The Pianola Museum is worth a walk to the Jordaan, a 17th century part of Amsterdam, west of the old town centre, one of the smallest museums in the city. Once every month (except July/August) the curator treats the visitors to a live concert, and tells about various aspects of the pianola music.
The museum exhibits a collection of automatic pianos and related objects, and an archive of nearly 20.000 music rolls. Nearly all of them can be played on the various instruments in the museum. Visitors will be told about the history and the technique of the instruments. The attention however will always be focused on the music. Opening hours: Sunday afternoon regularly from 2 till 5, or by appointment. Group visits may be organized daily by appointment, telephone: +31 20 6279624. Pianola Museum, Westerstraat 106, 1015 MN, Amsterdam.
Check the website for the concerts: www.pianola.nl
The audience is plunged into the past.
Tango singer Juan Carlos Tajes and his musicians.
See that box? Rolls were expensive in those days.
If you couldn't afford them, you could borrow them from
Bender's Piano Company and transport them in a box.
One of the automatic "grands" in the museum collection.
The wall behind Juan Carlos houses countless roll boxes.
all in all nearly 20.000, even stored under the stage!
Roll Over Beethoven...
Naturally the old master will come to life on the rolls,
played by several world famous piano players
like Horowitz and De Pachmann.
An inspired and inspiring piano player.
Guest musician Rouzana Tsymbalova.
Under the spell of the songs.
Muchas gracias!
The "tracker bar" (left) translates the holes in the roll to music.
And that jig saw puzzle on the right side is really the vacuum motor,
that makes the pianola run.
Of course Nipper is present too.
He misses His Master's Voice.
