Dave Prochnow

Here is a direct link to RingsTrue (Warning: this link will launch iTunes):

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=308006093&mt=8

For those of you, who would like to explore the historical basis for my iPhone App, RingsTrue, I have assembled this resource archive that I consulted during the development of this App. Enjoy.

Musikalisches Würfelspiel

Neue Mozart-Ausgabe

Internationale Stiftung Mozarteum Database:
ID KV TEXT NMA

6025 KV 516f Musikalisches Würfelspiel, in C Musikalisches Würfelspiel Musical Game of Dice Musikalisches W NMA X/31/4, p.0
8820 KV Anh. C 30.01 [Musikalische Würfelspiele] Musikalische Würfelspiele Musical Games of Dice not issued in NMA
8821 KV Anh. C 30.02 Alphabet / Ein musikalischer Scherz a, b, c, d Ein musikalischer Scherz A Musical Joke Alphabet Alphabet not issued in NMA

BaerenReiter

Divertimento “A Musical Joke (Ein musikalischer Spass)” F major K. 522
Vienna 1787. NMA: VII:18,223
2 Horns, String Quartet

Mozart Forum

Anh C 30.01
–
Anh 294d

Musical Dice Game
Numerous editions appeared under Mozart’s name, the first by J.J. Hummel in Berlin and Amsterdam in 1793; this popular form of musical entertainment was published under many famous composer’s names in 18th and 19th Centuries.
–
Anh C 30.02
–
Mentioned within Anh294d

Alphabet/A Musical Joke
Issued by Lischke in Berlin as Mozart’s Alphabet a Musical Joke for 3 children’s voice, arranged by C.F. Par; certainly has nothing to do with Mozart.

Bibliothèque nationale de France

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756-1791)
[Alphabet. KV Anh. C 30.02. Voix (3)]
Alphabet : a capella / W. A. Mozart. – [Partition]. – Sampzon : Delatour France, 2004. – 1 partition ([2] p.) ; 30 cm.
DLM 0400277. – (En feuille) : 1,99 EUR. – Cotage DLT0175.
Trios vocaux a cappella — 18e siècle — Partitions

04-00765
BN Mus. [Vmg. 043008]

The RingsTrue Metadata has been edited in the iTunes App Store. Both the Application URL and the Support URL now point here. They previously pointed to the three-part PopSci article that reported the creation of RingsTrue.

RingsTrue is a name game based on Musikalisches Würfelspiel. The origin of this game is occasionally attributed to Wolfgang A. Mozart. In RingsTrue, musical notes are assigned to letters and the resulting score is played by RingsTrue.

There are four modes of operation:

1. W. Mozart – select an instrument with the slider and press Play. The name “Wolfgang” is converted into a music.
2. Entry – enter any name or single word, select an instrument with the slider, and press Play. Only letters are permitted; no numbers,  non-text characters, or spaces will work.
3. Party – press Play for a random name and instrument.
4. Serenade – pick a name out of your Contacts address book, select an instrument with the slider, and press Play.

Well, the results are in and RingsTrue has topped 700 downloads for the week ending 05/03/2009. Not bad for an App that received absolutely no mention from Apple (via the iTunes App Store’s New and Noteworthy listing) and can only be located via an App Store search.

So, search for it by name (RingsTrue) and accept no substitutes. Oh, and don’t let that “1 Star” rating fool you—this App is fun, addictive, and, best of all, it’s FREE!