Strudelify
Hall of Heads cover art

1992 · Apollo 18

Hall of Heads

They Might Be Giants

KeyA majorTempo220 bpm
0:00/0:00
// Hall of Heads — They Might Be Giants
// 220 bpm, 4/4, key A major. Source: midi.
// Generated by strudelify. One cycle = one bar.
// note: Tempo changes preserved in elapsed time; displayed bars use the dominant tempo.
// note: ch 8 "Orchestra Hit" named as a string part, played on string ensemble 1 (its synth brass 1 patch is not one)
// note: duplicate parts dropped: ch 4 "Harpsichord" harpsichord (copy of ch 3 "Violin" viola)
// note: Full arrangement: all 161 bars on a 16-step grid, each part at one level; ghost notes are separate "_soft" parts. Source detail keeps the original performance.
setcpm(220/4)

// Notation: c3@3 lasts 3 steps · ~ is a rest · [c3,e3] is a chord · [...]/2 spreads a riff over 2 bars.
// A part's distinct bars are riffs (A, B, C...) played in order, A@4 for four bars: edit a riff to change every repeat.

// other · acoustic guitar steel · "Guitar"
const acoustic_guitar_steel = note(`<
  ~ A@2 B@3 C@2 D@2 E@5 F G@4 H@2 I@5 J@2 ~ K@2 L@2 M N O@3 ~@21 P Q R S P Q R S T U P V T U P V P Q R S P Q R S ~@16 P
  Q R S T U P V T U P V ~@16 W X@2 ~ W Y@3 Z AA AB@2 Z AA AC AD AE AF@3 Z AA AC AD Z AA AB@2 Z AA AC AD AG
>`.pickRestart({
  A: "[~@14 e3@17 ~]/2", B: "[~@6 g#3@4 f#3@5 e3@5 d3@17 ~@11]/3", C: "[f#3@8 ~@2 e3@17 ~@5]/2",
  D: "[~@6 a3@8 ~ d3@17]/2", E: "[~@12 d3@8 ~ e3@17 ~@7 g#3@5 f#3@4 e3@5 d3@17 ~@4]/5", F: "~@7 f#3@8 ~",
  G: "[~ e3@17 ~@11 d3@8 ~@2 e3@17 ~@8]/4", H: "[~@13 e3@17 ~@2]/2",
  I: "[~@4 g#3@5 f#3@5 e3@5 d3@17 ~@11 f#3@8 ~ e3@17 ~@7]/5", J: "[~@5 a3@8 ~ d3@17 ~]/2", K: "[~@4 e3@17 ~@7 g#3@4]/2",
  L: "[f#3@5 e3@5 d3@17 ~@5]/2", M: "~@3 f#3@4 ~", N: "e3", O: "[~@12 d3@8 ~ e3@17 ~@10]/3", P: "e2@3 e2", Q: "g2@3 g2",
  R: "a2@3 a2", S: "g2@3 a2@3 g2@2", T: "b1@3 b1", U: "d2@3 d2", V: "d2@3 e2@3 d2@2", W: "b1 c#2",
  X: "[d2 f#2@2 e2@4 ~]/2", Y: "[d2 f#2@2 f2@4 e2@2 a1!3]/3", Z: "b1@3 ~ b1@2 c#2@2 d2@3 ~ f#2@3 ~",
  AA: "e2@3 ~ d2@3 ~ b1@3 ~ a1@2 ~@2", AB: "[c#2@7 ~ a1@15 ~@9]/2", AC: "c#2@7 ~ a1@7 ~", AD: "a1@3 ~ a1@3 ~ c#2@7 ~",
  AE: "b1@2 c#2@2 d2@3 ~ f#2@3 ~ e2@3 ~", AF: "[d2@3 ~ b1@3 ~ a1@2 ~@2 c#2@7 ~ a1@15 ~@13]/3", AG: "d3@2 ~@6 d3@7 ~",
})).s("gm_acoustic_guitar_steel").gain(0.72)

// other · acoustic guitar steel · "Guitar" · soft notes
const acoustic_guitar_steel_2 = note("<~@39 A@3 B@6 C@6 D@4 E@2 ~@101>".pickRestart({
  A: "[~@11 c#2@18 ~ c2@18]/3", B: "[~@2 c2@18 ~ a1@18 ~ c2@18 ~ c#2@8 ~ d2@8 ~@2 e2@8 ~ f#2@8 ~]/6",
  C: "[~ c2@8 ~ a1@8 ~@2 c#2@18 ~ c2@18 ~ c2@18 ~ a1@18 ~]/6", D: "[c2@18 ~ c#2@8 ~ d2@8 ~@2 e2@8 ~ f#2@8 ~@2 c2@7]/4",
  E: "[~@2 a1@8 ~@2 g#1@9 ~@11]/2",
})).s("gm_acoustic_guitar_steel").gain(0.4)

// other · piano · "Thing"
const piano = note("<~@2 A ~ B C D@2 ~ E@2 F G ~ H ~ I@2 J K ~ L ~ M N O@2 ~ P ~ Q R S@2 ~ T@2 F U ~@122>".pickRestart({
  A: "~@3 [e4,e5]@5 ~@4 [e4,e5]@4", B: "~@8 [d4,d5]@5 ~@3", C: "~@2 [d4,d5]@5 ~@9",
  D: "[~@14 [e4,e5]@5 ~@5 [e4,e5]@5 ~@3]/2", E: "[~@4 [d4,d5]@5 ~@5 [d4,d5]@5 ~@13]/2", F: "~@10 [e4,e5]@5 ~",
  G: "~@3 [e4,e5]@5 ~@8", H: "[d4,d5]@5 ~@4 [d4,d5]@5 ~@2", I: "[~@6 [e4,e5]@5 ~@4 [e4,e5]@5 ~@12]/2", J: "~@3 [e4,e5]",
  K: "~@5 [e4,e5]@5 ~@6", L: "~ [e4,e5]@5 ~@5 [e4,e5]@5", M: "~@7 [d4,d5]@5 ~@4", N: "~ [d4,d5]@5 ~@10",
  O: "[~@13 [e4,e5]@5 ~@5 [e4,e5]@5 ~@4]/2", P: "~@3 [d4,d5]@5 ~@4 [d4,d5]@4", Q: "~@9 [e4,e5]@5 ~@2",
  R: "~@2 [e4,e5]@5 ~@9", S: "[~@15 [d4,d5]@5 ~@4 [d4,d5]@5 ~@3]/2", T: "[~@4 [e4,e5]@5 ~@5 [e4,e5]@5 ~@13]/2",
  U: "~@4 [e4,e5]@5 ~@7", // E
})).s("gm_piano").gain(0.16)

// other · piano · "Keyboard"
const piano_2 = note(`<
  ~@60 A@2 B@2 A@2 B@2 A@2 B@2 A@2 B@2 A@2 B@2 A@2 B@2 A@2 B@2 A@2 B@2 A@2 B@2 A@2 B@2 A@2 B@2 A@2 B@2 A@2 B@2 A@2 B@2
  A@2 B@2 A@2 B@2 A@2 B@2 ~@33
>`.pickRestart({
  A: "[b3,b4]@3 ~ [b3,b4]@3 ~ [b3,b4]@3 ~ [b3,b4]@3 ~", B: "[a3,a4]@3 ~ [a3,a4]@3 ~ [a3,a4]@3 ~ [a3,a4]@3 ~",
})).s("gm_piano").gain(0.32)

// other · alto sax · "Sax"
const alto_sax = note(`<
  ~@60 A B C@2 A B C@2 ~@24 D E F G D E F G A B C@2 ~@16 D E F G D E F G ~@24 D E F G D E F G H
>`.pickRestart({
  A: "~@4 e4@3 ~ e4@3 ~ b3@3 ~", B: "e4@5 ~ e4@5 ~ b3@3 ~", C: "[e4@7 ~ d4@3 ~ a#3@15 ~@5]/2",
  D: "e4@7 ~ e4@3 ~ e4@3 ~", E: "g4@5 ~ g4@5 ~ g4@3 ~", F: "a4@5 ~ a4@5 ~ a4@3 ~", G: "g4@5 ~ a4@5 ~ g4@3 ~",
  H: "[a0,b1] ~@3 [a0,b1] ~@3", // Asus2
})).s("gm_alto_sax").gain(0.48)

// other · alto sax · "Sax" · soft notes
const alto_sax_soft = note("<~@84 A B C D A B C D ~@20 A B C D A B C D ~@24 A B C D A B C D ~@9>".pickRestart({
  A: "e4@7 ~ e4@3 ~ e4@3 ~", B: "g4@5 ~ g4@5 ~ g4@3 ~", C: "a4@5 ~ a4@5 ~ a4@3 ~", D: "g4@5 ~ a4@5 ~ g4@3 ~",
})).s("gm_alto_sax").gain(0.32)

// other · string ensemble 1 · "Orchestra Hit"
const string_ensemble_1 = note(`<
  ~@85 A ~@3 A ~@3 A ~@3 A ~@15 A ~@3 A ~@3 A ~@3 A ~@10 B C ~ D B C ~ D B C ~ D B C ~ D B C ~ D B C ~ D B
>`.pickRestart({
  A: "~@12 [b3,b4,b5]@3 ~", B: "[b3,b4,b5]@3 ~@5 [b3,b4,b5]@3 ~@5", C: "~@4 [b3,b4,b5]@3 ~@5 [a3,a4,a5]@3 ~",
  D: "~@4 [a3,a4,a5]@3 ~@9", // A
})).s("gm_string_ensemble_1").gain(0.4)

// drums · kick
const kick = s("bd").struct(`<
  ~ A ~ B C D E F G ~ H I J K A D L M D ~ F ~ N H G J O P ~@2 C D E F Q R S I ~ O A ~ H C D O A ~ L T U V W X Y Z AA AB
  AC AD ~@7 AE AF@15 AE AF@15 AE AF@3 AE AF@7 C AF@3 C AF@3 AE AF@6 C ~ AF C AF C AF C AF ~ AF C AF C AF C AF AE AF C AF
  AE AF C AF AE AF C AF AE AF C@2 ~ AG
>`.pickRestart({
  A: "~@7 x", B: "~ x ~@8 x ~@5", C: "~ x ~@2", D: "~@7 x ~@8", E: "x ~@4 x ~@2", F: "~@13 x ~@2", G: "~@6 x ~@8 x",
  H: "~ x ~@6", I: "~@5 x ~@10", J: "~ x", K: "~@2 x ~@8 x ~@4", L: "~ x ~@14", M: "~@4 x ~@8 x ~@2", N: "x ~@8 x ~@6",
  O: "~@11 x ~@4", P: "~@5 x ~@8 x ~", Q: "~@3 x ~@4", R: "x", S: "~@3 x ~@8 x ~@3", T: "~@8 x ~@2 x ~@4",
  U: "~@2 x ~ x ~@6 x ~@2 x ~", V: "x ~@2 x ~ x ~@8 x ~", W: "~ x ~@6 x ~ x ~@5", X: "~@2 x ~ x ~ x ~@2 x ~ x ~@4",
  Y: "~@5 x ~ x ~@6 x ~", Z: "x ~@2 x ~ x ~@2 x ~ x ~ x ~@2 x", AA: "~ x ~ x ~@7 x ~ x ~ x",
  AB: "~@4 x ~ x ~@2 x ~@4 x ~", AC: "x ~ x ~@4 x ~@4 x!3 ~", AD: "x!4 ~ x!4 ~ x!4 ~ x", AE: "~ x!2 ~@2 x!2 ~",
  AF: "x!2 ~@2", AG: "x!2",
})).gain(0.56)

// drums · snare
const snare = s("sd").struct(`<
  ~ A B C A D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q E F R S T U V L W B ~ A X E F D H T Y Z AA AB P AC AD ~ AE AF L AG Z L AH K AI W
  AJ AK AL AM ~ P@7 AN P@15 AN P@15 AN P@3 AN P@7 AO P@3 AO P@3 AN P@6 AO AP P@5 ~ P AQ P@7 AN P@3 AN P@3 AN P@3 AN P@2
  AO AP AN
>`.pickRestart({
  A: "~@9 x ~ x ~@4", B: "~@3 x ~ x ~@6 x ~@3", C: "~@6 x ~@8 x", D: "~@2 x ~@8 x ~@4", E: "~@5 x ~@8 x ~",
  F: "~ x ~@6 x ~@7", G: "~ x ~@9 x ~@4", H: "~@4 x ~@2 x ~@6 x ~", I: "~@6 x!2", J: "~ x ~@8 x ~ x ~@3",
  K: "~@3 x ~@9 x ~@2", L: "~@7 x ~@8", M: "x ~ x ~@6 x ~@6", N: "~@3 x ~@8 x ~@3", O: "~@6 x ~ x ~@6 x", P: "~ x",
  Q: "~ x ~@4 x!2", R: "~ x ~@2 x ~@6 x ~@4", S: "~@2 x ~@4 x", T: "~@7 x ~@2 x ~@5", U: "~ x ~@8 x ~@5",
  V: "~@4 x ~@8 x ~ x", W: "x ~@8 x ~@6", X: "~ x ~@4 x ~", Y: "~ x ~@8 x ~@2 x ~@2", Z: "~@4 x ~@8 x ~@2",
  AA: "x ~@6 x ~@8", AB: "~@5 x ~@10", AC: "~@11 x ~@4", AD: "~@7 x", AE: "~ x ~@14", AF: "~ x ~@2", AG: "~@5 x ~@2",
  AH: "x ~@2 x ~ x ~@4 x ~@5", AI: "~@6 x ~@2 x ~ x ~@4", AJ: "~@3 x ~ x ~@2 x ~ x ~ x ~@2 x",
  AK: "~ x ~ x ~@2 x ~@8 x", AL: "~@4 x ~ x ~@2 x ~@6", AM: "~@2 x ~@4 x ~@8", AN: "x!2", AO: "x ~@2 x!2 ~ x ~",
  AP: "x!8", AQ: "~@2 x!6",
})).gain(0.56)

// drums · low tom
const low_tom = s("lt").struct("<A B ~@8 C ~@8 D E ~@17 F G ~@121>".pickRestart({
  A: "~@11 x ~@4", B: "~ x ~@2", C: "~ x ~@4 x ~", D: "~@5 x ~@2", E: "~@3 x ~@12", F: "~@9 x ~@6", G: "~ x ~@6",
})).gain(0.48)

// drums · open hat
const open_hat = s("oh").struct("<~@60 A@8 ~@16 A@20 B ~@7 A@16 ~@8 A@24 ~>".pickRestart({
  A: "x!4", B: "x",
})).gain(0.56)

// drums · splash
const splash = s("cr").struct("<~@49 A ~ B ~@2 C ~ D ~ E F C ~@100>".pickRestart({
  A: "~ x ~@2", B: "~@5 x ~@2", C: "x", D: "~@3 x ~@4", E: "~@12 x!2 ~ x", F: "x!3 ~ x!3 ~ x!4 ~ x!2 ~",
})).gain(0.48)

stack(
  acoustic_guitar_steel, acoustic_guitar_steel_2, piano, piano_2, alto_sax, alto_sax_soft, string_ensemble_1, kick,
  snare, low_tom, open_hat, splash
)

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