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Keeper's long-lost MIDI files
Recent additions
Level 1-3 is relative quality of the sequence, with 3 being
the highest. Dates given are when the sequence was originally produced --
not when the conversion to MIDI format took place. Therefore, even though
this page is of recent additions, none of these sequences is new. This
is just the first time they've been released to the public.
- Theme from "Star
Trek" by Alexander Courage -- Level 1 --
9 June 1988
This is a MIDI conversion of a four-voice Amiga DMCS file
I made which itself was a manual conversion I did of a three-voice
Commodore 64 SID-Player file by Brian Szepatowski.
- Battle Cry of Freedom
by George F. Root -- Level 1 --
8 August 1991
One of the most popular Union songs from the American Civil War.
Lyrics
- Beautiful Dreamer
by Stephen Foster -- Level 2 --
1 January 1992
This was Stephen Foster's last work, and is one of his most famous.
Lyrics
- Minuet in A Major
by Luigi Boccherini -- Level 2 --
24 January 1990
A very well-known piece by this little-known composer. Remember that
when I arranged these "long-lost" files, the only MIDI
device I had was a piano sound module, so I put dynamics into the
file. However, because the piano hadn't been invented when this was
composed, I use the harpsichord sound in this MIDI file, but of
course harpsichords can't play dynamics. For a harpsichord purist
this will sound strange with the instrument getting louder and softer.
If you are such, either change the sound to a piano or ask me to make
a harpsichord version with the dynamics removed (like I did for Les
Grâces Naturèles). I can do this quite easily.
- Bugler's Dream
by Leo Arnaud -- Level 1 --
10 August 1988
A tune commonly associated with Olympic-type events. This file is
a MIDI conversion of a four-voice Amiga DMCS file I made which was
itself a manual conversion of a three-voice Commodore 64 SID-Player
file by Gary Oglesby.
- Les Carillons
by Johann Philipp Kirnberger -- Level 1 --
19 December 1990
This will test the high ranges of your sound card, MIDI device
and speakers! I used the celesta sound for this, appropriately
transposing the music two octaves higher than written. I know
that the celesta is a relatively modern instrument, invented in
the late 19th century, but given the title of the piece it makes
a much more appropriate sound than a harpsichord does. I tried
using tubular bells, but they produce a far too thick sound without
any crisp strike tone. If you have a GS-compatible MIDI device, you
might try transposing the music down an octave or two and choosing
the church bell patch to get an authentic carillon sound.
- A Christmas Carol
by Tom Lehrer -- Level 1 --
22 December 1990
A pretty basic arrangement of Lehrer's 1954 song (from his
album An Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer) celebrating
the true spirit of Christmas...
Lyrics
- Sa Taille
by Erik Satie -- Level 2 --
1 January 1992
The first of Les Trois Valses Distinguées du Précieux
Dégoûté, dated 21 July 1914. These odd little
pieces each tell a story as they go along, though no direction is
given to perform the lines. Each of these also has a quotation on
the top of the score. It seems as though these were not intended
to be performed for an audience. They are to be enjoyed by a pianist.
Nevertheless, I arranged this one. The
accompanying text and story
is available as well.
- Don't Jazz Me
(I'm Music) by James Scott -- Level 2 --
8 October 1990
It is known that James Scott often did not name his rags; the titles
were given by the publisher, John Stark. This rag, published in 1921,
probably shows Stark's opinion about the new music form that was beginning
to overshadow ragtime. Of course, since jazz was improvisational and
Stark was a sheet-music publisher, I imagine there was a good reason for
him not to like the way popular music was heading. The most interesting
thing about this rag is when the first strain is reprised, its cadence is
replaced with the one from the second strain.
- Theme to "Doctor Who"
by Ron Grainer -- Level 1 --
26 March 1992
I made this as a four-voice Amiga DMCS file, though limiting it to
three voices so the Amiga could have some echo effect. I transcribed
the original 1963 theme by ear. There are many combinations of
General MIDI instruments which sound cool with this, but I decided
on modest choices, trying to keep it sounding as close to the original
as possible. Of course, these synth instruments vary tremendously from
device to device, so my choices may sound totally different on your
system. DMCS could not do portamento (slides), so this file lacks it.
With a few days of tweaking this could be made really nifty!
- Sonatina in E Major
(L. 375, No. 3)
by Domenico Scarlatti -- Level 1 --
21 November 1990
Originally made as a piano arrangement since that's all I had in
those days, this is now played with a correct period instrument,
the harpsichord. However, the dynamics remain, so it's some kind
of magical harpsichord capable of playing at different volume levels.
If this upsets you I can remove the dynamics easily. Just ask.
- The Earle of Salisbury
by William Byrd -- Level 2 --
1 August 1991
This pavane is popular among classical guitarists. Here it is
played on a pipe organ.
- The Elements
by Tom Lehrer -- Level 1 --
2 January 1991
Sung to the tune of Sir Arthur Sullivan's I Am the Very Model of
a Modern Major General from The Pirates of Penzance, this
song from the album An Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer
remains popular today despite being considerably out of date. It was
written in 1958 as an aid to memorizing all the known elements.
It served as inspiration to Randy Rogel when he wrote the wonderful
list songs for the Animaniacs cartoons Yakko's World
and Wakko's America, then later the self-parody, All
the Words in the English Language.
Lyrics
- Prelude in B-flat minor
(Op. 28, No. 16)
by Frédéric François Chopin -- Level 2 --
19 March 1993
In DMCS it was not possible to include the damper pedal commands,
so this arrangement is a bit of a D-I-Y. If you're using an external
MIDI device and have the sheet music handy, you can add the sustain
pedal motions while you listen to this sequence. (If anyone saves a
version with pedaling, please send it to me! I don't have an external
MIDI device, most of my music books are packed away where I won't be
able to get to them until I move again, and the non-synchronous clocks
between the Amiga and the PC make these "long-lost"
sequences very difficult to hand-edit anyway because you can so easily
lose your bearings.) I'm not sure I did the arpeggi correctly; Chopin
being a later composer, they might be better off performed before the
beat. I've never heard a performance of this to judge by, either,
which is true for most of the "long-lost" stuff
actually.
- La Gemissante
by Jean François Dandrieu -- Level 2 --
1 August 1991
Another one that sounds great on the celesta despite the anachronism.
It sounds good on a harpsichord too (try it by transposing down two
octaves, removing the chorus effect and reducing the reverb), but the
celesta adds to the tranquil and sad nature of tune. In the third strain,
the score has a few different types of trill markings and appoggiature
on trill notes that most people who make MIDI files probably would not
know how to execute properly (let's face it: most people who make MIDI
files would mistake an appoggiatura for a grace note).
- Ricercata
by Giovanni Maria Trabacci -- Level 2 --
5 September 1991
Here is an example of music in Mixylodian mode. What that
means is it's in the key of G, but the scale doesn't
have a sharpened F. The third part of this ricercata is
the most interesting, with a descending chromatic motive. If
someone can get me a more specific title to use, such as a
larger collection of works it was originally a part of,
I'd appreciate it.
- Bourrée in A Major
by Georg Philipp Telemann -- Level 2 --
10 October 1990
- Fantasia in B minor
by Georg Philipp Telemann -- Level 2 --
10 October 1990
- I Hold Your Hand in Mine
by Tom Lehrer -- Level 1 --
11 September 1992
This love song written in 1953, featured on the album
Songs by Tom Lehrer, was most often requested
at his performances ... requested not to play, that is.
Lyrics
- Heart and Soul
arrangement by Jerry Roth -- Level 2 --
20 June 1988
The less-annoying of the two tunes that every child somehow learns
to play on the piano, in a treatment originally done in a three-voice
Commodore 64 SID-Player file by Jerry "Dr. J" Roth, which I
then hand ported into a four-voice Amiga DMCS file, and now have
converted to MIDI.
- Intonazione
by Giovanni Gabrieli -- Level 2 --
13 December 1990
This is a very old piece of music, composed in 1593, and as such
is built on very long held chords reminiscent of monasterial
chants.
- Canzon
by Johann Jakob Froberger -- Level 2 --
2 March 1991
This canzon also is in the Mixylodian mode. Like many baroque
pieces, it ends on a second-inversion chord.
- Two-Part Invention No. 12
by Johann Sebastian Bach -- Level 2 --
7 August 1991
After the ending, this sequence will back up a few measures
and play the ending again, incorporating the differences found
in the Spohr and Hoffmeister manuscripts.
- Fugue in C Major
by Johann Sebastian Bach -- Level 2 --
24 March 1993
I don't know where this fugue came from so can't identify it any
more than that. This was probably the last DMCS arrangement I ever
made that was intended to be played by the Amiga's own sound chip.
But here it is converted to MIDI. It is performed by a trio of
horns.
- Toccata in C minor
by Leonardo Leo -- Level 2 --
9 January 1992
- Hornpipe in G minor
by Jean Baptiste Loeillet -- Level 2 --
10 October 1990
I chose to do this one because of the constant syncopation in the
right hand, which seemed so unusual for such old music.
- Marching Through Georgia
by Henry C. Work -- Level 1 --
5 September 1991
Today, the campaign of General Sherman during the American Civil War
is known to have been a terrible campaign of mass destruction, but
for many years it was considered only for the decisive victory that
it was. This song was written to celebrate it, though its lyrics
certainly give no reference to the true nature of the events.
Lyrics
- March Majestic
by Scott Joplin -- Level 2 --
4 May 1993
This probably is the second-most popular of Joplin's three
6/8-time marches.
- Military March, 16th century
composer unknown -- Level 1 --
1 January 1992
The British military still plays this tune, probably because
in the 19th century it was given lyrics called The
British Grenadiers. A century earlier, it had been
given lyrics during the American Revolution, called Free
America. If you're curious as to the full lyrics to
either, let me know and I can include them.
- Fantasia in C
by Johann Pachelbel -- Level 2 --
11 October 1990
Yes, Pachelbel wrote more than that Canon in D you hear
everywhere!
- Fugue in C
by Johann Pachelbel -- Level 2 --
13 November 1990
I think this is the shortest four-voice fugue I've
ever heard.
- Pastime Rag No. 1
by Artie Matthews -- Level 2 --
20 December 1991
The first from a set of five rags (published over about six years,
and not in order of their numeration) from the famous blues composer,
each in a very different style.
- Les Plaintes d'une Poupée
by César Franck -- Level 2 --
29 May 1991
- Sonata in G
by Giovanni Pergolesi -- Level 2 --
7 March 1991
For baroque music, this really rocks! Again, this was originally
done with a piano sound, so there are dynamics which make the
harpsichord sound fade and grow like a harpsichord can't really
do, but at least it's a correct period instrument (and sounds
better on it than on a piano).
- Poisoning Pigeons
in the Park
by Tom Lehrer -- Level 1 --
27 December 1990
One of his more popular songs, from the album An Evening
Wasted with Tom Lehrer.
Lyrics
- Pollution
by Tom Lehrer -- Level 1 --
22 April 1993
This originally was designed to be played by the Amiga's own
four-voice sound chip, but here it is converted to MIDI. This
calypso tune, played here with steel drums and marimba, is
Lehrer's version of a song to play on a Come to America travel
advertisement in another country. He originally wrote it for
the television program That Was the Week That Was
in 1965, and appears on his album of songs from that show,
titled That Was the Year that Was. While many of Lehrer's
topical songs have become dated, this one is just as poignant
today as it was then, if not more so.
Lyrics
- So Long, Mom
by Tom Lehrer -- Level 1 --
27 December 1990
The first and second world wars produced some of the
most memorable and catchy songs in history, and in
1965 with the proliferation of nuclear weapons, Lehrer
postulated that if there were to be any songs about
World War III, they'd have to be written ahead of time.
This appears on his album That Was the Year that
Was.
Lyrics
- Träumerei
(four-hand arrangement)
by Robert Schumann -- Level 2 --
11 June 1992
- Gavotte
from "Les Petits Riens"
(K. 10)
by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart -- Level 2 --
8 March 1991
- Komm, Lieber Mai
(K. 596)
by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart -- Level 2 --
28 June 1991
This is one of Mozart's last pieces. It is a song, but I
do not have the lyrics. The title means Come, Sweet
May, but that month never came again for him.
- Wernher von Braun
by Tom Lehrer -- Level 1 --
28 December 1990
From 1965 and featured on the album That Was the
Year that Was, this song pokes fun somewhat bitterly
at the changed allegiance of the man who invented the V-1
rocket bomb for Germany then went to work for the U.S.
space program.
Lyrics
- When Johnny Comes
Marching Home
by Louis Lambert -- Level 1 --
6 September 1991
Probably the most recognizable tune to come from the
American Civil War.
Lyrics
- Who's Next?
by Tom Lehrer -- Level 1 --
17 December 1991
This was written in 1965 and takes a light-hearted look
at the fear setting in as nuclear weapons proliferated
around the world. It appears on the album That Was
the Year that Was. Lyrics on the album are slightly
different than these, from the songbook Too Many
Songs by Tom Lehrer.
Lyrics
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