1. Reusable Definitions
The MelCom language provides means for
defining and naming parts of the textually
described music. Any defined part can then
be reused just by referring to its name.
This allows a more concise representation of
pieces that have repeated parts. As a way of
illustrating this feature, consider the
following piece:
The part spanning measures 1 to 4 is repeated 3
times in the piece (measures 1 to 4, 5 to 8,
and 13 to 16). This can be expressed in
MelCom by defining and naming the repeated
part, and then reusing it by just referring
to its name. Following
is how the piece is expressed in this way.
**n[A-B-C]
*t[60]
*def[basePhrase]
16dd 16cc 16cc 16b 16b 16a- | 16a- 16g 16f 8g 16a-
|
8b 8g 16a- 16f | 16e~ 32e~ 32d 16c 16d 8e~
|
*enddef
*usedef[basePhrase:2]
8b 8b 16b 16b |
16cc 16b 16a# 16b 16a# 16b
|
16cc 16b 16a# 16b 16a# 16b
|
4cc 8g |
*usedef[basePhrase]
16dd 16cc 16cc 16b 16b 16a-
|
16a- 16g 16f 8g 16a- |
8b 8g 16a- 16f |
8e~
4: |
In the above text, the music of the repeated
part is enclosed between 2 lines:
and
where "basePhrase" is the name we assigned
to this definition.
Later, the line
signifies using -- in this place -- the
defined part whose name is "basePhrase". The
"2" after the colon (:) means that the
defined part should be repeated twice here.
At the end of the piece, the line
means using -- in this place -- the defined
part whose name is "basePhrase".
Following is another way of representing the
same piece of music. This way expresses the
musical structure more clearly by
identifying the non-cadential and the
cadential forms of the repeated phrase. It
also demonstrates the possibility of using
(expanding) a definition inside another
definition.
**n[A-B-C]
*t[60]
!=== Start of Definitions
================================
*def[phraseFront]
16dd 16cc 16cc 16b 16b 16a-
|
16a- 16g 16f 8g 16a- |
8b 8g 16a- 16f
*enddef
*def[phraseNormal]
*usedef[phraseFront]
16e~ 32e~ 32d 16c 16d 8e~
*enddef
*def[phraseCadance]
*usedef[phraseFront]
8e~
*enddef
!=== End of Definitions
==================================
*usedef[phraseNormal:2]
8b 8b 16b 16b |
16cc 16b 16a# 16b 16a# 16b
16cc 16b 16a# 16b 16a# 16b
|
4cc 8g
*usedef[phraseNormal]
*usedef[phraseCadance]
|
2. Midi Meta Events
For the users who are familiar with Midi,
the MelCom language provides means for
including various Midi meta events. A line
of the form:
where <n> is an integer between 1 and 7, and
<text> is any text, will cause the resulting
Midi file to have a meta event at this point
in the piece of music. The integer <n>
specifies the meta event type as follows:
1 : Text
2 : Copyright
3 : Sequence/track name
4 : Instrument name
5 : Lyric
6 : Marker
7 : Cue point
3. Auto Maqam-Changes
Mazzika and the
Oud Tutor are programs
that allow the user to use the computer
keyboard to play a virtual piano or a
virtual oud, with maqam control. These
programs can also playback a Midi file, with
animating the virtual instrument (piano or
oud) to show how the piece of music can be
played on a real instrument.
Specially produced Midi files can also cause
the virtual instrument to visually reflect
the maqam being played, and to change the
visual maqam dynamically -- if needed --
while the music is being played.
The MelCom language provides means for
producing those Midi files that cause
Mazzika
and the
Oud Tutor to change the visual
maqam while the music is played. Immediately
before the point where a visual maqam change
is required, place a line of the form
!!$ 1, Q:<maqam name>/<n> |
where:
<maqam name> is one of the maqams that are
listed in the maqam drop-down list in either
Mazzika or the
Oud Tutor.
<n> is an integer representing the tonic of
the maqam as follows:
0: C (Do)
1: C# or Db (Do diez or Re bemol)
2: D (Re)
3: D# or Eb (Re diez or Mi bemol)
4: E (Mi)
5: F (Fa)
6: F# or Gb (Fa diez or Sol bemol)
7: G (Sol)
8: G# or Ab (Sol diez or La bemol)
9: A (La)
10: A# or Bb (La diez or Si bemol)
11: B (Si)
For the cases where the tonic is half-flat
(e.g., "Huzam" on E half-flat), just use the
flat, and both programs (Mazzika and the
Oud
Tutor) will understand that half-flat is
meant.
|