Granados’ Secrets Revealed by His Piano Rolls

During the early twentieth century, a new and more sophisticated form of recording using piano roll technology was presented to pianists. The reproducing piano system was able to capture the fine subtleties of their artistry with much more detail than previous recording methods. The performance style of Enrique Granados can be gleaned from the numerous piano rolls he made until his very last recordings just a few months before his death in March 1916. His renditions are listed in Welte-Mignon, Duo-Art, Pleyela, Artecho and Hupfeld catalogues. His performance of Valses poéticos is captured on Hupfeld and Welte-Mignon piano rolls. The analysis of both transcriptions reveal ground-breaking facts not only on the performance style of Granados but also provide an empirical document that proves the authenticity of the Hupfeld Animatic rolls no. 51125ab (DEA roll no. 28419). This study also includes musical discussions on historical performance practice and pedagogical methodologies of Granados’ pianistic tradition.