I was born in 1958 in Wuppertal, Germany. Being interested in mathematics
and computers, I studied computer science at the University of Dortmund.
In 1987 I went to Passau University, where I got my Ph.D. in theoretical
computer science. My job at our University consists mainly in teaching
students from other faculties the basics and mysteries of computer science...
So what is my musical background? The sad truth is, there is none. With MIDI you can make music even if you can hardly read a score! I am, however, quite addicted to music, and when I start sequencing I know exactly what I want to hear when the work is complete. Also, I would not try to sequence anything just because I "like" it. Before you consider bringing a classical piece to MIDI (and thus interpreting it!) you should IMHO spend some time with the composer's biography and the background of that piece. My very first work was the Allegretto of Beethoven's 7th symphony. Right or wrong, I always found that even famous conductors tended to play that piece far too pathetically and not the way Beethoven had meant it to sound. Have you ever felt something similar? Now, the solution is MIDI! Play it as you think it should be played!
I'd like to point out that during the process of creating a midi file I do not even switch on my midi keyboard. Instead, I enter note by note with my sequencer program. After that the real work starts, adjusting velocities, volumes, note length, etc. That's what I call the "process of bringing the music to life".
A last word about my equipment:
My hardware: Macintosh Centris 610, Roland SC-55
My software: Logic 2.5.4
Most of my sequences contain Roland GS specific data and are thus best
played on a GS compatible sound module.
- Hans-Joachim Roeder
(roeder@fmi.uni-passau.de)
