Disklavier Network Part II / “Luciano Pavarotti” Conservatory of Modena

Disklavier and Technology: Presentation of a “Chaotic” Musical Instrument and Research on Player-Piano Rolls

Davide Bigoni, Professor of Structural Mechanics at the University of Trento, will introduce a “chaotic” musical instrument recently presented in Modena during the Festival of Philosophy, whose theme this year was precisely “Chaos.”

The presentation will be followed by an introduction to an innovative new machine developed thanks to funding from research projects at the Pavarotti Conservatory. With contributions from musicologist Prof. Pietro Zappalà and pianist Carlo Balzaretti, the session will demonstrate how this new device is capable of reading player-piano rolls produced for virtually any system or manufacturer.

The presentation will include musical examples drawn from the remarkable collection of more than 1,600 piano rolls held by the Conservatory in Modena.