Music Poems (2003) — Full Album (Early MIDI Computer Music)

This album is the last of two projects which solely relied on computer MIDI software and soundfonts from the early 2000's. Although dated, it contains some interesting MIDI compositions with unique drum patterns. It was eventually updated from the basic Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth to the Coolsoft Virtual MIDI Synth.

If any of you remember the Internet during its early years, you will know that dial-up phone speeds of 56 Kbps brought limitations to sharing and listening to music. MP3 files was an early attempt to help with this issue, yet were usually formatted with limited audio (otherwise it would take forever to play and download). MIDI compositions, on the other hand, were data structured and could easily be download and applied to a soundfont. Computers running Windows 98, Me, and XP had a basic synth you could play a MIDI file with, known as the Wavetable Synth from Roland. This is where you get the early MIDI computer music synthesis. Early first-generation websites would have MIDI libraries of compositions copied from known synth releases.

Music Poems was originally a scrapped project on the cutting room floor, due to the recent purchase of the affordable Yamaha DGX-500 keyboard. Prior to its abandonment, it primary consisted of five compositions – The Giver and Taker, Skyscraper, Grandfather Clock, Menagerie, and an Untitled Work (which eventually became known as You’ll Be There). This last track was left incomplete at the time of the keyboard purchase. Four years later (2007), the project was released online as a supplemental/historical work in EP form. Also included were two MIDI Medley tracks which included various MIDI compositions. This project was originally known as Musicopoemia.

Finally, in 2016, the album was given a proper re-master. It re-recorded and restructured the original compositions, as well as included earlier MIDI files recorded (yet not included) in the first MIDI album project (Experiences: However Small or Insignificant). The re-master also includes two very early tracks (Flame and Junk Pile) from the Yamaha DGX practice sessions which were converted to MIDI. It now has a healthier run time of thirty minutes. It was one of the hardest albums to fix yet was worth the time and effort.

As mentioned prior, there are some interesting drum patterns in this work. Menagerie, for instance, runs at 5/4 time, creating a very unique sound. My favorite is Grandfather Clock. As the title implies, this project attempted to create music based on an experience or object. This concept would later be refined in future albums.

All music on this album is composed and played by Yahunatan (Jonathan Raimer). Keyboards and programming by Yahunatan. Composed in 2003.

Website - Yahunatan.com

You are allowed to use this music in your projects, yet please give appropriate credit (the same as you would want to be treated). Thank you.