BBC owners who'd like to try their hand at a quick symphony or two can buy the Music package from BBC Soft.

The program works on either model Beeb, but is really pretty basic in its features. The introduction in the manual actually states that, because it runs on either model, the program has not taken full advantage of the commands available. The program has four different envelopes defined, and you can therefore play in four instruments. To enter a tune you place the notes on the stave on the screen. You can then play the tune or edit it. You can also record it to tape to replay, or to re-edit, at a later date.

Unfortunately, the program only uses one voice of the computer so you cannot produce harmonies. This is quite a serious omission, which should really have been included in a separate version for the Model B.

When loaded, the program asks for a command which can be any of seven. These are all accessed via the red function keys. Here you can do such things as edit your tune, play it, erase the tune in memory or change tempo and/or instrument.

Notes are entered onto the stave using the top two rows of the keyboard. Sharps and flats are available across just under two full octaves. Rests are entered with the Space bar - you cannot enter the tunes in real time.

To edit a tune you can move the program's cursor over the stave. As it is moved across, the notes will play in turn. You can then either alter, delete or insert notes. The erase function allows you to delete the notes on one of the three staves. You also have the option of erasing all three at once if you wish.

The Tempo command is used to set the speed at which the notes will be played. There are ten different settings which you can use. There are also four different instrument sounds to choose from. Although they're not really very realistic, it's certainly an improvement over similar programs running on a Spectrum. The four voices are organ, harpsichord, violin and piano.

The program comes with a reasonably understandable manual, and it's quite easy to use. Unfortunately, the lack of harmonies makes for pretty uninteresting music, but it's still quite fun. The graphics for the notes aren't too good either.

If you'd like to form your own opinions, then the tape will set you back £10. Well, it is from the BBC.