Searching for a piece of music by notes

[angela146]

Does anyone know of a utility that will search through a database of classical music to try to find a particular melody?

I have a tune in my head and I don't know the name of it. I'm hoping for some kind of program where I can enter the notes on a staff and tell it to go find that line of notes in a database.

Any suggestions?

 

[minsue]

No suggestions, but I find it a fascinating concept.

 

[Guest]

Does anyone know of a utility that will search through a database of classical music to try to find a particular melody?

I have a tune in my head and I don't know the name of it. I'm hoping for some kind of program where I can enter the notes on a staff and tell it to go find that line of notes in a database.

Any suggestions?

Can you approximate the tune in notation?

Something like - C - F - F - F (for example).

If you can give me a piece of it I may know it.

Or do you recall where you heard it last? Movie, tv show?

 

[angela146]

Can you approximate the tune in notation?

Something like - C - F - F - F (for example).

If you can give me a piece of it I may know it.

Key of D minor

FFDGGF FFGFEFD

Not sure how to note the rythm without resorting to actual music notation.

 

[Guest]

Key of D minor

FFDGGF FFGFEFD

Not sure how to note the rythm without resorting to actual music notation.

I'm playing that, trying different rhythms, not finding it yet.

Can you note the rhythm with longer notes in bold font?

 

[angela146]

I'm playing that, trying different rhythms, not finding it yet.

Can you note the rhythm with longer notes in bold font?

x = 8th rest
. = 16th note
o = 8th note
O = dotted eighth note tied to a quarter note

x..o x..o...O

 

[Guest]

x = 8th rest
. = 16th note
o = 8th note
O = dotted eighth note tied to a quarter note

x..o x..o...O

Well done - but I can't recall it, I'm sorry.

For notating software, do you use this program? It's free and terrific -

http://www.codamusic.com/

Notepad is what you want.

I'll keep racking my brain for your tune. It sounds familiar, dang it.

 

[Guest]

Possible - John Williams - music from "Hook"?

Sounds like battle music from some of the scenes?

 

[angela146]

Well done - but I can't recall it, I'm sorry.

Thanks.

For notating software, do you use this program? It's free and terrific -

http://www.codamusic.com/

Notepad is what you want.

I have Finale (the full blown version from Coda) but it's on my husband's computer.

 

[Guest]

Thanks.I have Finale (the full blown version from Coda) but it's on my husband's computer.

Me, too.

I push Notepad on my students. It's an excellent learning tool and a terrific way to get kids to write their own work.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Years and years ago I came across a book in the library that was a dictionary of musical themes. It was probably written in the '50's or so, back when classical music was still considered the "only" music, and so featured only classical themes. To use it you had to transpose your melody into the key of C M and then use incidentals. It didn't care about the rhythms. It would list the names of all the pieces whose openings fit the first 4 bars or something of the meoldy you specified.

Unfortunately I can't remember the name of the book or what it was called, whether it was a "Dictionary of Themes" or "Encylopdea of Melodies" or "Musical Concordance" or what, and it's probably out of print now anyway, so I'm a big help, but I thought the concept was fascinating.

At the same time and right near this book, I found another fascinating book that contained a library of musical themes or cliches for composers of film scores. There was a chapter on ethnic themes--little 8-bar snatches of melody to establish that your scene was set in China or Russia or Persia or out West in cowboy country, and another chapter of musical stingers for when the murderer was revealed or the dagger was thrown--all sorts of stuff like that. It was an old book too and the examples were in score form and it was tremendous fun.

My favorite was the sea-sickness theme, though "Spooky Tension" was good too.

I should have stolen that book.

 

[gauchecritic]

I keep coming up with the Entertainer. Now I can't think of anything else.

Edited to add Joybringer? Jupiter from the Planets Suite, Carl Orff?