MusicXML Elements – Bill Jones Music Studio

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.

⸻

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.

⸻

2. Identification and Metadata

<work>

Describes the musical work.

Common children:

• <work-title> (e.g., Symphony No. 5 in C minor)

Bibliographic and encoding metadata.

Children include:

• <creator type=”composer”>

• <rights>

• <encoding> (software, date, description)

⸻

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.

⸻

4. Measure and Temporal Organization

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

⸻

5. Attributes (Notational State)

Defines musical parameters that persist until changed.

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

⸻

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

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

⸻

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

Container for performance and engraving symbols.

<tied>

Graphical representation of a tie.

⸻

8. Tuplets and Irregular Divisions

<time-modification>

Defines rhythmic alteration.

Children:

• <actual-notes>

• <normal-notes>

Example:

• Triplet eighths: actual-notes=3, normal-notes=2

Visual bracket and number for tuplets.

⸻

9. Articulations and Ornaments

Common children:

• <staccato>

• <tenuto>

• <accent>

• <strong-accent>

Musical effect: affects note attack and length, not duration value.

Children:

• <trill-mark>

• <turn>

• <mordent>

⸻

10. Dynamics and Expression

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).

⸻

11. Tempo and Meter Changes

Children:

• <beat-unit> (quarter, eighth)

• <per-minute>

Example:

• Quarter = 120

⸻

12. 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

⸻

13. Lyrics and Text

<lyric>

Children:

• <syllabic> (single, begin, middle, end)

• <text>

Musical alignment: attached to notes.

⸻

14. Barline and Repeats

Children:

• <bar-style> (light-heavy, heavy-light)

• <repeat> (forward, backward)

• <ending> (first, second endings)

⸻

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

⸻

16. Measure Styles and Layout

<measure-style>

Used for:

• Multi-measure rests

• Repeat symbols

<print>

Layout instructions (system breaks, page breaks).

⸻

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.