Alf's Place 

Programs on this site

• This file, BIABTools.zip, BIABTools.zip (300.0 kB, 13 Nov 2009)
  contains a program that I wrote to convert certain types of BIAB files to abc. I find it easier to enter melodies in BIAB, add chords and export to abc for nice, compact printing for fake and tune books. This can be useful for other types of music, such as jazz. There is a read-me file in the zip file that explains what you need to do.
• I wrote this program SightRead.zip (369.5 kB, 21 Jun 2011)
  to help me improve my sight-reading. It might be useful to someone else. You need abcm2ps, ghostscript and ghostview installed on your machine.
• ABCEditor abceditor.zip (946.4 kB, 24 Feb 2013)
  from Elizabeth Scarlett is on this site. This is a multiple document interface (MDI) version of the popular features of ABCTools and ABCFind. It also provides a GUI interface to abcm2ps (and the like) and provides a tune index for multiple ABC files. The zip file has some short instructions for setting up ABCeditor, Ghostscript and the other files you need to print music.
• ABCTools & ABCFind - Programs for working with abc files by Elizabeth Scarlett. These versions were re-compiled to deal with long file names. ABCtools lets you make cheat sheets or cards to help remember tunes and sets.

abc links

• ABC explained - If you are going to use abc you need to read this at least once in your life or go here where you will find an excellent tutorial and other material.
• Ceolas abc stuff - The master site for Celtic music
• John Chambers Tune Finder - web site for finding tunes in abc format
• ABC Navigator - A very nice program that plays abc tunes at whatever speed you select. The program will also export midi files that can be read into BIAB
• Henrik Norbek's site - A terrific source of celtic music in abc format. You will also find ABCmus there; a very good abc player.
• abcm2ps - Program to convert multi-voice abc tunes to postscript files.
• DOS programs for manipulating abc files.
• Ghostscript and Ghostview - programs for printing and viewing postscript music files

Band in a Box Links

• PG Music - Band-in-a-Box - Where you can buy the BIAB and PowerTracks software
• A Yahoo users group where you can get BIAB files of all kinds and communicate with other users of BIAB.

Other links

• If you are looking for a fine fiddle, you must visit Dennis Alexander's page and - even better - arrange to try one of his instruments.
• If you are looking for a Bodhran tipper you have to visit Jim Hunter's page.
• Craig Hamm's site gives lots of information about Celtic music in Ottawa.
• Ottawa - about Canada's capital
• Alisdair Birch's page is a good place to go if you play guitar, especially jazz guitar. You will find lots of useful information about and links to guitars, Band-in-a-Box, Scotland etc.