Computer Music

[da...@ukma.uucp]

[Sorry for the wide distribution but I wanted to reach the particular
related mailing lists associated with each newsgroup...]

I'm looking for recommendations on software/hardware for doing
music composition with a computer. [At least my mother is interested
and I'm wanting to make an intelligent recommendation to her].

Anyway, she is a competent musician, has done quite a bit of composing,
and even has some experience with computers. Features she has mentioned
that would be nice are:

-- Nice playback of the music. (it would be nice if the
output were "recording-level" signals that could be
fed into a stereo system)
-- Editting of the music in some form she's already
familiar with (i.e. notes and a staff)
-- Transposition of keys.
-- "Score" making. (i.e. when you have a number of players
in the piece, giving them each a 'proper' copy of the music)
-- (minor) IBM-PC compatibility since she uses a IBM-PC at work.

In general, there's some drudgery type things she'd like a computer
to do for her... She's capable of making a melody and using "music
theory" to generate notes correctly. (If I seem vague it's because
I don't really know the details of composing music, I mainly know what
I've seen her do, however I have performed music before)

I've been pushing Amiga at her, but that's mainly because I'm excited
with the machine. I'm expecting that some music software exists/will
exist for the machine since it has the best built-in synth circuits.
However I know there's some add-on boards for other machines which
are better... (Oh, being able to work with a "real" synth is not at
all necessary) I think the PC emulator for Amiga would be enough
to satisfy her desire for PC compatibility.

I would like to know (for almost *any* computer) about a system which
fills the above requirements. As usual I will summarize if there is
interest.

advTHANKSance
--
David Herron, cbosgd!ukma!david, da...@UKMA.BITNET, da...@uky.csnet