MusicXML export/import of symbols

• Oct 5, 2021 - 22:56

Symbols don't seem to be present upon exporting and then importing via .mxl format.

For instance, Open master palette + add some symbols like [keyboard techniques -> play with left hand]
Export to musicxml and then import
The symbol is no longer present.

Is this a known lack of a feature, or is it some sort of imposition from the xml format itself? Seems like this might be important to fix if capable.


Comments

Hi, weary,

As near as I know, there is not any recognized MusicXML encoding for "play with left hand" and the like.

MuseScore is able to put this graphic symbol on the score because its glyph is included in the repertoire of its music typeface(s). But this is a "parochial" capability.

Best regards,

Doug

In reply to by worldwideweary

Something makes me think I have seen some reference to such a thing.

Aha! Here, in the MusicXML 4.0 documentation:

https://www.w3.org/2021/06/musicxml40/musicxml-reference/data-types/smu…

And this is a little further along the trail:

https://www.w3.org/2021/06/musicxml40/musicxml-reference/elements/symbo…

The introductory text there says, "The element specifies a musical symbol using a canonical SMuFL glyph name. It is used when an occasional musical symbol is interspersed into text. It should not be used in place of semantic markup, such as metronome marks that mix text and symbols."

I have not yet had the chance to ponder just what all that might mean.

Doug

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