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- Maurice Ravel's Bolero
- Sequenced by Jim Bufalo (jimbuf@vms.ucc.okstate.edu)
-
- This MIDI file was sequenced on a Logitech Soundman Wave soundcard using
- the General Midi specifications for instruments. Since I had only 16
- channels available, I chose to leave out the following tracks: tuba,
- cello and muted trumpet. In addition, there is no contrabassoon in the
- GM spec so that is gone too. The melody line is carried at one point by
- an oboe rather than an oboe d'amore that Ravel calls for, as there is no
- oboe d'amore available on my soundcard. I tried an English Horn, since
- it has the same sort of bulblike bell as an oboe d'amore, but to my ear
- on my soundcard, the oboe sounded better. Ravel also calls for celestas
- to accompany the piccolos and horn, but celestas sound atrocious on my
- soundcard so I left them off to save channel space as well. All that being
- said, I'm pleased with the results of my efforts. The solo melodies
- sound crisp and clear as well as most of the groupings of instruments in
- the latter half of the piece. It is only around measure 300 when the
- orchestra as a whole starts attacking the melody that my soundcard
- starts to falter. In addition, when using Midisoft's Recording Studio,
- sound ground to a halt although the score kept on scrolling! However,
- Windjammer plays it okay, as does Windows' Media Player. I know Ravel
- composed finer, more important works but nothing quite impacts the
- psyche in the manner Bolero does. I hope in some small measure at least
- that my sequencing of it affects your soul as well.
-
- Jim Bufalo
- jimbuf@vms.ucc.okstate.edu
-
-