CYRIL SCOTT: Lotus Land, recorded for the Duo-Art Pianola Piano by Percy Grainger at Aeolian Hall in New York City, published as roll no. 7127 in March 1928, and played back in May 2009 on a Hamburg Steinway Duo-Art grand, no. 241071, in London, England.
Lotus Land is heavy with the scent of opium, every forward surge of the music sinking back into the mists of lethargy and forgetfulness. Grainger and Scott were good friends, so perhaps their acquaintance helped Grainger to this particularly sensitive performance.
Audio recording copyright 2009 by the Pianola Institute. Photo depicts Percy Grainger and W. Creary Woods, one of the Duo-Art recording producers for the Aeolian Company in New York, in the roll editing suite at Aeolian Hall in West 42nd Street, with its tell-tale cane chairs.
Percy Grainger is a favourite of ours, ever since we re-introduced him to the concert platform in 1972, 11 years after he had joined the immortals. He recently recorded the Grieg Piano Concerto by means of his Duo-Art rolls, with the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Rolf Gupta. The CD is due to be released in August 2009, and the recording company website at www.2L.no has more details.
Player pianos can be very fine musical instruments. Visit the Pianola Institute website and discover the truth about these wonderful inventions!
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