Re: [abcusers] ABC parser output data structure.

[Neil Jennings]

Restrictions: MusicXML is restricted to what is defined in the DTDs as defined by Recordare. There are many known restrictions, but these may not be in areas which are important to abc. The other problem is that musicXML is controlled by Recordare, who decide what will be supported in each version. That is good in some ways, but bad in others. MusicXML can view a single tune in two different ways, partwise, ideal for scores, and timewise, better for playing,  and you can convert between them. My program handles multiple voices, but separate voices do not address my polyphonic single voice problem. Neil Paul Rosen wrote: ----- Original Message ----- From: Neil Jennings To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, July 26, 2004 2:30 PM Subject: Re: [abcusers] ABC parser output data structure. A few points: I too use a bidirectional linked list, mine is of note objects within each voice. (Note objects include bar lines and other musical items) My program (HARMONY) is written in VB -  I would hope to be able to use the parser from that. MusicXML uses the standard XML parser, I am experimenting with DOM3. This parses the file as defined in its DTDs. But MusicXML has some restrictions, and the files are VERY large.   Restrictions? What restrictions? At first glance, it looked like MusicXML was pretty comprehensive. If it isn't, that changes everything. It does create a large file, but I don't think that is significant. It would just be an export format.   The biggest advantage of MusicXML that I see is that they've already figured out what data is important. I was thinking that there would be a choice of output: MusicXML and the "compiled" version that would be easy to work with. Both formats should handle the same data. For slurs and ties,  I mark all the intervening notes. But that is a feature of my implementation, I suppose. My program provides a percussion voice - this could easily be added to the abc standard, in fact I think some programs provide this extension. The same approach could be used as in MIDI, that the nominal pitch actually denotes the type of percussion instrument. A preset bar of  rhythm could then be applied as default to all bars of the tune. There are some problems with incomplete lead-inbars though. My biggest problem at the moment is with polyphonic voices. abc handles them by a method which doesn't map onto simple linked lists of notes. One insight I've gotten already from MusicXML is that they handle multiple voices in two ways, because different kinds of music use them differently. You can choose to handle the voices separately or together. That sounds like the voice of experience.   Paul Rosen --- Life is a musical, every once in a while       the plot stops and you start singing and dancing --- http://home.earthlink.net/~catharsis.music/ http://home.earthlink.net/~theplums/