HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN MUSIC DATABASE

The music databases MUSIC1.DAT and MUSIC2.DAT are extended ASCII text files 
which you may view with any ASCII file viewer, but should not modify. (Because
of the high ASCII codes, these files are not necessarily printable!)
To create your own tune database, you should create a file named MUSIC3.DAT.
In the registered edition, these files should be called MUSIC1!.DAT, 
   MUSIC2!.DAT, and MUSIC3!.DAT.
If you use a word processor to create MUSIC3.DAT, be VERY CAREFUL that you 
   save it as an ASCII text file. You must not accidentally save with word 
   processor control codes! It is so easy to make a mistake, that I generally 
   do not recommend using word processors, even though in principle they are 
   perfectly capable of performing simple ASCII text editing. It is much safer
   to use a dedicated ASCII text editor.
The first line of the file is the title of the database.
The last character of the database is the "greater-than" symbol (">").
Each musical selection begins with a backwards apostrophe ("`") followed by the
   name of the musical selection.
The name of the musical selection is terminated by a vertical bar ("|") or by
   a backwards slash ("\").
The first two characters after the vertical bar or backslash optionally define
   the tempo and key signature of the musical selection. 
Default tempo is 1/4 note = 120/minute.
Default key is C major.

Tempo settings:
        l   sets   1/4 note = 120/minute
        m   sets   1/4 note = 108/minute
        w   sets   1/4 note =  90/minute
        t   sets   1/4 note = 160/minute
        u   sets   1/4 note = 240/minute
Tempo is generally set only once, at the beginning of a musical selection 
and before any notes have been played. Resetting the tempo within a musical
piece will automatically reset the default duration (see below) to 1/4 note.

Key signature settings:
        P  sets F# (F sharp)        Q  sets B* (B flat)
        R  sets C#F#G#              S  sets C#D#F#G#
        T  sets A*B*D*E*            U  sets C#F#
        V  sets A*B*E*              W  sets B*E*
        Y  sets B*E*A*D*G*

The basic format of a note definition is:  
     Note name + optional sharp/flat/natural + optional duration
EXAMPLES:
     B*4      means B flat 1/4 note duration
     F#2      means F sharp 1/2 note duration
     F=:      means F natural 1 1/2 note duration
     F        means F as defined by the key signature, of default duration 
     z        means a 1/8 note rest
     Z        means a 1/4 note rest
     Z2 or z2 both mean a 1/2 note rest
No spaces are allowed in a note definition.


The default duration is initially 1/4 note.
The default duration can be reset with the following switch characters:
     H   sets  1/4 note to be the default duration
     I   sets  1/8 note to be the default duration     
     J   sets 3/16 note to be the default duration
     K   sets 1/16 note to be the default duration
     L   sets 1/12 note to be the default duration
     M   sets  1/6 note to be the default duration
     N   sets  3/8 note to be the default duration
The default duration can be freely reset throughout a musical piece.

The optional duration in a note definition overrides the default setting.
The note durations are as follows:
     1  means a whole note     2  means 1/2 note
     4  means 1/4 note         8  means 1/8 note
     6  means 1/16 note        :  means 1 1/2 note
     .  means 1 1/4 note       (high ASCII 1/2 symbol = alt 171) means 3/4 note
     ,  means 5/8 note         !  means 1/64 note
     5  means 3/32 note        9  means 5/12 note
     7  means 3/16 note        3  means 3/8 note
Note durations can be contatenated. In other words,
     C12 means the same as C: 
     a86 means the same as a7
                                    (high ASCII delta symbol = alt 235)
                                  (high ASCII cent symbol = alt 155)
                                (high ASCII beta symbol = alt 225)
                              (high ASCII alpha symbol = alt 224)
                            g
--------------------------f---------------
                        e
----------------------d-------------------
                    c
------------------b-----------------------
                a
--------------G---------------------------
            F
----------E-------------------------------
        D
      C
    B
  A
(high ASCII gamma symbol = alt 226)     

Square brackets [ ] are used to define a section to be repeated, with the
   @ symbol used to indicate the repeat point.
Parantheses ( ) are used to define a section to be repeated, with the
   ^ symbol used to indicate the repeat point.

The maximum size allowed MUSICx.DAT file is 32000 bytes. 
This should be more than sufficient for an hour-long musical composition,
   even at a fast tempo with complex rhythms.
If any of you care to transcribe Beethoven's Ninth Symphony or Stravinski's 
   Rites of Spring, I shall be more than happy to see the results!