ï~~(Frets, Strings, Holes, Tuning Ranges, etc.). Also multimedia data are added by the file pointers
of Sounds(PCM file), Pictures(Tiff file) and Explanatory Notes(Text file).
We have developed the prototype system on NEXTSTEP environment in order to take one record
for one physical instrument data and to get query system. The attributes of one Instrument are
taken as one object. We could quickly make easy GUI interface because NEXTSTEP have many
support objects such as project builder, interface builder, and so on.
Fig. 2 shows an example of a Chinese musical Instrument 'pipa '. In another window, search by
each items can process. The search condition can be selected in AND, OR, SUBTRACT. So we can
chose expected instrument after one query. One can store a new record and modify a record if
user is set on data manipulation mode.
This prototype system can be operated easy interactive manipulation because of NEXTSTEP GUI
environment. However, some problems are existent. Firstly, this is not complete database system
in only used NEXTSTEP data management function. For example, we must rewrite Objective-C
program if fixed record structure is changed as addition or modification of items. Dynamic
modification of record structure is difficult. Further, when massive records are stored, system
performance will be down. Secondary, this system is stand-alone and can not be available in
network. So one who want to use is limited.
4. Description of HTML on WWW
In another plan, we are constructing the catalog data on World Wide Web (WWW) to be able to
use in Internet. HTML on WWW can process multimedia data because of hyper text structure and
affinity for classification of the catalog data. Fig. 3 shows the structure of the catalog described
by HTML.
Fig. 4 is an example image of an instrument. In this case, it is difficult to reach to target
instrument for someone who do not know the structure. So we provide index file and query
window by Common Gate-way Interface(CGI ) additionally, and simple search from Name or Area
can be taken.
5. Description on SQL server
For next stage, we are building the Musical Instrument Database using the relational database
method which have high level query (SQL) and can arrange the structure dynamically. We are
constructing client-server environment on Internet using SYBASE SQL server.
Further examination of the high level query system should be needed in such Human Science
Database. For this purpose, answering ambiguous queries using knowledge-bases outside the
main database must be build.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to THE KOIZUMI FUMIO MEMORIAL ARCHIVES, TOKYO NATIONAL
UNIVERSITY OF FINE ARTS AND MUSIC for comments.
References
[1] CATALOG OF THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT COLLECTION, The Koizumi Fumio
Memorial Archives, Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, 1987.
[2] Takashi SUZUKI: Music Database -Musical Instrument Database with Multimedia-,
In Proceedings of The Japan-China Joint Meeting on Music Acoustics, Peking University,
pp.81-84, 1994.
Suzuki et al.
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ICMC Proceedings 1996
