Klarinet Archive - Posting 000638.txt from 1995/05

From: Josias Associates <josassoc@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Writing in Wierd Keys/Irving Berlin
Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 22:49:16 -0400

On Mon, 22 May 1995, R. J. Shilcock wrote:

> It is alleged that Irving Berlin could only play the piano in F sharp ....
> Roger Shilcock
>
Roger,

It's true! Irving Berlin was self-taught and learned to play
on the black keys. When he became a successful composer, he had a
mechanically modified piano constucted for him that would sound in
various selectable keys, while he actually played in F#.

Connie

Conrad Josias
La Canada, California