Master Track

[mms]

Hello,

2 questions on this subject.

1. What is the official MIDI spec name for this track (Master Track, Tempo Track, Meta Track?) as I've seen all these used.

2. Does the Master Track have to be the first track in a SMF?


Thanks in advance.

[JohnG]

Hi MMS,

Yeah, I too have seen all these names used but I think (without looking it up) that the MIDI specification refers to the Master Track.
It's the term I always use.

Does it have to be the first track?
Yes, again as far as I recall, the MIDI spec somewhere states what needs to go in the first track.
Although, from time to time I've seeen data supposed to be in the master track inserted elesewhere, most frequently changes of key signatures.

JohnG.

[mms]

Thanks John for your answer.


Your answer also agrees with my my thought that key signature changes should also be placed in the Master Track.

I am no music expert by any account, and I am under the impression (but can't confirm this),
that in any one piece of music the key signature is the same for all the the orchestra’s instrumental parts.

If this is in fact true, it makes sense that key signature changes also be placed in Master Track.

I guess the same would be true for time signatures?

[JohnG]

You'll need to be very careful with orchestral scores as the showing of key signatures has changed over the centuries, particularly when it comes to transposing instruments.
Are you familiar with the concept of transposing instruments?

Bach, for instance, would write his scores showing the actual notes that a transposing instrument would play.
It was up to his copyists, his wife and his students, to write out the individual parts appropriately transposed for transposing instruments, e.g. the oboe d'amore (up a third) and the oboe da caccia (up a major fifth).

In some more modern scores, for example the Romantic period, you will find many transposing brass instruments, e.g. horn in F, without any key signature marked and accidentals written where needed.
It's an area where some study of the pratices in vogue at the time of the writing of the score is needed.

[mms]

Very confusing for sure.

My program does handle transposing instruments, but now you've got me wondering if I am handling correctly.
Thanks for the heads up.