Wikipedia:Featured sound candidates/Maple Leaf Rag - played by Scott Joplin 1916

File:Maple Leaf Rag - played by Scott Joplin 1916 sample.ogg

Maple Leaf Rag - played by Scott Joplin 1916

A recording made by Scott Joplin in 1916 of his most famous Rag, the Maple Leaf Rag. The recording was made on piano roll in June 1916 just prior to the composer's death from Syphilis in April 1917. The recording demonstrates his physical deterioration from the disease has affected his ability to play the piano smoothly. The roll was scanned into a MIDI file by a collector in New Zealand, then converted into a Piano soundfile by Major Bloodnok using Cubase

One of the few recordings of Joplin by Joplin we have. It also demonstrates his physical condition prior to his death.

Nominate and support. Major Bloodnok (talk) 10:10, 9 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Comment I can't say I'm an expert on piano playing. However, I do fear that the peculiar sound of his playing may simply be due to the fact that it was recorded on piano roll and then converted into midi. The source of the file doesn't mention anything about the playing that I could see. Jujutacular ^T · C 18:38, 9 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I would generally agree with you; conversion from one format to another can throw up peculiarities and the copy may not match. In this case, however, we have a very good source (Joplin's first biographer) who heard the original roll and thought that it was "distressing" and "disorganised"; further information is on the Scott Joplin page. There is an issue about how accurate Piano Rolls were, but there is another roll from the same year, again cut by Joplin, which is much smoother (although it feels as though it's been corrected in the editing process). Should there be more about this on the description page? Would that help? Forgive me, but this is the first time I've done this!Major Bloodnok (talk) 19:51, 9 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Okay, now I see that information in the Scott Joplin article, thank you. Wanted to make sure we weren't conducting original research. I think the file description page is fine, as long as the statements are cited from reliable sources in the article. Jujutacular ^T · C 20:29, 9 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I'm aware of original research and reliable sources. As far as possible the article attempts to show the various points of view about the nature of piano rolls, and this one in particular, and letting the reader make up their own mind. Thanks for your help! Major Bloodnok (talk) 22:21, 9 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Neutral If there was a more realistic sample of this file in quality condition I'd support without a doubt but I'm not sure I can support a MIDI file as a faithful example of a music recording. Normally I'd oppose but the fact that the original recording is on a piano roll (and therefore subject to different authentic playbacks) complicates things. I have to think about this for a bit. Them From Space 01:36, 10 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]

There is another sound file on the Scott Joplin page - another rag he wrote, which has since been discovered by the same collector who had the Maple Leaf Rag. This time it's a recording of a player piano. It's interesting mainly because it was thought lost. I'll nominate that when I get a chance.Major Bloodnok (talk) 23:20, 10 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Wow, that would be a valuable addition! Its scarcity alone would make it a prized sound file. Them From Space 12:52, 16 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Oppose per the lack of realism mentioned by Themfromspace. If a more advanced software piano was used to create the sound, or the piece was run through an actual player piano like your other nomination, I could possibly support. Jujutacular ^T · C 21:30, 19 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support, I disagree about the realism. It sounds pretty good to me, actually better than the other nomination. In terms of EV, the context within an article would be important. In the Scott Joplin article there is reference to the fact that Joplin wasn't directly recorded. So the expectation of having this file be generated from a player piano seems excessive. The player piano and the computer are equally unable to reproduce the quality of the original. Case Craver 2010 (talk) 10:33, 1 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. I know player pianos. The rolls are "digital", as it were, and there is no issue to my mind in transferring them to mp3. This is a valuable historical artefact. Tony (talk) 17:23, 19 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support - for its rarity and historical value. —Ancient Apparition • Champagne? • 4:43pm • 05:43, 1 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support Granted, a piano roll rarely is a digital record of the keys struck. They were commonly "corrected" at the factory, as evidenced by audio recordings versus piano rolls by other period pianists such as Gershwin. But it is a nice rendition and probably shows some of the technique of the composer/performer. Edison (talk) 00:21, 18 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Promoted Maple Leaf Rag - played by Scott Joplin 1916 sample.ogg --Bencherlite ^Talk 01:06, 18 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]