[MusicTlk] Question about XML music files

Mon Oct 8 13:58:48 UTC 2018

Hi,

In fact, the MusicXML interchange format for scores is one of the best developments for us blind musicians since Louis Braille's invention of his music code.  Yes, we at Dancing Dots have made software that imports MusicXML scores very well.  Once imported into our Lime notation editor, users can access the information using our talking score feature, as music braille or using special scrolling and magnification functions.  See www.DancingDots.com for more info and feel free to contact me off-list using my info at DancingDots.com address to request a no-cost evaluation version of the software.

In fact, the MusicXML standard was developed by a sighted musician, Michael Good, who recognized that a standard way to exchange score information between users of different music notation packages would be valuable.  He was correct.  Virtually all music notation programs have implemented import and/or export of scores in the MusicXML format.  As Mike J. wrote, publishers do have the ability to export scores as MusicXML and some of our customers have been successful at requesting MusicXML versions of publications which they have bought and paid for.  Here is a brief blurb about MusicXML that some members might find helpful:

...
To import MusicXML scores into Lime, choose “Import” under Lime’s File menu and then MusicXML.  There are a growing number of MusicXML files available for download at little or no cost.  Here are a couple of examples you can download for free followed by a list of some sites that offer MusicXML scores for download.

Excerpt from Bach's Well-tempered Klavier
https://www.dropbox.com/s/oytlljtca73t2uw/BachWellTemperedClavier.xml?dl=1

Mozart Sonata in B-Flat
https://www.dropbox.com/s/sx1ww3yssv610gl/MozartSonataInBFlat.xml?dl=1

MusicXML Sites: 
A List of Sites with Sheet Music in MusicXML Format
http://www.musicxml.com/music-in-musicxml/

Note: MusicXML scores are often only available in the compressed .mxl format.  Here is your quick tutorial on how to unzip .mxl files.

Extracting MusicXML Files from the mxl Compressed Format

Download the .mxl version.

Note: You can substitute the keystroke SHIFT+F10 for "right click" in the following directions.

Press SHIFT+F10 or right click on the file and rename to .zip extension.  That is, change .mxl to .zip extension.

Now right click and choose "Extract All"

Windows should create a folder that contains the source .xml file.

Now you can run the Lime program and import:

Choose “Import” under Lime’s File menu and then choose “MusicXML.”

Browse to where you saved the MusicXML file and then click “Open.”

Lime may present a dialog asking for information such as number of measures per system.  4 is a good value for measures per system or systems per page.

Once you OK any dialogs, you should now have the score in Lime’s main music window.

If you would like to request a free evaluation version of any of our 
software, please write to info at dancingdots.com .
...

Regards,
Bill McCann
President
Dancing Dots

Tel: +1 610-783-6692

-----Original Message-----
From: MusicTlk [mailto:musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ned O'Brien via MusicTlk
Sent: Monday, October 8, 2018 8:18 AM
To: Music Talk Mailing List for Blind Musicians
Cc: Ned O'Brien
Subject: Re: [MusicTlk] Question about XML music files

There are a number of free sites out there for xml format one in particular
is musicscore, you need to sign up all genres are available, also an app
available called IBOS I think it's just windows based can read xml
music....don't be fooled by programs that say they can convert  pdf to
xml..they don't work
good luck
hav a gt day
ned

On Mon, Oct 8, 2018 at 7:17 AM Mike Jolls via MusicTlk <musictlk at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> Ella Yu
>
>
>
> When I was talking about “popular music”, I was referring to popular music
> of any genre.  The Chopin piece I cited is a popular work within the
> classical music genre.  Another example would be “Ring of Fire” within the
> country music genre.  Therefore, I was asking whether there were libraries
> that existed that a person could access in order to download XML music
> files which contain popular music from a variety of genres.
>
>
>
> You are probably right that XML music files are not in high demand by the
> public.  That would probably be explained by the assumption that sighted
> people don’t ask for XML files because they can just read standard printed
> music.  Why would they need anything else?  And if that assumption is
> correct, then it’s logical to further assume that publishers see no need to
> make them available.  It wouldn’t surprise me, however, if publishers
> already store music in their internal libraries as XML formatted files.
>
> In asking this question, I was hoping that an organization such as NFB or
> NLS was already doing the work of formatting XML music.  Or better yet,
> collecting pre-formatted XML music already built by the publishers,
> assuming this has already been done.
>
>
>
> On a previous post, I asked about music enlargement software.  Someone
> replied about the Dancing Dots software.  After doing some research, I came
> to the conclusion that DD could read XML formatted files.  However, each
> piece of music would have to be converted to XML format.  This puts the
> responsibility of creating the music XML file squarely on the end-users
> shoulders.  They’d either have to know how to do this by themselves, or
> they’d have to pay someone (probably per piece of music) to do that.  The
> process of creating such music would be time consuming and likely expensive.
>
>
>
> Therefore, having music in standard XML format in a library which was
> accessible to all low vison or blind musicians would streamline the process
> of getting and producing the desired music.  It could also open
> opportunities for other software that don’t currently exist.
>
>
>
> Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
> Windows 10
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: MusicTlk <musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> on behalf of Ella Yu via
> MusicTlk <musictlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, October 7, 2018 5:55:38 PM
> To: Music Talk Mailing List for Blind Musicians
> Cc: Ella Yu
> Subject: Re: [MusicTlk] Question about XML music files
>
> XML files are actually quite difficult to find, as they're in
> relatively low demand.  When you refer to "popular music", are
> you referring to the
> popular music genre or are you referring to well-known music in
> any genre? The example you cited is classical music.
>  ----- Original Message -----
> From: Mike Jolls via MusicTlk <musictlk at nfbnet.org
> To: "musictlk at nfbnet.org" <musictlk at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Sun, 7 Oct 2018 22:26:41 +0000
> Subject: [MusicTlk] Question about XML music files
>
> This is a question to everyone on the list.
>
> I’d like to know if there are existing libraries with popular
> music that we can access that contains pre-built music files in
> XML format.
>
> For those that may not know, XML is a computer data format used
> to store documents as a series of data attributes.  Each aspect
> of a piece of music would be represented as an attribute in this
> format (rests, whole notes, time signatures, accents, phrasing,
> etc…).  A computer program could read such an XML file (say for
> example, Chopin’s Nocturne in Eb Major #9).  After reading the
> XML file, such a program could then graphically render the music
> on a computer screen.
>
> To do this, a library of music would need to be built which a
> person could download from.  It would probably be a subscription
> service.  Having downloaded the XML music file, computer software
> would then perform the graphical rendering.
>
> What I’m looking for is a library that is already preloaded with
> XMl formatted music files.  Anybody know anything about this?
>
> Thanks
>
> Sent from Mail<
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