The CyberBass
Project
Good selection, Separate SATB & Tutti
(Click on "Major Works")
CDRL.org
Large and well-indexed; Separate SATB & Tutti
Mozart's
Missa Brevis in F (K192)
(Thank you, Bill Page)
Elmbridge
Choir
Messiah only. Separate MIDI files for SATB, each with the 3 other parts very
low.
The
Classical Music Archives
Big selection. Tutti. Free, but registration required.
John's
downloadable Midi File Choral Music site
New addition. Detailed MIDI intro, plus Good chorale selections
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A VERY brief discussion of MIDI files.
MIDI files are not audio recordings
like .wav and .mp3 files.
Rather, MIDI files contain instructions that electronic instruments, including
keyboards and computer sound systems, can play.
For roughly the last eight years, all Mac and Windows computers which were delivered with sound systems were able to play MIDI files. All that is required (usually) is to locate a .mid or .midi file in the computer's file manager, and open it. Windows or Mac will start the default media player, and play the file.
A purchasable MIDI scoring/notation
program (there are many) gives almost complete control over how the MIDI file
is played. Of particular value to choristers studying "Messiah" are:
- Speed controls so the student can learn difficult runs at a lower tempo,
- Volume controls on each part (S,A,T,B, piano, trumpet, etc.) against a reduced
background containing any selection of other parts,
- Display of the music score while it is playing,
- Queueing to any part of the music score.
The high-end programs MIDI Composition
programs such as Sibelius and Finale start at around $300, and that may be for
the academic versions.
I'll check to see if the low-end programs (under $80) have the playback features
described above. Eight years ago, $49.99 would buy MidiSoft Recording Studio,
an excellent MIDI notation program. However, MidiSoft became RecordLab.com,
which is in the Internet directory, but wouldn't answer an http query when I
tried them today.