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[Notes on Preparation][Notes on Presentation][Download Tips]

Notes on Tune Preparation

We (Tom and Bea) maintain a file of our tunes in abc format. By using Jim Vint's ABC2Win software we can organize the tunes as well as print sheet music in standard notation. The tune presentation in this web site is based upon our tunes file. To prepare the tunes in the other formats, we used the following software and methods:

abc Format:
ABC2Win allows the import and export of single tunes. We simply saved each tune in the appropriate directory.

MIDI Format:
We used James Allwright's abc2midi conversion utility to convert these files to MIDI. In the process, abc2midi reads the guitar chords and generates a bass line and chords in the MIDI file. Bea then loads the resulting MIDI file in Cakewalk to "touch up" the accompaniment. This is a long and tedious project and as of 05 March 1998, very few have been finished, so most tunes have abc2midi's generic accompaniment.

GIF Format:
To create the GIF image files, we simply used ABC2Win's "Copy Image Bitmap" function, then pasted the image into an Adobe Photoshop document, where it could be cropped.

 

Notes on Tune Presentation

Accuracy
The representation of our music presented here is meant to be a guide only. In some cases they may be exactly as we play them. In most, the version that we currently play will be somewhat different. The reasons for this vary: A few of the tunes were entered from one of the standard references (O'Neill's, etc.); Other differences are due to our having added variations either of our own making or from the playing of others. Amazing as it may seem, there may also be mistakes in these files.

Deviations in Standard Notation
In one case in particular we have deviated from the usual representation. Hornpipes are generally played with a little "swing" - a "dotted" patern. We have opted to present these as if played "straight". This was done because we find it easier to read a "straight" representation, and play with the implied "swing". While this is inaccurate, writing hornpipes as dotted eigth/sixteenth pairs is not really accurate either - they are usually played somewhere between the two.

This follows our feelings that written music should be used as a guide; the ear not the eye being the appropriate tool for music.

On occaision we play hornpipes "straight", that is like a slow reel. In these cases, I have tried to indicate this in the notes.

 

Tips for Downloading Files

NOTE: These tips are for Windows users. You MAC users out there will know more than I do about their MAC's.

To download the abc version of a tune, click on:

Depending upon your browser and setup, one of three things will happen:

1. If you have the file type defined in Windows ans the "Prompt to Open" turned off, the file will be opened by the helper application (i.e. Notepad, ABC2WIN, MMPlayer, Cakewalk, etc.). From here, you can do what you wish with the file.

2. If the file type is defined and the "Prompt to Open" is turned on, you will be asked whether you wish to "Open" or "Save" and may select accordingly.

3. If the file type is not defined, you should be offered the options to "Pick App", "Save" or "Cancel". If you wish, at this point you may define the file type. Recommended options are:
a. abc The Windows Notepad can be used to edit abc files. If you have ABC2WIN or a similar progam installed you might want to select this as the application to open the file.

b. MIDI If you just want to listen to the MIDI file, the Windows Media Player (C:\Windows\mplayer.exe) is a good choice. Again, if you have Cakewalk or similar application and wish to use it, you may do so.
Note: You must have a sound card or MIDI instrument to play MIDI files.