Digital Tradition Folksong Player

Folksongs at the Digital Tradition web site are stored mainly as SongWright and/or MIDI files. Songs available through the abc website are stored in the abc file format. All these tunes are freely available via the WWW. In addition several sample tunes are included with this software. You can download an evaluation version of this software from our Download page.

The Digital Tradition Folksong Player is designed to import melody lines from SongWright, abc, MusicEase or MIDI files. (MIDI files should have been created using a steady tempo. Also, if the same tune exists as both a SongWright or abc file and as a MIDI file, it is better to load the SongWright or abc file as it contains more notational data then does the MIDI file.) To import a file of one of these types, just Open the file. The Digital Tradition Folksong Player then loads the file. If the file is a SongWright or MIDI file, it is then cast off (the locations of staff breaks are calculated), and justified. If the song is an abc or MusicEase file, nothing is done automatically. You can manually cast off and justify or just justify.

At this point you see the melody on your computer screen. If the song is a SongWright file with lyrics, the lyrics will also appear. You can now preview how it would print by pressing lower case "v" or print it out directly by clicking on the Print Tool. Printed output has been made to correspond as closely as possible to music printed by professional music engravers and copyists. For example, beam slants and end positions are generally correct according to music engraving standards. Note spacing after justification has been applied also corresponds closely to that of professional engravers.

You can play the tune or a highlighted section (block) of it by clicking on the Play Tool (it appears as 2 musical notes without the "+" sign) or pressing lower case "p".

Most of the tunes in these collections do not contain chord names. Pressing lower case "c" or clicking on the Add Chords tool (a "C7" without the "+" sign) will automatically add chord names, removing any that were previously there. (Pressing upper case "C" or clicking on the Add Alternate Chords tool (a "C7" with the "+" sign) will add a generally different set of chord names.) You can manually insert or delete chord names if you like.

Once the tune contains chord names, you can play the tune with an accompaniment by pressing lower case "a" or clicking on the "Play with accompaniment" tool on the Toolbar (2 notes with a "+" sign).

Shape notes (including 4 and 7 shape systems) can be used instead of standard round noteheads. Guitar fret diagrams also can automatically be added to chord names. See the Tools Menu.

In the registered version, you can save the melody plus chords and lyrics as a MusicEase file which can later be loaded into the Digital Tradition Folksong Player or the MusicEase intelligent notation editor.

The Gold edition of the Digital Tradition Folksong Player contains additional features.