1. for Musical Applications Using XML
A New IEEE Standard
for Musical Applications
Using XML
Denis L. Baggi
IEEE CS TC on Computer Generated Music

2. standards.ieee.org

3. First Step: Project Authorization Request
PAR Form with 10 points
Scope of Proposed Project
Purpose of Proposed Project
This project:
Proprietary, Incomplete and Binary De-Facto Standards:
MIDI, NIFF, WAV, MP3, ...

4. Definition of a Commonly Acceptable Musical Application
New Abstract Proposal
IEEE Standard, Approved Project 1599
Definition of a Commonly Acceptable Musical Application
Using the XML Language
Scope. This project will develop an XML application defining a standard language for symbolic music representation. The language will be a meta-representation of music information for describing and processing said music infromation within a multilayered environment, for achieving integration among structural, score, MIDI, and digital sound levels of representation. Furthermore, the proposed standard should integrate music representation with already defined and accepted common standards. The standard will be accepted by any kind of software dealing with music information, e.g. score editing, OMR systems, music performance, musical databases, and composition and musicological applications.
Purpose. There is currently no defined, independent standard for representing music information that can describe and process all the different layers which characterize music information. For each layer of music information, there is one or more accepted standards (e.g. MIDI for performances, NIFF for notation and so on) and/or one or more proprietary formats. None of them can be suitably applied to other layers. This standard will make easier the integration, interchange, and translation from one layer to another of music information across different applications and even for different users.
Past activities of the
IEEE CS Technical Committee on Computer Generated Music
Chairman: Denis Baggi, ICIMSI
Vice-Chairman: Goffredo Haus, University of Milan
July 1991,
IEEE COMPUTER
Published by
the CS Press
CD-Audio
CD-ROM
Intelligent Music Workstation
CD-ROM
on Standards

6. Basic Rules for an IMS Project
Seven regions: Australia, Canada, European Community + Norway, Korea, Japan, USA, Switzerland
Project must involve at least three regions
Abstract endorsed by all regions
Submissions to one’s IMS Secretariat

8. Identification of Proposals for Symbolic Music Information (SMI):
SMDL, Hy Time, SMIL, MusicXML, MusiXML, MusiCat & MDL, WEDELMUSIC Format, MNML, MML, MuTaTeD, MusicML, ChordML
layered SMI; structural, notational, performance, audio levels, represented in XML; at least two-dimensional; beyond Common Western Notation

9. Workshop for late Spring 2003
Standard foreseen for mid-2004