Musical playback apparatus and method which stores music and performance property data and utilizes the data to generate tones with timed pitches and defined properties

A music chain data composing apparatus comprising:

• a first data storage area which stores a plurality of music data sets, each having a music identification number and representing a music piece as a time progression of musical tones defined by pitches and times;
• a second data storage area which stores a plurality of performance property data sets, each having a property identification number and representing a set of performance properties defining tone properties of said musical tones when performed;
• a third data storage area for storing a chain list data set containing a list of said music identification numbers indicative of music data sets to be played back from among said plurality of music data sets in the order for playback and a list of said property identification numbers indicative of performance property data sets to be employed from among said plurality of performance property data sets in the order for employment;
• a chain list nominating module which nominates said music identification numbers, one after another in a desired order for playback and said property identification numbers, one after another in a desired order for employment;
• and
• a chain list data storing module which stores said nominated music identification numbers and said nominated property identification numbers into said third data storage area, thereby composing a data set representing a list of chained music pieces.

A method for playing back a music chain comprising:

• a step of storing in a storage device a plurality of music data sets, each having a music identification number and representing a music piece as a time progression of musical tones defined by pitches and times;
• a step of storing in a storage device a plurality of performance property data sets, each having a property identification number and representing a set of performance properties defining tone properties of said musical tones when performed;
• a step of storing in a storage device a chain list data set containing a list of said music identification numbers indicative of music data sets to be played back from among said plurality of music data sets in the order for playback and a list of said property identification numbers indicative of performance property data sets to be employed from among said plurality of performance property data sets in the order for employment;
• a step of reading out said music identification numbers in said order for playback and said property identification numbers in said order for employment;
• a step of reading out said music data sets as identified by said read-out music identification numbers;
• a step of reading out said performance property data sets as identified by said read-out property identification numbers;
• and
• a step of generating tones with tone pitches and at times defined by said read-out music data set and in tone properties defined by said read-out performance property data set.

A method for composing music chain data comprising:

• a step of storing in a storage device a plurality of music data sets, each having a music identification number and representing a music piece as a time progression of musical tones defined by pitches and times;
• a step of storing in a storage device a plurality of performance property data sets, each having a property identification number and representing a set of performance properties defining tone properties of said musical tones when performed;
• a step of nominating said music identification numbers indicative of music data sets to be played back from among said plurality of music data sets, one after another in a desired order for playback and said property identification numbers indicative of performance property data sets to be employed from among said plurality of performance property data sets, one after another in a desired order for employment;
• a step of storing in a storage device said nominated music identification numbers and said nominated property identification numbers to constitute a list of said music identification numbers and a list of said property identification numbers, thereby composing a data set representing a list of chained music pieces.

A storage medium for use in an apparatus for playing back chained music pieces, said apparatus being of a data processing type comprising a computer and a storage device, said medium containing a program that is executable by the computer, the program comprising:

• a module of storing in said storage device a plurality of music data sets, each having a music identification number and representing a music piece as a time progression of musical tones defined by pitches and times;
• a module of storing in said storage device a plurality of performance property data sets, each having a property identification number and representing a set of performance properties defining tone properties of said musical tones when performed;
• a module of storing in said storage device a chain list data set containing a list of said music identification numbers indicative of music data sets to be played back from among said plurality of music data sets in the order for playback and a list of said property identification numbers indicative of performance property data sets to be employed from among said plurality of performance property data sets in the order for employment;
• a module of reading out said music identification numbers in said order for playback and said property identification numbers in said order for employment;
• a module of reading out said music data sets as identified by said read-out music identification numbers;
• a module of reading out said performance property data sets as identified by said read-out property identification numbers;
• and
• a module of generating tones with tone pitches and at times defined by said read-out music data set and in tone properties defined by said read-out performance property data set.

A storage medium for use in an apparatus for composing a data set representing a list of chained music pieces, said apparatus being of a data processing type comprising a computer and a storage device, said medium containing a program that is executable by the computer, the program comprising:

• a module of storing in said storage device a plurality of music data sets, each having a music identification number and representing a music piece as a time progression of musical tones defined by pitches and times;
• a module of storing in said storage device a plurality of performance property data sets, each having a property identification number and representing a set of performance properties defining tone properties of said musical tones when performed;
• a module of nominating said music identification numbers indicative of music data sets to be played back from among said plurality of music data sets, one after another in a desired order for playback and said property identification numbers indicative of performance property data sets to be employed from among said plurality of performance property data sets, one after another in a desired order for employment;
• and
• a module of storing in said storage device said nominated music identification numbers and said nominated property identification numbers to constitute a list of said music identification numbers and a list of said property identification numbers, thereby composing a data set representing a list of chained music pieces.