diff --git a/fluidsynth/include/fluidsynth/midi.h b/fluidsynth/include/fluidsynth/midi.h
index 7ce559fe..bd34c06f 100644
--- a/fluidsynth/include/fluidsynth/midi.h
+++ b/fluidsynth/include/fluidsynth/midi.h
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ FLUIDSYNTH_API int fluid_player_set_loop(fluid_player_t* player, int loop);
 FLUIDSYNTH_API int fluid_player_set_midi_tempo(fluid_player_t* player, int tempo);
 FLUIDSYNTH_API int fluid_player_set_bpm(fluid_player_t* player, int bpm);
 FLUIDSYNTH_API int fluid_player_get_status(fluid_player_t* player);
+FLUIDSYNTH_API int fluid_player_set_playback_callback(fluid_player_t* player, handle_midi_event_func_t handler, void* handler_data);
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
diff --git a/fluidsynth/src/midi/fluid_midi.c b/fluidsynth/src/midi/fluid_midi.c
index 8989e8aa..549530dd 100644
--- a/fluidsynth/src/midi/fluid_midi.c
+++ b/fluidsynth/src/midi/fluid_midi.c
@@ -1204,8 +1204,10 @@ fluid_track_send_events(fluid_track_t *track,
 
         track->ticks += event->dtime;
 
-        if (event->type != MIDI_SET_TEMPO)
-            fluid_synth_handle_midi_event(synth, event);
+        if (event->type != MIDI_SET_TEMPO) {
+            if (player->playback_callback)
+                player->playback_callback(player->playback_userdata, event);
+	}
         else if (player)
             fluid_player_set_midi_tempo(player, event->param1);
 
@@ -1252,6 +1254,7 @@ new_fluid_player(fluid_synth_t *synth)
     player->deltatime = 4.0;
     player->cur_msec = 0;
     player->cur_ticks = 0;
+    fluid_player_set_playback_callback(player, fluid_synth_handle_midi_event, synth);
 
     player->use_system_timer = fluid_settings_str_equal(synth->settings,
             "player.timing-source", "system");
@@ -1370,6 +1373,28 @@ fluid_player_get_track(fluid_player_t *player, int i)
     }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Change the MIDI callback function. This is usually set to 
+ * fluid_synth_handle_midi_event, but can optionally be changed
+ * to a user-defined function instead, for intercepting all MIDI
+ * messages sent to the synth. You can also use a midi router as 
+ * the callback function to modify the MIDI messages before sending
+ * them to the synth. 
+ * @param player MIDI player instance
+ * @param handler Pointer to callback function
+ * @param handler_data Parameter sent to the callback function
+ * @returns FLUID_OK
+ * @since 1.1.4
+ */
+int 
+fluid_player_set_playback_callback(fluid_player_t* player, 
+    handle_midi_event_func_t handler, void* handler_data)
+{
+    player->playback_callback = handler;
+    player->playback_userdata = handler_data;
+    return FLUID_OK;
+}
+
 /**
  * Add a MIDI file to a player queue.
  * @param player MIDI player instance
diff --git a/fluidsynth/src/midi/fluid_midi.h b/fluidsynth/src/midi/fluid_midi.h
index b3738a0b..b6a828bf 100644
--- a/fluidsynth/src/midi/fluid_midi.h
+++ b/fluidsynth/src/midi/fluid_midi.h
@@ -304,6 +304,9 @@ struct _fluid_player_t {
   int miditempo;            /* as indicated by MIDI SetTempo: n 24th of a usec per midi-clock. bravo! */
   double deltatime;         /* milliseconds per midi tick. depends on set-tempo */
   unsigned int division;
+
+  handle_midi_event_func_t playback_callback; /* function fired on each midi event as it is played */
+  void* playback_userdata; /* pointer to user-defined data passed to playback_callback function */
 };
 
 int fluid_player_add_track(fluid_player_t* player, fluid_track_t* track);