I have been reading intently the discussion on MIDI Files of modern
music for piano and would have to say that the old way would certainly
be the best: find yourself a good pianist and a piece of sheet music.
Once the song is recorded, open the file in the MIDI editor of any good
program -- I use Cakewalk -- piano roll it, and Voila, there you are!

As far as "Circus Galop" by Marc-André Hamelin, what a musical
nightmare; it sounds as if the Big Top has been bombed!  "Ching Chong"
(Q.R.S, Baxter & Kortlander) will make your piano talk and there are
many, many others.

Just my thoughts, so don't get all mad, but if you love "Circus Galop,"
it would be easy enough to start the MIDI recorder and get a half dozen
3- and 4-year-olds to pound on your piano for four minutes as fast as
they can and perhaps create something even more stunning than Hamelin!

Thanks, Karl Schröder