> From: FMTZ@aol.com (Frank Metzger)
> To: rolls@foxtail.com
> Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 11:54:17 -0400 (EDT)
>
> Subject: Data Base of Musical Themes
>
> a. Could one scan written-out (is the right word 'notated' ?) musical
> themes into some sort of MIDI file and then construct (without too much
> handwork) a search-able database of musical themes? (There are a number of
> books available each of which contain thousands of notated musical themes
> classified by title, composer and date etc.) Could the database be made
> to play the music?

We are able to scan through a video-interface some support of music:
rolls, musicbooks, and with a special device, organ cylinders.
Probably it's possible to extend such a system to tin discs. The result
is a MIDI-file anybody can hear through its own system. For instance,
you can hear some examples (on our FTP site at www.leludion.com).
Notice that you can download music from XIXth century, of an organ
cylinder (Church of Monpincon - Calvados - France)

We just practice the following theory :
Mechanical instruments are made from musical instrument and memory.
We read the memory of some instruments and transfer the music into
different kinds of supports by punching or editing.
Sorry we never have tried to read a music box cylinder. But its a good
idea to budget that in next months.

> b. Could one record a musical instrument, i.e. a music box, into a MIDI
> file such that it would be notated?  Or, to put it more specifically, such
> that it could be compared to a known standard?

Second step, it's easy to edit a score from MIDI-files, and it's usual
music writer work to identify theme, solo, and accompaniment.  Without
ornaments, the tune will be easier to classify, and to identify for human
ear.

> c. If a) and b) above are possible, could one construct a program which
> would search the database to find musical themes whose structure is the
> same as or very like a part of the music recorded in b) above.

If the two first steps are easy to reach; it's quite different with the
next one. It would be necessary to develop artificial intelligence
computing to reach, such a goal.

Best regards
Philippe Crasse - Le Ludion
101506.2653@compuserve.com