THE PIANOLA.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3625, 24 August 1901, Page 3

THE PIANOLA.

There is now on view at the Dresden Music Warehouse, Stafford Street, We of the greatest minor inventions of recent years, the Pianola, an instrument '' that plays the piano or organ as no living player can do, as regards technique or mei chanlcal accuracy. . The greatest pianists I can play some pieces, a score, or may be two score pieces, on demand, but ask them to play others and they require a little practice. The Pianola plays anything presented it, at sight. It is not a sort of piano, it is an instrument that plays a piano (or organ), and any one who understands what sort of music he or she desires and has learned the use of three little levers, can equal Paderewski. One has also to work bellows with the feet, but hands are only on these three keys, and the eyes upon very shftple indications of how they are to be used. The instrument is not attached to the piano, is an independent piece of furniture, which is wheeled to the piano, and a row of padded levers adjusted over the keys. A roll of perforated paper is slipped into place; the player pedals on the bellows mechanism, and the roll of perforated paper passes over a bar full of minute apertures. As each perforation passes an aperture air is admitted in such wise as to actuate the playing levers. The perforations determine the lever actuated, and the duration of the note; the three keys above mentioned, moved by the players hands, determine the tempo, and give the expression. The drudgery of learning to play the piano, and of playing, may be avoided by the use of this marvellously clever apparatus. To see and hear it is to have suggested to one the idea that the composer is now beaten; he cannot produce anything that cannot be played. Mr Coombs will be pleased to show the Pianola to all comers at the Dresden Music Warehouse.