The automatic piano was a central force in American musical life between 1900 and 1930. They were found not only in penny arcades, but in homes, concert halls, restaurants, saloons, stores -virtually anywhere music was heard. These pianolas are normal acoustic pianos except that an internal piano-playing mechanism works as a computer using air pressure instead of electrical energy. The paper piano rolls are the "software" used to activate the notes to play. A punched hole in a paper piano roll causes a corresponding note to play as it goes across the "reader".
My favourite American composer, George Gershwin, author of legendary compositions such as "Rhapsody in Blue", "An American in Paris" or the Opera "Porgy and Bess", recorded some of the finest piano rolls of that wonderful musical age. My favourite one is "Scandal Walk". Even the title is provocative. A translation to Spanish would be "Paseo del Escándalo". Enjoy it!
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