Most people are not familiar with Player and Reproducing pianos, and I would like to briefly describe them. The Duo-Art Reproducing Piano made by The Aeolian Company got its name because it allowed two art forms. I describe them as the passive mode and the active mode.
In the passive mode, you simply turned on the switch, and the piano reproduces the playing of the talented pianist who made the master roll from which all copies were made. In the active mode, you can not just sit there and be entertained since the piano will play at the minimum volume and you won't hear anything. You must sit in front of the keys and manupulate a number of brass levers that control the playing. This is perfectly analagous to what conductors typically do, in that they do not play any notes but are ultimately responsible for how fast and how loud the music is at every moment. I find the active mode much more fun than the passive mode. Probably one reason I like it is that it takes absolutely no talent to control the piano's performance, just a love of music. My favorite expression is "If you think you can do a better job than me, well, you are absolutely right!" I don't know how you like your music, but you sure know what you like. All of my piano rolls on YouTube represent me controlling the mechanism as the notes get played, and it would not be right to claim that this roll is exactly what Rubinstein performed. I love this piece, and am trying to produce musical results that you will enjoy, but if you think you can do a better job, you're right.

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