THE REPERTOIRE

The vast majority of rolls were manufactured between the end of the 19th Century and the late 1930s and most of those of serious music originated from the Aeolian Company whose policy was to produce rolls of the highest standard possible. They actively encouraged contemporary composers either to write new works for the instrument or to have extant pieces specially edited for inclusion in their roll catalogue. Works by Stravinsky, Scriabin and Grainger were all available, as were many by British composers such as Cyril Scott, Joseph Holbrooke, Arnold Bax, Granville Bantock and Balfour Gardiner. Naturally, the basic keyboard repertoire ranging from Bach and Handel to Debussy and Ravel was fully represented.

The recent resurgence of interest in composers of the 1920s and 30s is particularly apposite as Michael has several programmes based on the works of composers whose importance is only now being recognised. These include such names as York Bowen, Leo Livens and Dorothy Howell.

What is an accompaniment roll, and how can you accompany on the Pianola?

Accompaniment rolls were specially produced rolls of music written for more than one instrument but with just the accompaniment incorporated on the roll. Thus the accompaniment roll for Beethoven's Violin Sonata Op. 24 would consist solely of the piano part and nothing else. Concertos were slightly different; for example, the Piano Concerto Op. 59 by Moszkowski would consist only of the solo piano part with none of the orchestral material included.

The list of accompaniment rolls includes much of the standard song and chamber music repertoire and most of the famous piano concertos.

To accompany on the Pianola requires the same musical skills as any ensemble music making. The Pianolist interprets the music with the same flexibility and empathy, and is able to control his playing to accommodate his musical partners just as any accompanist playing an ordinary piano would do.

Michael Broadway's skill as an accompanist has been received with much critical acclaim.

Are new rolls still being made?

Michael is chief music editor for the Southport Roll Company based on Merseyside who have been producing high quality piano rolls for over 20 years. Under the direction of Malcolm Robinson they have specialised in the reissuing of compositions specially written for the Pianola first produced by the Aeolian Company in the 1920s.

More recently they have issued rolls of music by composers whose works have previously never been available on music roll. Titles include the piano duet version of Quilter's A Children's Overture. For 2002, the centenary of William Walton's birth, they have made rolls of eight movements from Façade in the Constant Lambert arrangement for four hands.

The composer John Blood was commissioned to write a piece for Pianola to celebrate the Millennium and it was premiered on Tuesday 15 August 2000 at the Parish church of St Michael and All Angels in Hawkshead in the Lake District. Famous up to that point for its associations with Beatrix Potter, the town is now also famous for this extraordinary piece of music - Tarantella Diabolica for Pianola, The Witches of Hawkshead. The music vividly captures the composer's introduction to the piece, "… and also in that darke night from Hawkshead belfry did black witches fly …".

Back to the top


 

 

 

 

 



 

 


+44 (0) 20 7254 6145

Michael Broadway