MuseData

MuseData is a dynamic environment for music encoding, printing, and archiving. It was conceived and has been developed since 1984 by Walter B. Hewlett. MuseData seeks to support the creation, editing, and use of full scores and their by-products (scores, short-scores, parts; datasets for music analysis; and linkage with sound output). Its focus, originally limited to conventional music notation (CMN, 1600-1860), has been extended selectively to support projects involving mensural and other early notations.

The MuseData dynamic score-generation system

MuseData is a dynamic system. Its implementation is the work of Craig Sapp. In traditional print-oriented scenarios, musical scores can be updated only with difficulty. The data ifself can be modified to capture new information, changing interpretations, and new arrangements. MuseData has maintained backward compatibility since its inception. This combination sets its overall operation apart from situations in which continuous software development orphans much data encoded in the past.

The score-generation site musedata.org supports virtual online editing. It is largely used to make PDFs that identify editors and date of printing in the footer. Users wishing to alter that data for personal use should consult the full MuseData: file format specification.

MuseData Encoded Repertories

The Center for Computer Assisted Research in the Humanities (CCARH), currently hosted by the Packard Humanities Institute and physically based at Stanford University, has used MuseData extensively in the encoding of classical repertories. The production of performing materials is undertaken selectively (see below). Currently, more than 1,100 works have been encoded to a common, documented format.

Repertory by Composer

• Bach (J. S.)
• Beethoven
• Corelli
• Handel
• Haydn
• Legrenzi
• Marcello (Benedetto)
• Mendelssohn
• Mozart
• Rovetta
• Telemann
• Vivaldi

Repertory by Genre

• cantatas (sacred)
• cantatas (secular)
• concertos (piano)
• divertimenti
• masses
• operas
• oratorios
• psalms
• quartets (string)
• trios (string)
• symphonies

Scores from earlier versions of the typesetting system can be found on http://scores.ccarh.org