Music Engraving Options

Or

Javascript Solutions to Render MusicXML

April 2019

• ABC2SVG
  • Based off 2014 C project abcm2ps
  • Written in Javascript
  • 7 contributors
• XML2ABC
  • Created 2014
  • Written in Python, manually converted to Javascript
  • 2 contributors
• ABC Notation
  • Created 1993
  • Human-writable, readable
  • Last release 2.1 in 2011
  • Draft 2.2 developed 2013-2015

• Open Sheet Music Display
  • Created 2016
  • Written in TypeScript
  • 13 contributors
• VexFlow
  • Created 2010
  • 54 contributors
• MusicXML
  • Created 2004
  • Last release 3.1 in 2017

• Verovio
  • Created in 2014
  • Named after Simone Verovio
  • Written in C++, compiled with Emscripten
  • Uses MEI as backend format
  • 22 contributors
• Music Encoding Initiative
  • XML-based
  • Created in 2010
  • Actively developed

MusicXML file

MusicXML file

SMuFL

• ABC2SVG: Embeds 1 font, outputs SMuFL characters, easy to switch font
• VexFlow: WIP since 2014
• Verovio: Compiles 4 SMuFL fonts for glyphs

Bravura

Daniel Spreadbury, Steinberg, 2013

Leipzig

Etienne Darbellay, Jean-Francois Marti and Laurent Pugin, Verovio, 2014

Gootville

Grzegorz Pruchniakowski, MuseScore, 2014

Petaluma

Laurent Pugin, Steinberg, 2018

Hackability

• XML2ABC2SVG
  1. XML2ABC: Email patch file to maintainer
  2. ABC: Propose changes in mailing list
  3. ABC2SVG: Propose changes to Fossil repo "Cathedral-style development"
• OSMD
  1. OSMD: open pull request on Github
  2. Vexflow: open pull request on Github
• Verovio
  1. Verovio: open pull request on Github

Honorable Mention

• Satie (2015-2016)
• Belle (2017-2019)