What is Music Mouse 2.0.2?

Music Mouse ("MM") is a novel musical instrument for computer-assisted improvisation written by pioneering computer musician Laurie Spiegel. Spiegel is perhaps most famous for having her work featured as the opening track on the gold record NASA sent to outerspace on Voyager. 

Written originally for her own use in 1985 on her 512K Macintosh, MM 1.0 was first published in 1986. The final version, 2.1.2, was published in 1998. 

This download is for version 2.0.2 from 1989. It includes most of the features of MM but lacks QuickTime and does not run correctly on the Mac IIci or later computers. The release notes mention fixes for MultiFinder and the Mac SE/30, so those can probably be considered the latest systems this is compatible with. 

MM can play music through the internal speaker but sounds much better when connected to a MIDI synthesizer. This version is not recommended for use under a Macintosh emulator unless it handles MIDI. If emulation is required, consider instead a newer version of MM which can output QuickTime.

While Music Mouse can be used without understanding, there is a full manual available online.  

Spiegel used to keep a web page for MM at MusicMouse.com, but it went down in 2023. (Archive). For a partial simulation of what MM was like, there is an in-browser emulator available at teropa.info.

This archive also includes Spiegler's "MIDI Terminal" program which converts MIDI signals into plain English.

    

 MacUser Magazine - "5 Mice. Music Mouse is a music program in a genre all its own. Called an "intelligent instrument", Music Mouse gives you instant musical feedback as you move the mouse and type on the keyboard, which controls tempo, vibrato, volume, etc. One of the more innovative music programs available for any personal computer... Immediately immerses you in the act of making music.

"Music Mouse is the kind of application that leaves you feeling completely charmed... it turns your Mac into a unique musical instrument... Most of you will call it just plain fun. This is a music program unlike any other ever written for personal computers. Music Mouse is computer-assisted improvisation, automating parts of the improvisation process, leaving you free to shape and direct the flow of the music... You can play slow, arching melodies with rich harmonic accompaniment. Or you can play glittering, shimmering textures with rapidly cascading inner patterns. The Music Mouse helps you express yourself."

Sing Out! Magazine (in Pete Seeger's "Appleseeds" column) - "NYC composer Laurie Spiegel has developed a floppy disc called Music Mouse for computer nuts who like to try "composing music" with the sophisticated sounds and prepared notes she gives them. The Copyright Office in Washington doesn't know what to do with her. She believes the information revolution will overthrow the intellectual property system and foresees a day when computer pieces will be like folksongs, anonymous common property to be altered by each new user. She would like to get music out of the concert hall and back into the living room."

Byte Magazine - "Music Mouse takes an approach to making music that is similar to Mathematica's approach to manipulating mathematics: Neither requires you to be an expert in the field to make good use of it... It's difficult for me to explain how Music Mouse works since it's such a visceral experience... While the effect and action are hard to describe, the results are stunning... The Music Mouse can be used by first-time and professional musicians. If you're a novice, it's fun to explore..."

 Wendy Carlos, in Keyboard Magazine - "Music Mouse is a positive step away from mechanized music. It's not automation at all. I hope to see more of this kind of thing."

Download Music Mouse 2.0.2 for Mac

Architecture

Motorola 68K

System Requirements

From Mac OS 1.0 up to Mac OS 7.0

Compatibility notes

This version will not run under Mac OS X using "Classic". For that, you'll need to download the 2005 release "2.1.2 Classic", which is like 1998's 2.1.2 but lacks MIDI output.

 

Emulating this? It could probably run under: Mini vMac