When I first heard this technology live, I was disappointed by the way the notes were played: there was too much randomness in the MIDI signal's realization in the physical acoustic world of the wooden and metal piano.
However, the player piano has advanced to the point that very demanding recordings are actually being made. Listen to the samples. Is anyone haunted by this? Is this beautiful? http://www.crystalmusic.com/taussig/download.html The Bach *may* benefit but the Rachmaninoff is a plastic robot without soul. Question is: is the success of this art form going to rely soley on the individual programmer's abilities or will this type of new advancement in interpretive nuance and performance of music eventually help, in the end, to separate the compositional chaff from the wheat? Or is it the lack of emotional and spiritual ensemble between one's individual fingers and hands that which kills the spirit of music? Technology allows us, in war, to press buttons instead of taking on the enemy in flesh and blood; to replace bravery with security. Technology allows us, in music, to press mouse clicks instead of taking on the challange of preparing ourselves in flesh and blood for a performance; to replace bravery with security. Please do not reply with reference to the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome which gave rise to these recordings. I think it is evident to all that this will not remain a tool soley for the use of handicapped musicians. Liudas Motekaitis _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
