The Advanced Music System - The Rob Baxter Files (1987 to 1989)

[GeoffB17]

Thanks for the extra information about Rob Baxter, there's some useful pointers in there regarding my interests regarding Midi.

I noted the info regarding how RB was creating the music files, esp the references to the systems used.   Synthia, EZ FM and Sonix.   I would think it likely that the work done on creating the arrangements was not duplicated for the Amstrad versions and the Amiga versions, there would be similarities?   The Amiga files are shown as being .smus files, the Amstrad ones are .mus, there MAY be similarities (I've yet to access a .SMUS file so I can compare it with the .mus ones I have.

I have actually found a prog for converting SMUS to MID, incl source in C, this might be interesting but I'm not certain the format of the SMUS is right, and/or the same as the Amstrad AMS .MUS files.   Still investigating.

I've listened to some of the files you've demonstrated, but the sounds seem the same to me.   Have I listened to the wrong ones?   Do some files use different 'instruments'?  Are any of the files using different instruments on different tracks (as could be done with midi files).   I totally understand your wish to demonstrate the pieces as they would have sounded back then, but I'm thinking about the work done by RB on the arrangements and how much more impressive that could be if played back using more modern midi equipment.

Geoff

[ComSoft6128]

Hi @GeoffB17 ,

I have collected (and read) all the reviews and letters regarding the Music System and the Advanced Music System that I could find, the reviews might help in showing how the .mus files were created and indeed it looks like a midi module was proposed for the program but unfortunately that never came about. The reviews are from AMTIX, The Amstrad Computer User and Amstrad Action.

REVIEWS:

https://archive.org/details/amstrad-action-006/page/n31/mode/2up

https://archive.org/details/amstrad-action-013/page/n23/mode/2up

https://archive.org/details/AmstradComputerUser16-0386/page/n115/mode/2up

https://archive.org/details/AmstradComputerUser23-1086/page/n29/mode/2up

https://archive.org/details/amtix-magazine-04/page/n77/mode/2up

https://archive.org/details/amtix-magazine-07/page/n35/mode/2up

https://archive.org/details/amtix-magazine-12/page/n45/mode/2up


LETTERS (The links take you to the correct page):

"JOHANN SEBASTIAN DISC"

https://archive.org/details/amstrad-action-020/page/n7/mode/2up

"MUSIC TO YOUR EARS"

https://archive.org/details/amstrad-action-030/page/n7/mode/2up

"AMS LOYAL SUPPORTER"

https://archive.org/details/amstrad-action-045/page/n9/mode/2up

"MUSICAL PHILANTHROPY"

https://archive.org/details/AmstradComputerUser38-0188/page/n13/mode/2up

"ENCORE"

https://archive.org/details/AmstradComputerUser41-0488/page/n9/mode/2up

"MUSICAL APPRECIATION"

https://archive.org/details/AmstradComputerUser41-0488/page/n13/mode/2up

[GeoffB17]

Thanks for these links.   I'll wade my way through them.  Hopefully I'll find some hints that might lead me to other information.

The structure of the .mus files used must have come from somewhere, even if more than one place.  Just need some hints.

I assume that back then midi was not an obvious 'need'.   Anything in the software would have been useful but ONLY if the computers being used had some midi capability, or interfaces were readily available, or if there was lots of devices to connect to.   All this not so big then?

One little oddity.   The .mus files all contain the marker 'IamMusic', maybe more than once.   Not sure of the significance of this.  I've looked for this via Google, but the results don't prove anything.   However I did also find a couple of files called MUSICSY1.D64 and the ....2 partner, I think comething to do with Commodore 64.   Looking in the files they look like some sort of disk image?   The point being, one of then (#1) also contains use of the marker IamMusic.

Thanks again.

Geoff

[ComSoft6128]

Edvard Grieg - Wedding Day at Troldhaugen

From the Rob Baxter Music Disc III

Music starts at 0:22 and finishes at 6:23


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UttPGGKdGAI

With thanks to @tjohnson

"I think this a particularly inspiring piece of music, with its march like main theme contrasting elegantly with the beautiful middle section.
Grieg was a Norwegian composer who combined a very distinct nationalism of style, with an unashamed romanticism.
Troldhaughen is the name of the town, not far from Bergen, where he made his country home."

"I feel that with Music III I have pushed the Advanced Music System to its limits. Still though, I felt the same thing a long time ago as well, so I might prove myself wrong again!"
I am very proud of Music III and I hope you get a lot of pleasure from listening to it. Once again, do try and listen to the music through your stereo system as you would miss so much if you didn't.
That's it from me for a while. I do not doubt there will be a Music IV from me at some time in the not-too-distant future, but for the time being I will be re-charging my mental batteries; I must admit that producing Music III has been a somewhat exhausting experience... But well worth the effort  !!
                               Thank you very much  for your continuing interest.
                                                                                                  Best wishes;
                                                                     Rob Baxter. September 1987"


Link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedding_Day_at_Troldhaugen

Not emulated - original hardware and software.
Please note that the aspect ratio for this YouTube video is 16:9 but the CPC monitor
has an aspect ratio of 4:3 so you may wish to adjust your viewing device accordingly.

[ComSoft6128]

Chopin - Minute Waltz and Grande Valse Brillante

From the Rob Baxter Music Disc III

"The Minute Waltz and Grande Valse Brillante by Frederick Chopin (1810 - 1849). Two very well known and loved piano waltzes are presented here. Chopin's music exploited the possibilities of the piano to the fullest extent. As well as being a subtle composer, he was also a brilliant performer on the instrument." - Rob Baxter. September 1987

Music starts at 0:14 and finishes at 7:31


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGOxv-r5jxA


Links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grande_valse_brillante_in_E-flat_major_(Chopin)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minute_Waltz

[ComSoft6128]

The Italian Concerto by  J.S. Bach


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1iY5Upl4gI

From the Rob Baxter Music Disc IV (1988)

"Again for solo harpsichord, this work, published in 1735, imitates the style of the contemporary Italian orchestral concerto, attempting to reproduce on the keyboard the contrast between soloist and orchestra. Of note particularly is the spirited and boisterous PRESTO finale."
- Rob Baxter, May 1988

With thanks to @tjohnson

Reviews:

https://cpcrulez.fr/applications_music-the_advanced_music_system.htm?t=Vg==

https://cpcrulez.fr/applications_music-the_advanced_music_system.htm?t=VQ==

Links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Concerto_(Bach


http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/The_Advanced_Music_System


https://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&num=14033

Not emulated - original hardware and software.

Please note that the aspect ratio for this YouTube video is 16:9 but the CPC monitor
has an aspect ratio of 4:3 so you may wish to adjust your viewing device accordingly.

[ComSoft6128]

Organ Music from the Rob Baxter Music Disc II

Three Magnificat Fugues by Johann Pachelbel
Two Chorale Preludes by Johann Sebastian Bach

"More organ music. I decided to round side one off with some short compositions by Pachelbel & Bach. I was tempted to call the file PACHBACH, but discretion got the better of me and I settled on ORGAN.LNK. Thank Heavens!! These lovely little pieces are quite relaxing to listen to and the Amstrad manages a fairly credible impersonation of a small pipe organ."

"Pachelbel was a German organist and composer who lived from 1653 to 17:06. As a composer of fugal material for organ he was an important precursor of J.S. Bach. The three pieces presented here are taken from 94 organ verses he composed on the eight tones of the 'Magnificat' and are perfect examples of the organ fugue. It is worth noting that Pachelbel was a personal friend of J.S. Bach's father.

The two Bach Preludes in this section are 'Wenn wir in hochsten Noten sein', which was dictated to his son-in-law as he lay dying. It is probably the last thing Bach ever composed (at least in this life!). The other is the much loved 'Wachet Auf, ruft uns die stimme' with its haunting chorale melody weaving in and out of the accompaniment."

Rob Baxter - April 1987



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_bj5hKLkqg

With thanks to @Nich

Links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Pachelbel

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Eighteen_Chorale_Preludes

http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/The_Advanced_Music_System

https://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&num=14033

Not emulated - original hardware and software.

Please note that the aspect ratio for this YouTube video is 16:9 but the CPC monitor
has an aspect ratio of 4:3 so you may wish to adjust your viewing device accordingly.

[ComSoft6128]

HARPSICHORD CONCERTO IN F MINOR

From the Rob Baxter Music Disc II (1987)

"Bach pioneered the keyboard concerto as a valid form. A notable example of this is the Fifth Brandenburg Concerto. The work on this disc, along with its three companion pieces were transcriptions by Bach of concerti written for other instruments. Scholars are not even sure that the originals were even written by Bach himself. It has been suggested Vivaldi wrote the F Minor concerto as a work for violin but this is not substantiated. More recent research has indicated that it was composed by an (as yet) unknown German composer. Keyboard concerti were a rarity in Bach's day because the Harpsichord, and even more so the Clavichord were weak toned instruments more suited to thee intimate surroundings of chamber music than being pitted against the might of orchestra in anything other than a continuo role.
The file CONCERTO.LNK contains all three movements of this short concerto. They are: ALLEGRO, LARGO AND PRESTO."

Rob Baxter, April 1987


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT4n6ISs90I&t=184s


With thanks to @Nich


Not emulated - original hardware and software.
Please note that the aspect ratio for this YouTube video is 16:9 but the CPC monitor
has an aspect ratio of 4:3 so you may wish to adjust your viewing device accordingly.

[ComSoft6128]

The CHROMATIC FANTASIA & FUGUE.  J.S. BACH

As ever there is an excellent use of CPC stereo throughout the transcription.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9n5-9Ckqno

From the Rob Baxter MUSIC DISC IV

"The Fantasia is most uncharacteristic of Bach's work, being a seeming departure from his normally precise, almost mathematical style of composition. Glenn Gould, one of this century's foremost Bach authorities went so far as to describe it as a "...monstrosity...". He then went on to say that it represented as much as anything, Bach the Improviser as opposed to Bach the Organiser! During the Baroque period, improvisation was just as important as composition. Bach probably improvised just as many great Toccatas and Fantasias to be lost forever, as he wrote down - if not more!
The Fugue which follows echoes the chromatic nature of the Fantasia, but in a lighter and more positive mood."

Rob Baxter,  May 1988


Link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromatic_Fantasia_and_Fugue

Not emulated - original hardware and software.
Please note that the aspect ratio for this YouTube video is 16:9 but the CPC monitor
has an aspect ratio of 4:3 so you may wish to adjust your viewing device accordingly.

[ComSoft6128]

Vivaldi - Violin Concerto in A minor

From the Rob Baxter Music Disc 3 (1987)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAEt3H-bXqo


Link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_compositions_by_Antonio_Vivaldi


With thanks to @tjohnson

[ComSoft6128]

Four extracts from The Water Music by George Frideric Handel

From the Rob Baxter Music Disc II (1987)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6cSrK1eL1k


Link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_Music

With thanks to @Nich

Not emulated - original hardware and software.

Please note that the aspect ratio for this YouTube video is 16:9 but the CPC monitor
has an aspect ratio of 4:3 so you may wish to adjust your viewing device accordingly.

[ComSoft6128]

Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky

From the Rob Baxter Music Disc II (1987)

Instantly recognisable - Music starts at 2:23 and finishes at 30:56



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeLDAz9KB_g&t=10s


Links:
https://cpcrulez.fr/applications_music-the_advanced_music_system.htm?t=Vg==

https://cpcrulez.fr/applications_music-the_advanced_music_system.htm?t=VQ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pictures_at_an_Exhibition

http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/The_Advanced_Music_System

https://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&num=14033

Not emulated - original hardware and software.

Please note that the aspect ratio for this YouTube video is 16:9 but the CPC monitor
has an aspect ratio of 4:3 so you may wish to adjust your viewing device accordingly.

[ComSoft6128]

The Sailors Hornpipe
From the Rob Baxter disc "Short Works" from 1988.

Delightful (if far too short) piece played on The Advanced Music System that
was transcribed originally for the earlier Music System released in 1986.

Music starts at 3:34.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUi3LLyNNX4

Links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sailor%27s_Hornpipe


http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/The_Music_System


https://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&num=4215


http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/The_Advanced_Music_System


https://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&num=14033


Not emulated - original hardware and software.


Please note that the aspect ratio for this YouTube video is 16:9 but the CPC monitor
has an aspect ratio of 4:3 so you may wish to adjust your viewing device accordingly.

[ComSoft6128]

A mixture of traditional and religious music from the Rob Baxter Music Disc 3 (released September 1987)

Music starts at 0:12 and finishes at 13:04


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nljRAVJ-Lk

Reviews:

https://cpcrulez.fr/applications_music-the_advanced_music_system.htm?

https://cpcrulez.fr/applications_music-the_advanced_music_system.htm?t=VQ==


Links:

http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/The_Advanced_Music_System

https://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&num=14032

Not emulated - original hardware and software.

Please note that the aspect ratio for this YouTube video is 16:9 but the CPC monitor
has an aspect ratio of 4:3 so you may wish to adjust your viewing device accordingly.