MusicXML Elements Reference
This document is a structured reference to the principal MusicXML 3.x elements used to encode Western common-practice notation.
See https://www.musicxml.com/ for details.
Terminology follows standard musicological usage (note values, meter, pitch classes, articulations, etc.). Examples emphasize attribute variability such as rhythmic value, duration, and notation modifiers. This is not a verbatim schema listing; rather, it is a musically oriented guide to how elements function and vary in practice.
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1. Document-Level Elements
<score-partwise> and <score-timewise>
Defines the organizational model of the score.
<score-partwise> represents music sequentially by measure (most common).
<score-timewise> represents music vertically by time slice.
Attributes: version (e.g., “3.1”, “4.0”).
Musical relevance: does not affect notation directly but determines encoding perspective.
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2. Identification and Metadata
<work>
Describes the musical work.
Common children:
• <work-title> (e.g., Symphony No. 5 in C minor)
<identification>
Bibliographic and encoding metadata.
Children include:
• <creator type=”composer”>
• <rights>
• <encoding> (software, date, description)
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3. Part and Instrument Structure
<part-list>
Defines the ensemble and score order.
<score-part>
Represents a logical musical part (e.g., Violin I).
Attributes:
• id (unique identifier)
Children:
• <part-name>
• <part-abbreviation>
• <score-instrument> (instrument metadata)
<part>
Contains the actual musical content for a part.
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4. Measure and Temporal Organization
<measure>
Encapsulates musical events within a bar.
Attributes:
• number (notational measure number)
• implicit (pickup measures)
Musical variability:
• Regular measures (e.g., 4/4)
• Anacrusis (partial measure)
• Irregular or additive meters
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5. Attributes (Notational State)
<attributes>
Defines musical parameters that persist until changed.
<divisions>
Defines rhythmic resolution (divisions per quarter note).
Example:
• divisions = 1 → quarter note = 1
• divisions = 2 → quarter note = 2, eighth = 1
<key>
Key signature.
Children:
• <fifths> (circle of fifths: -1 = F major, 0 = C major, 1 = G major)
• <mode> (major, minor, dorian, etc.)
<time>
Meter.
Children:
• <beats> (numerator)
• <beat-type> (denominator)
Examples:
• 4/4 → beats=4, beat-type=4
• 6/8 → beats=6, beat-type=8
<clef>
Staff reference.
Children:
• <sign> (G, F, C, percussion)
• <line> (staff line number)
Examples:
• Treble clef: sign=G, line=2
• Bass clef: sign=F, line=4
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6. Notes and Rests
<note>
The fundamental musical event.
A note may represent:
• Pitched sound
• Rest
• Grace note
• Cue note
Pitch Specification
<pitch>
Defines sounding pitch.
Children:
• <step> (A–G)
• <alter> (chromatic alteration: -1 = flat, 1 = sharp)
• <octave> (scientific pitch notation)
Examples:
• C4 → step=C, alter=0, octave=4
• F♯5 → step=F, alter=1, octave=5
Duration and Rhythmic Value
<duration>
Absolute duration in divisions.
<type>
Notated rhythmic value.
Common values:
• whole
• half
• quarter
• eighth
• 16th
Examples:
• Whole note in 4/4: type=whole, duration=4 (if divisions=1)
• Half note: type=half, duration=2
• Quarter note: type=quarter, duration=1
<dot>
Extends duration by half of its value.
Examples:
• Dotted half note: type=half + dot
• Dotted quarter note: type=quarter + dot
• Double-dotted quarter: two <dot/> elements
Rests
<rest>
Indicates silence.
May include:
• Measure rests (whole-measure silence)
• Multi-measure rests (via <measure-style>)
Example:
• Whole-measure rest in 3/4: rest with duration equal to full measure
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7. Beams, Ties, and Tuplets
<beam>
Indicates beaming for rhythmic grouping.
Values:
• begin
• continue
• end
Used for eighth notes and shorter values.
<tie>
Connects identical pitches across notes.
Attributes:
• type = start | stop
Musical use:
• Sustaining pitch across barlines
<notations>
Container for performance and engraving symbols.
<tied>
Graphical representation of a tie.
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8. Tuplets and Irregular Divisions
<time-modification>
Defines rhythmic alteration.
Children:
• <actual-notes>
• <normal-notes>
Example:
• Triplet eighths: actual-notes=3, normal-notes=2
<tuplet>
Visual bracket and number for tuplets.
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9. Articulations and Ornaments
<articulations>
Common children:
• <staccato>
• <tenuto>
• <accent>
• <strong-accent>
Musical effect: affects note attack and length, not duration value.
<ornaments>
Children:
• <trill-mark>
• <turn>
• <mordent>
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10. Dynamics and Expression
<direction>
Non-note musical instructions.
<direction-type>
Common children:
• <dynamics> (pp, p, mp, mf, f, ff)
• <words> (espressivo, dolce)
• <wedge> (crescendo, diminuendo)
<sound>
Playback interpretation (tempo, dynamics).
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11. Tempo and Meter Changes
<metronome>
Children:
• <beat-unit> (quarter, eighth)
• <per-minute>
Example:
• Quarter = 120
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12. Harmony
<harmony>
Encodes harmonic analysis or lead-sheet symbols.
Children:
• <root> (pitch class)
• <kind> (major, minor, dominant, diminished)
• <bass> (inversions)
Example:
• V7 in C major: root=G, kind=dominant
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13. Lyrics and Text
<lyric>
Children:
• <syllabic> (single, begin, middle, end)
• <text>
Musical alignment: attached to notes.
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14. Barline and Repeats
<barline>
Children:
• <bar-style> (light-heavy, heavy-light)
• <repeat> (forward, backward)
• <ending> (first, second endings)
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15. Multi-Staff and Polyphony
<staff>
Indicates staff number within a part.
<voice>
Indicates independent rhythmic layers (polyphony).
Musical examples:
• Piano grand staff: staff 1 (treble), staff 2 (bass)
• Two voices in one staff: soprano and alto lines
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16. Measure Styles and Layout
<measure-style>
Used for:
• Multi-measure rests
• Repeat symbols
<print>
Layout instructions (system breaks, page breaks).
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Closing Notes
MusicXML is deliberately verbose to allow precise representation of notated music. Rhythmic value is determined by the interaction of <divisions>, <duration>, <type>, and modifiers such as <dot> and <time-modification>. Expressive meaning is layered through <notations>, <direction>, and <articulations> rather than encoded in pitch or duration alone.
For exhaustive schema-level completeness (every possible element and attribute), consult the official MusicXML XSD and documentation; this reference focuses on musically meaningful usage rather than raw schema enumeration.
Term-Description List of Elements
A short term–description list mapping the main MusicXML element names to common musicology concepts. This is intentionally concise and pedagogical.
• score-partwise — The full musical score, organized measure-by-measure across parts (analogous to a conductor’s score layout).
• part-list — The roster of performing forces (instruments or voices).
• score-part — A single notated part or instrument.
• part — The actual musical content for one instrument or voice.
• measure — A bar; a unit of musical time defined by the meter.
• attributes — Notational parameters that establish musical context (key, meter, clef).
• divisions — The rhythmic resolution; how note durations are subdivided.
• key — The key signature, defining the tonal center and accidentals.
• fifths — Number of sharps or flats in the key signature, measured along the circle of fifths.
• time — The meter, specifying beats per measure and beat unit.
• clef — The reference point for pitch placement on the staff.
• note — A single musical event with pitch and duration.
• pitch — The notated pitch, composed of step, alteration, and octave.
• step — The diatonic pitch class (A–G).
• alter — Chromatic alteration (−1 flat, +1 sharp, etc.).
• octave — The pitch register.
• duration — The temporal length of the note in divisions.
• type — The conventional note value (quarter, half, etc.).
• rest — A silence of specified duration.
• barline — A structural boundary between measures.
• repeat — A directive indicating repeated playback of a musical section.