#ScribesAndMakers 13. March: Shameless self-promotion day

Besides all my Open Source work (and the very occasional very tiny fanfiction attempt) I publish Free Sheet Music in digital editions, beautifully renderer as PDF, but also available as MusicXML and MIDI for conversion to Braille music notation as needed.

Voices from the choir et al.:

• "finally, legible tenor notes!" (everyone with bass clef allergy)
• "it’s easier on the eyes due to the larger size" (older ladies in choir)
• easy to transpose (few clicks)
• simple enough to make extra versions for the conductor and accompanist (closed score (two systems only, like for piano) with text below, so the pianist can follow the regie instructions)

https://mbsd.evolvis.org/music/free contains my Free Sheet Music contributions mostly from Public Domain scans (some more recent ones were made under permission from the composer/arranger); I also produced https://mbsd.evolvis.org/music/misc/ and dozens of pieces I cannot show because they are licenced works.

I do this for myself and share with the world, but I could imagine digitally engraving some sheet music for YOU for a small donation or something. (My speciality is vocal scores, but I can do piano accompaniment mostly, might need help with optimal distribution of notes to hands. Or just type in from a pre-existing score. I do need pitches, no aural transcriptions.)

#FreeSheetMusic #MusicXML #MIDI #MuseScore #ClassicalMusic

If you haven’t heard, the LONG TIME notation software (which I use), Finale, is going to be sunset. I think it is a terrible business decision. It would have been like Apple deciding to stop doing the Mac when it was in it’s iPod phase. Or it’s iPhone phase. Finale has been a stable, reliable platform to do music on. I have 24 years invested in this program. Thousands of Finale Files. I think MakeMusic’s pivot to “MakeMusic Cloud” is myopic.

There has been talk of perhaps one of the other software packages being able to open FinaleFiles natively. That would be nice. The current “solution” of exporting stuff out from Finale into MusicXML format is less than ideal.

So, what notation packages are remaining then? There is Sibelius. I’ve NEVER gotten into the Sibelius workflow. Ever. I have bought it a couple of times, and just never liked it.

There is the free Musescore. Honestly, it has come a LONG WAY. But it still has a long way to go. While simple leadsheets it can tackle, anything more looks like it would be rough.

So that leaves us with Dorico, the software started by ex-Sibelius developers after Avid gutted the original team. I tried it, and it has a lot of Sibelius like things about it. BUT……it does seem more Finale like than the other options. How it does linked parts is sorta how I think Finale would have eventually done it……if they ever got around to it.

Finale was really frustrating as it would introduce a feature……but it would have issues. They would wait a release or two, and then “fix it” and tout it as a new feature.

Anyhow, I tried, and I exported the “Zinn Practice regimen” to it. Looks pretty good. I need to get more of my “style” set up in it, but generally, it’s not bad.

  Zinn Practice Regimen 2024 (913.0 KiB, 0 hits)
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https://www.jazz-sax.com/2024/09/end-of-finale-start-of/

#dorico #Finale #musicxml #notation

I switched to #MuseScore years ago but have fond memories of #Finale, my favorite features being Speedy Entry, Linked Parts, Explode, and #MusicXML.

https://www.finalemusic.com/blog/end-of-finale-new-journey-dorico-letter-from-president/

XML must die

Эту статью стоило / можно было написать ещё 10/15 лет назад, когда XML был в большей степени на хайпе, чем сейчас. Сейчас, к счастью, его постепенно вытесняют другие текстовые форматы, более удобные в использовании. Но лучше написать поздно, чем никогда.

https://habr.com/ru/articles/837542/

#XML #yaml #markdown #JSON #MusicXML

Do you need to make a lead sheet?
Save some time and export the song from iReal Pro in MusicXML format.
You’ll have the form of the song and the chords already, just quickly add the melody.
More info on our website:
https://www.irealpro.com/news/exporting-to-midi-and-musicxml

#irealprotutorial #musicxml #writeachart #musicnotation #musicscore