Rosegarden. Hello again. I was reading through the latest PC magazine, it and Monday's NY Times were my only mail today, and they had an article about using Linux. Apparently they have decided to begin some minor support for it, such as include a column for user questions.

They listed several free packages, one being Rosegarden, a music recording and editing program. The website is rosegardenmusic.com. Could you check out the site and send me any product description they might have? I am specifically interested in the capabilities it might have as a music sequencer. This is only the ability to edit MIDI files.

The difference between a sequencer and a sampler is that the sampler would deal with actual sound files, while a sequencer is more like a player piano, with the sequencer being the way the piano rolls are created. The most useful interface would be if the software would convert MDI file into graphic music notation.

I am confusing you? Feel free to simply disregard this entirely. I will not be insulted at all.

Here is my overall thought. I convince the powers that be to allow the chapel to load one of the older PC's with Linux and this Rosegarden software. The system would not have any other software on it or even be attached to a printer. That way the computer would be limited to holding MIDI files.

I would be able to enter a hymn into my keyboard, then bring my instrument up to the chapel, upload the song, edit it for any errors and then build a library of songs on the computer.

The basic midi standard allows for 16 different tracks to make up one song. Although my keyboard can only play 32 different notes at one time, higher priced units have 64-note polyphony. Visually what you would see on the monitor would be multiple staffs, like the Conductor's copy of a score.

Each of the 16 parts would be a different instrument. A simple example, would be how most of the old standard hymns have four basic parts; soprano, alto, tenor and bass. You night have the soprano, (melody line) played by a trumpet sound, the alto by a trombone, the tenor by cello, and the bass by organ.

The software probably has lots of features we would not need but since it is free it does not matter. You efforts would not be totally wasted as I think you would be able to have lots of fun with this type of software.

I am hopefully going to increase my writing output and also will be tossing out a few questions for you. Instead of putting things on the to-do pile I am going to move them out so to speak. As always, it is left to your own choosing as to which, if any of my questions/request you decide to deal with.  ¶ 7:57 PM