside
in order to keep up with the trend
of the times.
Rolls Stored in Born
The Welte factory became a
casualty of World War II but, for
some reason, the piano rolls we're
saved and hidden in a barn be-
longing to parsonage in the
Black Forest. After the war,
member of the Welte family re-
membered these rolls and brought
them to the attention of a record
manufacturers representative in
Germany at that time. With the
help of the Welte engineer who
took charge of the original re-
cordings. the performances on the
piano player rolls were trans
ferred to tape, in Germany. and
then to discs in this country.
The opportunity to hear COM
posers perform their own works
and to be able to judge the style
of playing of artists whose names
are inscribed in musical history,
will be an interesting experience
at least. 1t is possible that some
idols may be demolished. Again.
revelations may be forthcoming
that will settle disputes among
Interpreters of the piano scores.
1t is seldom that a composer can
present his works to the best adj
vantage. The art of the inter-
prefer is a specialized one and
often discovers ideas in compost
lions that their creator has not
realized. The composer knows.
naturally, what he wants but find
ing the particular infection that
beauties it lies in the province
of the interpreter.
Interpretation Hos Advanced
Time has cast an aura of per-
lection around the performances
of artists who were great in their
day. 1t is difficult for those who
heard them to admit that any one
now before the public can equal
them. The styles they established,
the character of their technique
and the strength of their person.
alities, are remembered with un-
swerving admiration. But in the
half century since these artists
brought glamour to cultural life,
music and music Interpretation
have progressed enormously. Ac-
cepting reverently at first the
traditions these great ones estab-
lished, artists of today are seek
ing now new path in keeping
with the vistas that have been
opened up by modern composers.
At the same time, it must be
recognized that in earlier years
grounding in the best music prin-
cipleS was much more thorough
than now. There was not the
enticement to hurry that in this
day urges students on to find
place as quickly as possible in the
public eye. The simpler. quieter
type of life then also was an in
centive to deeper thinking and to
more complete preparation. There
is, as we'll. the national viewpoint
that operated so strongly at that
period. The stamp of German.
Italian or French training could
be felt.
FModerns Con Compore
t None of that can ever be dis
carded. But the present genera
ton of musicians can take what
they like of these special angles
and apply them to their own in
dividual outlooks. With this
country so rich in talent, so will
ing to go forwards there is no
limit as to what can be accom-
plished. 1t is we'll, however, to 60
back to the old and to check
constantly the new ideas with
the older ones. The blending of
the two will guarantee steady prog
ress in the right direction. Be-
sides the pleasure these records
will give in permitting continued
hearing of the vanished talent, a
great deal can be learned from