Ron Chaplin on Comlon Nancarrow:

>In these studies, is Nancarrow expressing definite ideas, or is
>he experiementing to see how many combinations of tones he can get from a
>player piano?

Well of course using a player piano is experimental, but my feeling is
that he is expressing definite ideas- that is, being a composer.  The player
piano is a way of transcending human limitations in a way.  Nancarrow had
a jazz background, and some of my favorites sound like several barrel house
pianists playing together.  Others clearly have Bach as the starting point.
It is wonderful invigorating music.

Bernard Chasan