Yes, I think it's quite boring to read all those endless quarrels
about the standardization of a musical format I found already
rather perfect : if it becomes too complicated, then there is not
point using it instead of midi : I like ABC because it's easy and
compact, and use a real midi sequencer for recording with my
keyboard and have dynamic and so on (and for real music I use a
multi-track :) ).
If I could give my point of view as an user, I think we should
keep the actual format (a.k.a "Version 1.7.6" or am I wrong ?),
add the "V field" to it (since many pple use it) and stay here for
the common standard to keep the tunes allready transcribed
compatible with future software. I think the best way to add new
features (up to the taste of the programmers - & eventually to the
users of their software -) is with quoted commands, like "%%MIDI
channel n" etc.
Fields like "U: T = !trill!" is even now a source of confusion for
some old softwares.
Instead of arguing on loose points, abcusers could debate on
specific points, and "vote" for the resolution of them. For
example what do you think of those additions to the standard, used
in abcm2ps ? (see end of msg)
We could also discuss on all the usefull quoted commands supported
by abc2midi and abcm2ps, such as %%MIDI transpose n ; %%text ;
%%vskip h , not in order to make strict rules for quoted commands
(pple could use their own as they don't interfer with other
softwares), but to give directions & help...
I can try to collect the most used extensions & commands if pple
really show interess in working on the standardization, and then
create a form in html for voting (but as I don't master cgi
script, I can't receive all the result). Give me your opinion.
It's high time we concentrate on something creative.
----- ABC syntax extensions -----
Measure repeat is indicated by a slash ('/' alone between 2 bars).
Time signatures may have a single number (ex: 'M:2').
Repeat bars may contain a string of digits, '-' (hyphen) or ','
(comma)
instead of only '1' or '2'. Ex:
|: ... [1,3 ... :|2,4-6 ...
Multiple repeat indications (|:: .. ::|) are acepted but ignored.
Multimeasure rests are indicated by 'Z' followed by the number of
measures.
Sharps, flats and natural signs may be indicated in guitar chords
using '\#', '\b' and '\='.
Invisible bars are indicated by '[]' or '[|]', and dashed bars by
':'
alone.
Invisible rests are indicated by 'x' or 'y'.
The Q field may contain a text that is written before the tempo
definition. The tempo itself may be omitted.
The following decorations are added: !slide!, !fp!, !cresc!,
!decresc!,
!mp!, !dimin!, !turnx!, !invertedturn!, !invertedturnx!,
!arpeggio!,
!trill(!, !trill)!.
The !slide! decoration is assigned to the letter 'J'.
Appoggiatura are indicated by a '/' starting a grace note sequence
(one note only - ex: {/B}c).
Multiple guitar chord lines are indicated by separated quoted
strings appearing before a same note (or rest or bar - ex:
'"G3""4"G').
A note length starting with '0' (zero) indicates a stemless black
note.
'M:none' says there is no key signature.
The header field 'X:' may be ommited: a new tune may start
directly on the
first 'T:'.
The note length may be divided by many '/' ('A///' is the same as
'A/8').
----- Clef specification -----
A clef may be provided in' K:' and 'V:'. The general syntax is:
[clef=]<clef type>[<line number>]
- 'clef=' starts the clef definition. It may be omitted only in K:
with a full
clef type name.
- <clef type> defines the clef type (indeed :). It may be:
- a note pitch (same as a note in a tune).
The note may be only 'G' (trebble clef), 'C' (alto clef) or
'F'
(bass clef).
The pitch indicates what note is tied to the clef line number.
- a clef name.
This is a more user-friendly way to define the note pitch. The
standard
equivalences are:
treble G
alto / tenor C
bass F,
When abcm2ps is compiled with the option CLEF_TRANSPOSE, the
definitions
are abc2ps compliant:
treble G
alto / tenor c
bass f
- <line number> indicates on which staff line the base clef is
written.
Defaults values are:
G / treble 2
C / alto 3
tenor 4
F / bass 4
When no clef is specified, clef changes are automatically inserted
when needed (only 'bass' or 'treble').
----- Multi voice support -----
Have a look at the file voices.abc for examples.
The voices are defined in the header or in the tune by:
V:<name> <voice definitions>
where <name> is a word with any letter or digit. When in the tune
body, the next notes refer to this voice until a new 'V:' is
found.
The <voice definition> may contain:
- 'clef=..' (see above)
- 'name="voice name"' or 'nm="voice name"'
The voice name is printed on the left of the first staff
only.
- 'subname="voice subname"' or 'snm="voice subname"'
The voice subname is printed on the left of all staves but
the first one.
- the other definitions are ignored.
Normally, each voice goes on a separate staff. A pseudo-comment
may
appear in the tune to tell on which staves the voices go. Format
is:
%%staves <definition>
The definition must contain all the voice names with any
pair of '[]', '{}' and '()':
- when not enclosed by special characters, the voices go on
separate
staves.
- when enclosed by brackets, a bracket is displayed at the
beginning
of each line.
- when enclosed by braces, the voices go on a single couple of
staves
(keyboard score). There cannot be more than 4 voices between the
braces.
- when enclosed by parenthesis, the voices go on the same staff.
The character '|' (bar) may appear between the voice names in
which case
measure bars are not drawn between the associated staves.
PS : if you want to see what use can be made of ABC for generating
guitar partition (with abcm2ps), go to
http://anamnese.online.fr/abc/visee.pdf
the original paper partition was almost the same as this output.
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