System and method for generating, distributing, storing and performing musical work files

A method comprising the steps of:

• receiving music control signals;
• receiving at least a portion of a sound bank containing at least one instrument sound;
• and
• storing the music control signals and received sound bank portion as a musical work file.

A composition system comprising:

• means for receiving music control signals;
• means for receiving at least a portion of a sound bank containing at least one instrument sound;
• and
• means for storing the music control signals and received sound bank portion as a musical work file.

A computer-readable medium storing program code for causing a computer to perform the steps of:

• receiving music control signals;
• receiving at least a portion of a sound bank containing at least one instrument sound;
• and
• storing the music control signals and received sound bank portion as a musical work file.

A player system that can receive and play downloadable-in-real-time musical data, comprising:

• an input terminal for receiving a musical work file containing downloadable-in-real-time topology information, downloadable-in-real-time music sequence data, and a sound bank which includes at least one downloadable-in-real-time instrument sound;
• a synthesizer capable of adding downloadable-in-real-time sounds, said synthesizer being coupled to the input terminal for processing the music sequence data based on the topology information and the sound bank;
• and
• a speaker system coupled to the synthesizer for converting the processed music sequence data to sound.

A method for playing a musical work file comprising the steps of:

• receiving said musical work file containing downloadable-in-real-time topology information, downloadable-in-real-time music sequence data, and a sound bank which includes at least one downloadable-in-real-time instrument sound;
• processing the music sequence data based on the topology information and the sound bank;
• and
• converting the processed music sequence data to sound.

A player system that can receive and play downloadable-in-real-time musical data, comprising:

• means for receiving a musical work file containing downloadable-in-real-time topology information, downloadable-in-real-time music sequence data, and a sound bank which includes at least one downloadable-in-real-time instrument sound;
• means for processing the music sequence data based on the topology information and the sound bank;
• and
• means for converting the processed music sequence data to sound.