HARMONY program to add chords to tunes

Subject: HARMONY program to add chords to tunes
From: pavane
Date: 20 Jun 01 - 03:00 AM

(Reposted with changes because of problems at my ISP)

My program HARMONY was originally developed to add chords to melodies, but has been expanded to
display and print scores
read and write abc files
read and write MIDI files
transpose tunes
create Melodeon and Concertina tablature.
Create new, random tunes in traditional styles (jigs are the best)

It was originally developed using the Noteworthy text notation, so it reads that format as well. (I suppose I will have to update it to read the text MIDI notation used in the tunes here!). I know that there are still a few bugs lurking, but it is mostly quite usable.

Unfortunately, the ISP hosting my web site has a problem with downloads of more than 200kb at present, so if you want a copy, please Click here to email me.

As an example, I downloaded the MIDI file of 'Song for Ireland', and used HARMONY to add chords automatically and produce the following abc file - (could be prettier, but it works). After importing the MIDI file, I only edited one note (honest) before exporting the abc exactly as shown below. (The MIDI import had commented out the B in the last bar because it overlapped the preceding note, I just restored it)

X:1
% MIDI CHAN=1
M:4/4
T:forirlnd
L:1/8
|
Q:100
K:CMaj
"C"E E3 "C"E3 C|"G"D6 E2|"F"F4 "C"ED C2|"Am"A,3 G, "Am"A,2 B,2|*
"C"C8|"C"E E3 "C"E3 C|"G"D6 E2|"F"F3 F "C"E2 C2|*
"Am"A,3 G, "Am"A,2 B,2|"C"C6 z2|"F"F3 F "G"F2 G2|"Am"A3 G "G7"G3 F|*
"C"E C3 "C"C3 C|"C"C6 DE|"G"D8|"G"F G3 "Am"A3 G|*
"C"G2 E2 "C"C3 E|"Em"E3 F "C"G C3|"G"B,3 C "G"D3 F|"G"F3 G "Am"A3 A|*
"C"G2 C2 "G"D3 E|"F"F3 F "C"E2 C2|"Am"A,2 B,2- "C"C8 z/2| |*
|

--- Link fixed. ---

Subject: RE: HARMONY program to add chords to tunes
From: KingBrilliant
Date: 20 Jun 01 - 06:47 AM

That sounds really useful - that chord thing sounds extremely useful! Your 'Click Here' didn't work though - and could you provide your website address so we can go and have a read more about it please?

Cheers
Kris

Subject: RE: HARMONY program to add chords to tunes
From: pavane
Date: 20 Jun 01 - 07:03 AM

OK. I did provide my web site address in the previous thread, but dropped it because the download didn't work.
My email address for this purpose is [e-mail], that's what the clickie should have given you.
My web site is at www.crosswinds.net/~trantorlimited and you need the Music page (deep linking not supported by ISP).
I am currently intending to set up a new one (this week, I hope) at a different ISP without this problem. The new URL will be www.greenhedges.com

Subject: RE: HARMONY program to add chords to tunes
From: pavane
Date: 20 Jun 01 - 07:08 AM

I see why the clickie didn't work - an unwanted colon crept into the HTML command. Here it is again
Click here to email me

Subject: RE: HARMONY program to add chords to tunes
From: pavane
Date: 20 Jun 01 - 07:09 AM

And to make it easier, Click here for my web site

Subject: RE: HARMONY program to add chords to tunes
From: KingBrilliant
Date: 20 Jun 01 - 07:14 AM

Cheers. I'll have a good look at that. Looks like a very interesting site, and I'm looking forward to listening to the music samples.
Thanks

Kris

Subject: RE: HARMONY program to add chords to tunes
From: MMario
Date: 20 Jun 01 - 01:29 PM

looks pretty good!

Subject: RE: HARMONY program to add chords to tunes
From: Uncle Jaque
Date: 20 Jun 01 - 10:29 PM

Would that by any chance be the "Harmony Assistant" program by MYRIAD Bros. in France? I have the "Melody Assistant" program that does a lot of what you mentioned, & then some.

Subject: RE: HARMONY program to add chords to tunes
From: pavane
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 02:52 AM

No it WOULDN'T. It is a program I have written myself. And just to prove it, there is a picture of me on the opening page! Also does Melodeon and Concertina Tablature.

Subject: RE: HARMONY program to add chords to tunes
From: pavane
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 03:56 AM

There is something very strange going on here.
Yesterday, I got locked out of the personal pages at the main (www) site, despite resetting the cookie, logging out and it, etc, but could get in on the loki site.
Today, I am locked out on that as well, but can get in on ragtime. At this rate, I will be locked out of them ALL by tomorrow. Please email me instead, until this si sorted out, because I can't be sure of seeing private messages!

Subject: RE: HARMONY program to add chords to tunes
From: pavane
Date: 22 Jun 01 - 03:00 AM

The program is now on my new site, which is found by clicking here. I have put a download link on the home page (with no JAVASCRIPT!). Downloading from this one should work fine - I just did test download.

Subject: RE: HARMONY program to add chords to tunes
From: pavane
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 04:06 AM

A few undocumented restrictions have come to light with the abc import
Slurs - all notes between ( and ) are totally ignored, instead of just the slur instruction.
The L: command must come AFTER the M: in the file or it won't necessarily work
Chords are not properly generated for time signature 6/4
I am working to fix these

Subject: RE: HARMONY program to add chords to tunes
From: Grab
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 12:37 PM

When you play the tune through MIDI, does it play the chords as well? Just wondering - many don't. I'll have a go on that, anyway. If all goes well, expect a load of suggestions on improvements! :-)

Graham.

Subject: RE: HARMONY program to add chords to tunes
From: pavane
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 03:21 PM

Yes. You load the melody in ABC format, create the chords, and it will then play a complete MIDI. There are different chord options, and if you don't like the chords it suggests, you can replace them and regenerate the notes for the chords. The manual give details of the more complex chords you can use, and also on ways to adjust the range of the notes used for the chords. One of my longer term aims is to make the chords appropriate to the instrument selected, e.g. real Guitar chords.

Subject: RE: HARMONY program to add chords to tunes
From: Grab
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 11:21 AM

Sounds cool - I'll load that up next week when I get home.

Graham.

Subject: RE: HARMONY program to add chords to tunes
From: pavane
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 06:51 PM

Just fixing some of the deficiencies in the abc import. Hope to upload a new version this weekend (time permitting!). The main one I have fixed is the failure to cope with slurs.

Subject: RE: HARMONY program to add chords to tunes
From: pavane
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 06:51 PM

Just had a brilliant idea (I think). I have found a lot of abc format tunes have been transcribed as reels, even though they are actually hornpipes.

For example Boys of Blue Hill, and Harvest Home.

So I have put in a function to HARMONY which converts the whole tune from 'reel' rhythm, where all notes are the same length, to 'broken' or dotted rhythm, where a dotted quaver is followed by a semi-quaver. Does this sound useful, or have I just wasted my time? Certainly, Boys of Blue Hill sounds much more like I am used to hearing it!

Subject: RE: HARMONY program to add chords to tunes
From: GutBucketeer
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 11:14 PM

I tested the program last night, and it is truly awesome. So many options.

It is actually way beyond my needs given the time I have to understand and use it.

How do you un-install it ?

JAB

Subject: RE: HARMONY program to add chords to tunes
From: pavane
Date: 18 Oct 01 - 03:06 AM

Hi - Thanks for the praise!

There is no real need to uninstall as it takes up very little space. But if you really want to, just delete all the files from the install directory where you put it, and put the program group in the recycle bin.

Sorry I haven't had the time to write an uninstall routine - too busy getting the program in the shape I want it, and it is only possible to work on it in my spare time!

I hope you have a chance to look at it again soon.

====================================================

Just as a footnote, although over 700 people have visited my site since I first advertised it here, and a significant number have downloaded HARMONY, how many registrations do you think I have had?

That's right. NONE. So I have now closed the special offer, and the current download is time-limited.