The Saga of Player Pianos

Piano Sheet Music Articles…


 

The late 19th century witnessed the rise of the most important musical instrument of the time- the piano. The popularity of American music further boosted the demand for pianos, with more and more people desiring these instruments within the bounds of their homes.

 

Few entertainment channels available during the time accounted for the increased percentage of people who were proficient in piano playing. However, many people lacked the natural talent required of a composer and hence, simple arrangements were published ignoring the tough ones.

 

The phonograph was still in its infancy and people longed to listen to the performances of songwriters and professionals. The time was ideal for the origin of a new idea. The idea came in the garb of a player piano, aimed to change home music reproduction in a unique and profound way.

 

Self-playing piano of the 1890s was only a cabinet that needed to be pushed up to the keyboard of a standard piano. Named the piano player, this item consisted of a row of felt covered “fingers” that would depress the appropriate key as a perforated roll ran across a tracker bar. When a perforation uncovered a port in the tracker bar, suction would cause the “finger” to be actuated. This machine was originally nomenclated as the “pianola.

The turn of the 20th century saw the “pianola” as an integrated part of the piano. Though the consequence was a heavier piano, it got rid off cumbersome “pianola” cabinet. During that time, the player piano gradually soared in popularity charts and reached its peak in the 1920’s.

 

Player pianos took a great stride ahead with reproducing pianos. These pianos reproduced the performing nuances of a given performer, thus lending an artistic finesse to the performance. It seemed as if one had a real performer in the house! Since then, the saga of player pianos continues…



Interactive Music Community