MusicXML Format Research Articles

Optical Music Recognition of Printed White Mensural Notation: Conversion to Modern Notation Using Object Detection Mechanisms

Today, the majority of music performers and vocalists are not able to read mensural notation fluently, and so conductors and music ensembles require modern editions for performing historical music. However, the conversion of printed white mensural sheet music into audible and performable modern notation currently requires elaborate manual editing by specialized music scholars. To close this gap, the present research proposes an algorithm that automatically converts scanned music score sheets of that historic period (the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries) into a file format that is readable in current notation software. This includes the optical recognition of musical symbols and respective semantic interpretation, for example note pitch determination. Based on works by the composers Sebastian Ertel and Paul Peuerl, the article presents a case study that combines convolutional neural networks with further computational process steps towards an integrated algorithm within a four-step optical music recognition (OMR) approach. As a result, the used musical material could be correctly converted into the MusicXML format with a recognition rate of 99 per cent. In the wake of these promising results, in future research we propose to extend our work to other materials, epochs, note symbols and advanced semantic analyses.

Tessa: A Novel MATLAB Program for Automated Tessitura Analysis

Tessitura-the habitual pitch range of a musical piece or role-is widely accepted as a significant factor in determining whether a singer should perform a given piece or role. However, attempts to quantify tessitura have historically relied on laborious hand calculations. The current study introduces a novel MATLAB program ("Tessa") that automates tessitura analysis of digital sheet music in the MusicXML format. This program will allow voice teachers and singing voice specialists to assess the appropriateness of musical pieces or roles for their students and clients. Tessa converts sheet music in the open-source MusicXML (MXL or XML) format to a MATLAB-compatible structure array (MAT). Once converted, the program extracts pitch, duration, and lyric information from the structure file, then saves relevant arrays to the user's computer. Finally, Tessa performs analyses on the piece's tessitura data, including histogram, box plot, and descriptive statistical analyses. Variables such as tempo, score part number, and the piece's title are automatically saved in order to facilitate repeated analyses. A sample analysis of Franz Schubert's song cycle Winterreise, D.911 is presented, with specific reference to the songs "3. Gefrorne Tränen" and "4. Erstarrung" as examples of pieces with markedly different tessituras-and, consequently, markedly different levels of vocal demand. Tessa is hosted on a GitHub repository (https://github.com/Allerseelen/Tessa) and is intended for open-source use and modification under the GNU General Public License v3.0. Voice teachers, singing voice specialists, and musicians may compare Tessa's analyses with voice range profiles or other assessment tools in order to evaluate repertoire and plan pacing strategies for extended performances.

MusicXML 기반의 악보 편집기 개발

In the past composers used to make music with classical instruments such as piano, violin, guitar, flute, drums, and other well-known tools. With the advent of digital technology many software programs were developed which allow musicians to compose tunes using personal computers. Many file formats were introduced such as NIFF, SMDL and MIDI but none besides MIDI has been successful. Recently MusicXML has emerged as a de-facto standard for the computer representation of music. This paper presents a brief description of the structure of the MusicXML format and describes the development of a music score editor based on MusicXML. We implemented a MusicXML-based score editing software using C# language and a feasibility test showed the efficiency of our proposed method. ▸

A Transcription System from MusicXML Format to Braille Music Notation

The Internet enables us to freely access music as recorded sound and even music scores. For the visually impaired, music scores must be transcribed from computer-based musical formats to Braille music notation. This paper proposes a transcription system from the MusicXML format to Braille music notation using a structural model of Braille music notation. The resultant Braille scores inspected by volunteer transcribers are up to the international standard. Using this simple and efficient transcription system, it should be possible to provide Braille music scores via the Internet to the visually impaired.