Current News - Grainger and Grieg on CD Percy Grainger Plays the Grieg Piano Concerto ! In February 2009, the Institute's Duo-Art push-up travelled to Kristiansand in Norway, where it facilitated Percy Grainger's much-loved performance of the Grieg Piano Concerto, accompanied by the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra, and conducted by Rolf Gupta. Rex Lawson's 88-note Pianola also made the sea crossing from Harwich, and as a result Grieg's Phonola rolls, recorded in 1906, found their way on to audio for the first time. At the same time, Øyvind Bjørå, concertmaster of the Norwegian National Opera Orchestra, was brave enough to record Grieg's Third Violin Sonata, accompanied by Rex Lawson with normal 88-note music rolls. This most unusual recording has been published on multi-channel Blu-Ray audio DVD, and on high-definition stereo CD. For further information, visit the website of 2L, the Norwegian recording company, and the special website set up for the project, www.griegpianoconcerto.com.

The Pianola Institute was launched in 1985 to breathe new life into player pianos around the world, and to lure them back into the mainstream of music by means of recordings, exhibitions, publications and archive and study facilities.

The Aims of the Pianola Institute:
A small number of pianola owners and musicians have been concerned for some time at the unnatural break between the world of music rolls and the world of music.  Few members of the musical public know much about player pianos, and the Institute aims to bring about a better understanding and appreciation of the instrument in a number of ways.

The Institute publishes an annual Journal, and presents regular concerts. Occasional CD recordings are produced.

The Pianola Institute will endeavour to preserve, research and document the pianola's history, to improve the instrument's present standing, and, by the commissioning of new compositions, to ensure that it remains an important musical force for the future.

On this website you will find information about the history and development of the pianola, and also about the Pianola Institute itself. Take the time to browse - we have many mp3 audio files, several instruction booklets on playing different types of pianolas, published as pdf files, and a wealth of fascinating facts and pertinent pictures, all available free of charge. If you would like to subscribe to the Pianola Journal, look on our Pianola Journal or Friends of the Institute pages. If you would like more information, you can email us at: info@pianola.org

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Site last updated: May 2008
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