MusicXML

Introduction[edit | edit source]

The purpose of MusicXML, developed by Recordare and adopted by many vendors is a royalty-free XML schema for distributing and sharing interactive sheet music with a wide variety of musical applications. MusixXML is implemented in particular most scorewriting programs like the commercial Finale and Sibellius or the free MuseScore

“The MusicXML format represents common Western musical notation from the 17th century onwards. It lets you distribute interactive sheet music online, and to use sheet music files with a wide variety of musical applications. The MusicXML format is open for use by anyone under a royalty-free license, and is supported by over 150 applications.” (Recordare.com)

The advantage of MusicXML with respect to MIDI, is that this language was specifically targeted for notation, e.g. it can include text.

History and versions[edit | edit source]

All MusicXML versions are upwards compatible

• MusicXML version 1.0 (Jan 2004)
• MusicXML version 1.1 (May 2005)
• MusicXML version 2.0 (July 2007)
• MusicXML version 3.0 (Aug 2011): standard taxonomy of 886 instruments, more sheet music repertoires, more detailed features of common Western music notation.

The Notation Interchange File Format (NIFF) is an alternative. However, according to Wikipedia, , retrieved 16:29, 12 September 2011 (CEST) “NIFF is now considered obsolete mainly due to the MusicXML format. As of February 2006 the NIFF project web site has been closed.”

Links[edit | edit source]

Overviews

• MusicXML (Wikipedia)

Official / standards

• Specification files at recordare.com
• XSLT converters

Software compatible with MusicXML

• MuseScore (Wikipedia page)
• Rosegarden (Wikipedia page)

See MusicXML software list for a complete list.

Online software

• Noteflight can at least import MusicXML (commercial, demo available)

Repositories

• See Digital music library