MPAL’s Steinway Duo-Art Reproducing Piano

About the Piano and Rolls

MPAL’s Steinway Model M walnut piano was made in New York on October 4, 1927, and then shipped to the Aeolian Company of New York City raw (with no lacquer), for installation of the player mechanism. Steinway made relatively few models over the years, and the M was the most common size for a home piano. To make them “player ready” the Steinway company lengthened the case by six inches, allowing the installation of the reproducing mechanics, but the rest of the piano remained the Model M scale design. School of Music inventory records indicate that the piano was purchased from Mrs. Lee Drendel in Springfield, IL in the 1950s or 1960s.

In 2017, a generous grant from the University’s Office of the Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement and additional funding from the Dean of Libraries and University Librarian John Wilkin, enabled renovation of the piano and creation of a secure room for it. The piano and its case were renovated by The Piano People of Champaign, IL and the player mechanism was restored by Mel Septon of Player Pianos Plus in Northbrook, IL. On September 22, 2018, an event was held featuring the renovated player piano and speakers Dr. Catherine Hennessy and Mel Septon.

MPAL holds approximately 270 Duo-Art original and reprinted rolls as well as compatible rolls from companies such as Connorized, Imperial, and QRS. An inventory of the rolls is available on request.

Piano and Rolls Use Policy

Use of the piano and rolls is mediated by MPAL personnel. Interested individuals, groups, or classes should request an appointment via email. For extensive use of the collection/piano beyond a one-time visit, it is best to schedule with us at least a month in advance. The piano rolls do not currently circulate outside of the library.

Black and white keys of the Player Piano.

 

Select Titles in MPAL About Player and Reproducing Pianos

History and Reference Works

Composers Writing for or Performing on Player Piano

The player piano generated intense interest for many composers when it was first manufactured. Composers such as George Gershwin, Igor Stravinsky, and Sergei Prokofiev were all enthusiastic about the artistic potential and enterprising record companies such as Duo-Art had composers record their own pieces.

The player piano was by no means universally popular or respected by composers or musicians. In 1906 John Philip Sousa wrote of the “menace of mechanical music” because “The new technologies of player pianos were so dangerous that [he] felt compelled to spur his public to action before music was reduced to a mere ‘mathematical system of megaphones, wheels, cogs, discs, cylinders, and all manner of revolving things.’” [Warfield, Patrick. 2009. “John Philip Sousa and “the Menace of Mechanical Music”.” Journal of the Society for American Music 3 (4) (11): 431-463.]

Later into the twentieth century, composers began experimenting with writing music specifically for the player piano, featuring instructions in the sheet music that would be nearly impossible for a human to do, but perfectly doable for the mechanics of the player piano.

Select examples of composers writing for or performing on player piano in MPAL’s collection:

Note that not all piano rolls have been entered in the Library’s catalog, so there are more examples not listed here.

Close-up of a portion of a player piano roll.

Images and Audio

Digital exhibit with images and audiovisual clips of MPAL’s DuoArt.

Images from the restoration process of the piano can be viewed on U of I Box.

Upcoming Events

Check our Events Calendar for upcoming player piano demonstrations.