MIDI files on a web page? It's a snap.
Don't use <bgsound> as that automatically implies that user controls aren't going to be required.
As for Flash, forget it. I haven't played around with Flash MX 2004, yet, but from my extensive experience with 4, 5 and the first MX version, I can say there is no support for MIDI file playback or control.
JavaScript? Nope. Why make your life difficult? This is an easy problem to solve.
Simply use <object> and <embed> tags to lay your MIDI file somewhere in the page. Specify a plugin such as Quicktime or Windows Media Player to take control of the MIDI file (I strongly recommend QuickTime)and specify a height of 16 pixels, and enough width as you feel is apporopriate. You can use the code below as a guide:
For using the Quicktime player:
<object classid="clsid:02BF25D5-8C17-4B23-BC80-D3488ABDDC6B" width="100" height="16" codebase="http://www.apple.com/qtactivex/qtplugin.cab>
<param name="src" value="PATH TO YOUR MIDI FILE HERE">
<embed src="PATH TO YOUR MIDI FILE HERE" width="100" height="16" pluginspage="http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/"></embed>
</object>
All you have to do is replace the "PATH TO YOUR MIDI FILE HERE" with, well, the path to your MIDI file and it should work for you.
Notice the <embed> element is within the <object> element and that you have to specify the src, width, height, and plug-in two times. This is the best way of doing it which supports both the MS activex plugin model and the simpler embed that Netscape introduced years ago. If you're certain that your page visitors have up-to-date web browsers (a dangerous assumption, at best), using the <embed> by itself may work out fine.
In addition, you may want to specify additional parameters such as "autostart" to make the file begin playing automatically, or enable kiosk mode to prevent people from downloading and saving your MIDI files.
It is ALWAYS a good idea to put controls on any web pages that have music embedded in them, because if the visitor wants to disable it and can't, it will surely drive him/her away from your site.
REMEMBER:
There is nothing more annoying than backgound music that can't be disabled, so use the technology appropriately and ALWAYS give your visitor the option to turn it off and/or adjust the volume.
If you need more information, visit www.apple.com and click the Quicktime link in the menu header or visit the page I set up for my NYU class, Sound Design for the Web:
http://homepages.nyu.edu/~rjc223/SoundDesign
As an alternative to MIDI files, which can sound 'cheezy,' try creating a small Flash movie that plays an audio file (Mp3) of the music and also offers controls. The only thing is that using Flash to do it requires writing actionscript, but once you do it one time, you can put it in your bag of tricks for the next site.
OR
You can simply set a path to an MP3 file instead of a MIDI file (using the same code above), and the Quicktime plug in will play that instead. The advantage to using Quicktime is that is will mimic 'streaming' using what Apple calls 'progressive download.' What this means is that the music will begin playing back as soon as a small amount has been buffered by the Quicktime plug-in. In other words, the visitor doesn't have to wait for the whole file to download before playback begins.
A final thought:
be aware of copyright issues if you are using someone else's music:
IT IS AN INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT to use someone's music without permission.
Make sure you have the proper permission to use the music or that the music is in the public domain.
If you need professional sound design for your web sites, please consult my company, amorphicmedia.
link below.