Music Encoding Initiative Guidelines

att.lang

Language attributes common to text elements.

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abbr, accMat, accessRestrict, acquisition, actor, add, addDesc, addName, addrLine, address, anchoredText, annot, argument, arranger, attacca, audience, author, back, bibl, biblList, biblScope, biblStruct, binding, bindingDesc, bloc, byline, caption, captureMode, carrierForm, castGrp, castItem, castList, catchwords, changeDesc, collation, colophon, composer, condition, contentItem, context, contributor, corpName, corr, correction, country, creation, cue, damage, date, decoDesc, decoNote, dedicatee, dedication, del, depth, desc, dim, dimensions, dir, distributor, district, div, dynam, edition, editionStmt, editor, editorialDecl, epigraph, event, exhibHist, expan, explicit, extent, famName, figDesc, fileChar, foliation, foreName, front, funder, genName, genre, geogFeat, geogName, hand, head, height, heraldry, imprimatur, incipText, inscription, interpretation, l, label, labelAbbr, language, layout, layoutDesc, lg, li, librettist, list, locus, locusGrp, lyricist, mNum, marker, meiHead, mensuration, metaMark, metaText, meter, name, nameLink, normalization, num, orig, otherChar, p, perfDuration, perfRes, perfResList, periodName, persName, pgDesc, pgFoot, pgFoot2, pgHead, pgHead2, physMedium, plateNum, playingSpeed, postBox, postCode, price, projectDesc, provenance, pubPlace, publisher, q, quote, recipient, ref, refrain, reg, region, reh, rend, repository, resp, restore, role, roleDesc, roleName, rubric, samplingDecl, scoreFormat, scriptDesc, scriptNote, seal, sealDesc, secFolio, seg, segmentation, series, settlement, sic, signatures, soundChan, sp, speaker, specRepro, sponsor, stack, stageDir, stamp, stdVals, street, styleName, supplied, support, supportDesc, syl, sysReq, table, td, tempo, term, textLang, th, title, titlePage, titlePart, tr, trackConfig, treatHist, treatSched, trkName, typeDesc, typeNote, unclear, unpub, useRestrict, verse, volta, watermark, width

att.lang

abbr(abbreviation) – A generic element for 1) a shortened form of a word, including an acronym or 2) a shorthand notation.

accessRestrict(access restriction) – Describes the conditions that affect the accessibility of material.

accMatHolds a description of any additional material bound with an item, such as non-contemporaneous documents or fragments.

acquisitionRecords information concerning the process by which an item was acquired by the holding institution.

actorName of an actor appearing within a cast list.

add(addition) – Marks an addition to the text.

addDesc(addition description) – Provides a description of significant additions found within an item, such as marginalia or other annotations.

addName(additional name) – Contains an additional name component, such as a nickname, epithet, or alias, or any other descriptive phrase used within a personal name.

addressContains a postal address, for example of a publisher, an organization, or an individual.

addrLine(address line) – Single line of a postal address.

anchoredTextContainer for text that is fixed to a particular page location, regardless of changes made to the layout of the measures around it.

annot(annotation) – Provides a statement explaining the text or indicating the basis for an assertion.

argumentContains a formal list or prose description of topics addressed.

arrangerA person or organization who transcribes a musical composition, usually for a different medium from that of the original; in an arrangement the musical substance remains essentially unchanged.

attaccaAn instruction to begin the next section or movement of a composition without pause.

audienceDefines the class of user for which the work is intended, as defined by age group (e.g., children, young adults, adults, etc.), educational level (e.g., primary, secondary, etc.), or other categorization.

authorThe name of the creator of the intellectual content of a non-musical, literary work.

back(back matter) – Contains any appendixes, advertisements, indexes, etc. following the main body of a musical text.

bibl(bibliographic reference) – Provides a loosely-structured bibliographic citation in which the sub-components may or may not be explicitly marked.

biblListList of bibliographic references.

biblScope(scope of citation) – Defines the scope of a bibliographic reference, for example as a list of page numbers, or a named subdivision of a larger work.

biblStruct(structured bibliographic citation) – Contains a bibliographic citation in which bibliographic sub-elements must appear in a specified order.

binding(binding) – Contains a description of one binding, i.e. type of covering, boards, etc. applied to an item.

bindingDesc(binding description) – Describes the present and former bindings of an item.

blocContains the name of a geopolitical unit consisting of two or more nation states or countries.

bylineContains the primary statement of responsibility given for a work on its title page.

captionA label which accompanies an illustration or a table.

captureMode(capture mode) – The means used to record notation, sound, or images in the production of a source/manifestation (e.g., analogue, acoustic, electric, digital, optical etc.).

carrierForm(carrier form) – The specific class of material to which the physical carrier of the source/manifestation belongs (e.g., sound cassette, videodisc, microfilm cartridge, transparency, etc.). The carrier for a manifestation comprising multiple physical components may include more than one form (e.g., a filmstrip with an accompanying booklet, a separate sound disc carrying the sound track for a film, etc.).

castGrp(cast group) – Groups one or more individual castItem elements within a cast list.

castItemContains a single entry within a cast list, describing either a single role or a list of non-speaking roles.

castListContains a single cast list or dramatis personae.

catchwordsDescribes the system used to ensure correct ordering of the quires making up an item, typically by means of annotations at the foot of the page.

changeDesc(change description) – Description of a revision of the MEI file.

collationRecords a description of how the leaves or bifolia of an item are physically arranged.

colophonContains a statement providing information regarding the date, place, agency, or reason for production of the item.

composerThe name of the creator of the intellectual content of a musical work.

conditionThe physical condition of an item, particularly any variances between the physical make-up of the item and that of other copies of the same item (e.g., missing pages or plates, brittleness, faded images, etc.).

contentItemContains a single entry within a content description element.

contextThe historical, social, intellectual, artistic, or other context within which the work was originally conceived (e.g., the 17th century restoration of the monarchy in England, the aesthetic movement of the late 19th century, etc.) or the historical, social, intellectual, artistic, or other context within which the expression was realized.

contributorNames of individuals, institutions, or organizations responsible for contributions to the intellectual content of a work, where the specialized elements for authors, editors, etc. do not suffice or do not apply.

corpName(corporate name) – Identifies an organization or group of people that acts as a single entity.

corr(correction) – Contains the correct form of an apparent erroneous passage.

correctionStates how and under what circumstances corrections have been made in the text.

countryContains the name of a geopolitical unit, such as a nation, country, colony, or commonwealth, larger than or administratively superior to a region and smaller than a bloc.

creationNon-bibliographic details of the creation of an intellectual entity, in narrative form, such as the date, place, and circumstances of its composition. More detailed information may be captured within the history element.

cueMIDI cue point.

damageContains an area of damage to the physical medium.

dateA string identifying a point in time or the time period between two such points.

decoDesc(decoration description) – Contains a description of the decoration of an item.

decoNote(decoration note) – Contains a description of one or more decorative features of an item.

dedicateeEntity to whom a creative work is formally offered.

dedicationContains a dedicatory statement.

del(deletion) – Contains information deleted, marked as deleted, or otherwise indicated as superfluous or spurious in the copy text by an author, scribe, annotator, or corrector.

depthDescription of a measurement taken through a three-dimensional object.

desc(description) – Container for text that briefly describes the feature to which it is attached, including its intended usage, purpose, or application as appropriate.

dim(dimension) – Any single dimensional specification.

dimensionsInformation about the physical size of an entity; usually includes numerical data.

dir(directive) – An instruction expressed as a combination of text and symbols — such as segno and coda symbols, fermatas over a bar line, etc., typically above, below, or between staves, but not on the staff — that is not encoded elsewhere in more specific elements, like tempo or dynam.

distributorPerson or agency, other than a publisher, from which access (including electronic access) to a bibliographic entity may be obtained.

districtContains the name of any kind of subdivision of a settlement, such as a parish, ward, or other administrative or geographic unit.

div(division) – Major structural division of text, such as a preface, chapter or section.

dynam(dynamic) – Indication of the volume of a note, phrase, or section of music.

edition(edition designation) – A word or text phrase that indicates a difference in either content or form between the item being described and a related item previously issued by the same publisher/distributor (e.g. 2nd edition, version 2.0, etc.), or simultaneously issued by either the same publisher/distributor or another publisher/distributor (e.g. large print edition, British edition, etc.).

editionStmt(edition statement) – Container for meta-data pertaining to a particular edition of the material being described.

editorThe name of the individual(s), institution(s) or organization(s) acting in an editorial capacity.

editorialDecl(editorial declaration) – Used to provide details of editorial principles and practices applied during the encoding of musical text.

epigraphContains a quotation, anonymous or attributed, appearing on a title page.

eventContains a free-text event description.

exhibHist(exhibition history) – A record of public exhibitions, including dates, venues, etc.

expan(expansion) – Contains the expansion of an abbreviation.

explicitContains the explicit of a manuscript item; that is, the closing words of the text proper, exclusive of any rubric or colophon which might follow it.

extentUsed to express size in terms other than physical dimensions, such as number of pages, records, bytes, physical components, etc.

famName(family name) – Contains a family (inherited) name, as opposed to a given, baptismal, or nick name.

figDesc(figure description) – Contains a brief prose description of the appearance or content of a graphic figure, for use when documenting an image without displaying it.

fileChar(file characteristics) – Standards or schemes used to encode the file (e.g., ASCII, SGML, etc.), physical characteristics of the file (e.g., recording density, parity, blocking, etc.), and other characteristics that have a bearing on how the file can be processed.

foliationDescribes the numbering system or systems used to count the leaves or pages in a codex.

foreNameContains a forename, given or baptismal name.

front(front matter) – Bundles prefatory text found before the start of the musical text.

funderNames of individuals, institutions, or organizations responsible for funding. Funders provide financial support for a project; they are distinct from sponsors, who provide intellectual support and authority.

genName(generational name component) – Contains a name component used to distinguish otherwise similar names on the basis of the relative ages or generations of the persons named.

genreTerm or terms that designate a category characterizing a particular style, form, or content.

geogFeat(geographical feature name) – Contains a common noun identifying a geographical feature.

geogName(geographic name) – The proper noun designation for a place, natural feature, or political jurisdiction.

handDefines a distinct scribe or handwriting style.

head(heading) – Contains any heading, for example, the title of a section of text, or the heading of a list.

heightDescription of the vertical size of an object.

heraldryContains a heraldic formula or phrase, typically found as part of a blazon, coat of arms, etc.

imprimaturContains a formal statement authorizing the publication of a work, sometimes required to appear on a title page or its verso.

incipTextOpening words of a musical composition.

inscriptionAn inscription added to an item, such as a bookplate, a note designating the item as a gift, and/or the author's signature.

interpretationDescribes the scope of any analytic or interpretive information added to the transcription of the music.

l(line of text) – Contains a single line of text within a line group.

labelA container for document text that identifies the feature to which it is attached. For a "tool tip" or other generated label, use the label attribute.

labelAbbrA label on the pages following the first.

languageDescription of a language used in the document.

layoutDescribes how text is laid out on the page, including information about any ruling, pricking, or other evidence of page-preparation techniques.

layoutDesc(layout description) – Collects layout descriptions.

lg(line group) – May be used for any section of text that is organized as a group of lines; however, it is most often used for a group of verse lines functioning as a formal unit, e.g. a stanza, refrain, verse paragraph, etc.

li(list item) – Single item in a list.

librettistPerson or organization who is a writer of the text of an opera, oratorio, etc.

listA formatting element that contains a series of items separated from one another and arranged in a linear, often vertical, sequence.

locusDefines a location within a manuscript or manuscript component, usually as a (possibly discontinuous) sequence of folio references.

locusGrp(locus group) – Groups locations which together form a distinct but discontinuous item within a manuscript or manuscript part, according to a specific foliation.

lyricistPerson or organization who is a writer of the text of a song.

markerMIDI marker meta-event.

meiHead(MEI header) – Supplies the descriptive and declarative metadata prefixed to every MEI-conformant text.

mensurationCaptures information about mensuration within bibliographic descriptions.

metaMarkA graphical or textual statement with additional / explanatory information about the musical text. The textual consequences of this intervention are encoded independently via other means; that is, with elements such as <add>, <del>, etc.

metaTextMIDI text meta-event.

meterCaptures information about the time signature within bibliographic descriptions.

mNum(measure number) – Designation, name, or label for a measure, often but not always consisting of digits. Use this element when the n attribute on measure does not adequately capture the appearance or placement of the measure number/label.

nameProper noun or noun phrase.

nameLink(name link) – Contains a connecting phrase or link used within a name but not regarded as part of it, such as "van der" or "of", "from", etc.

normalizationIndicates the extent of normalization or regularization of the original source carried out in converting it to electronic form.

num(number) – Numeric information in any form.

orig(original) – Contains material which is marked as following the original, rather than being normalized or corrected.

otherChar(other distinguishing characteristic) – Any characteristic that serves to differentiate a work or expression from another.

p(paragraph) – One or more text phrases that form a logical prose passage.

perfDuration(performance duration) – Used to express the duration of performance of printed or manuscript music or the playing time for a sound recording, videorecording, etc.

perfRes(performance resource) – Name of an instrument on which a performer plays, a performer's voice range, or a standard performing ensemble designation.

perfResListSeveral instrumental or vocal resources treated as a group.

periodName(period name) – A label that describes a period of time, such as 'Baroque' or '3rd Style period'.

persName(personal name) – Designation for an individual, including any or all of that individual's forenames, surnames, honorific titles, and added names.

pgDesc(page description) – Contains a brief prose description of the appearance or description of the content of a physical page.

pgFoot(page footer) – A running footer on the first page. Also, used to temporarily override a running footer on individual pages.

pgFoot2(page footer 2) – A running footer on the pages following the first.

pgHead(page header) – A running header on the first page. Also, used to temporarily override a running header on individual pages.

pgHead2(page header 2) – A running header on the pages following the first.

physMedium(physical medium) – Records the physical materials used in the source, such as ink and paper.

plateNum(plate number) – Designation assigned to a resource by a music publisher, usually printed at the bottom of each page, and sometimes appearing also on the title page.

playingSpeedPlaying speed for a sound recording is the speed at which the carrier must be operated to produce the sound intended (e.g., 33 1/3 rpm, 19 cm/s, etc.).

postBox(postal box or post office box) contains a number or other identifier for some postal delivery point other than a street address.

postCode(postal code) contains a numerical or alphanumeric code used as part of a postal address to simplify sorting or delivery of mail.

priceThe cost of access to a bibliographic item.

projectDesc(project description) – Project-level meta-data describing the aim or purpose for which the electronic file was encoded, funding agencies, etc. together with any other relevant information concerning the process by which it was assembled or collected.

provenanceThe record of ownership or custodianship of an item.

publisherName of the organization responsible for the publication of a bibliographic item.

pubPlace(publication place) – Name of the place where a bibliographic item was published.

q(quoted) – Contains material which is distinguished from the surrounding phrase-level text using quotation marks or a similar method. Use quote for block-level quotations.

quote(quoted material) – Contains a paragraph-like block of text attributed to an external source, normally set off from the surrounding text by spacing or other typographic distinction.

recipientThe name of the individual(s), institution(s) or organization(s) receiving correspondence.

ref(reference) – Defines a traversible reference to another location. May contain text and sub-elements that describe the destination.

refrainRecurring lyrics, especially at the end of each verse or stanza of a poem or song lyrics; a chorus.

reg(regularization) – Contains material which has been regularized or normalized in some sense.

regionContains the name of an administrative unit such as a state, province, or county, larger than a settlement, but smaller than a country.

reh(rehearsal mark) – In an orchestral score and its corresponding parts, a mark indicating a convenient point from which to resume rehearsal after a break.

rend(render) – A formatting element indicating special visual rendering, e.g., bold or italicized, of a text word or phrase.

repositoryInstitution, agency, or individual which holds a bibliographic item.

resp(responsibility) – A phrase describing the nature of intellectual responsibility.

restoreIndicates restoration of material to an earlier state by cancellation of an editorial or authorial marking or instruction.

roleName of a dramatic role, as given in a cast list.

roleDesc(role description) – Describes a character's role in a drama.

roleName(role name) – Contains a name component which indicates that the referent has a particular role or position in society, such as an official title or rank.

rubricContains a string of words through which a manuscript signals the beginning or end of a text division, often with an assertion as to its author and title, which is in some way set off from the text itself, usually in red ink, or by use of different size or type of script, or some other such visual device.

samplingDecl(sampling declaration) – Contains a prose description of the rationale and methods used in sampling texts in the creation of a corpus or collection.

scoreFormatDescribes the type of score used to represent a musical composition (e.g., short score, full score, condensed score, close score, etc.).

scriptDesc(script description) – Contains a description of the letters or characters used in an autographic item.

scriptNote(script note) – Describes a particular script distinguished within the description of an autographic item.

sealA single seal or similar attachment.

sealDesc(seal description) – Describes the seals or similar external attachments applied to an item.

secFolio(second folio) – Marks the word or words taken from a fixed point in a codex (typically the beginning of the second leaf) in order to provide a unique identifier for the item.

seg(arbitrary segment) represents any segmentation of text below the "text component" level.

segmentationDescribes the principles according to which the musical text has been segmented, for example into movements, sections, etc.

seriesContains information about the serial publication in which a bibliographic item has appeared.

settlementContains the name of a settlement such as a city, town, or village identified as a single geopolitical or administrative unit.

sicContains apparently incorrect or inaccurate material.

signaturesProvides a description of the leaf or quire signatures found within a codex.

soundChan(sound channels) – Reflects the number of apparent sound channels in the playback of a recording (monaural, stereophonic, quadraphonic, etc.).

sp(speech) – Contains an individual speech in a performance text.

speakerContains a specialized form of heading or label, giving the name of one or more speakers in a dramatic text or fragment.

specRepro(special reproduction characteristic) – The equalization system, noise reduction system, etc. used in making the recording (e.g., NAB, DBX, Dolby, etc.).

sponsorNames of sponsoring individuals, organizations or institutions. Sponsors give their intellectual authority to a project; they are to be distinguished from funders, who provide the funding but do not necessarily take intellectual responsibility.

stack(stacked text) – An inline table with a single column.

stageDir(stage direction) – Contains any kind of stage direction within a dramatic text or fragment.

stampContains a word or phrase describing an official mark indicating ownership, genuineness, validity, etc.

stdVals(standard values) – Specifies the format used when standardized date or number values are supplied.

streetfull street address including any name or number identifying a building as well as the name of the street or route on which it is located.

styleName(style name) – A label for a characteristic style of writing or performance, such as 'bebop' or 'rock-n-roll'.

suppliedContains material supplied by the transcriber or editor for any reason.

supportProvides a description of the physical support material of a written item.

supportDesc(support description) – Groups elements describing the physical support material of an item.

syl(syllable) – Individual lyric syllable.

sysReq(system requirements) – System requirements for using the electronic item.

tableContains text displayed in tabular form.

td(table data) – Designates a table cell that contains data as opposed to a cell that contains column or row heading information.

tempoText and symbols descriptive of tempo, mood, or style, e.g., "allarg.", "a tempo", "cantabile", "Moderato", "♩=60", "Moderato ♩ =60").

termKeyword or phrase which describes a resource.

textLang(text language) – Identifies the languages and writing systems within the work described by a bibliographic description, not the language of the description.

th(table header) – Designates a table cell containing column or row heading information as opposed to one containing data.

titleTitle of a bibliographic entity.

titlePageContains a transcription of the title page of a text.

titlePartContains a subsection or division of the title of a bibliographic entity.

tr(table row) – A formatting element that contains one or more cells (intersection of a row and a column) in a table.

trackConfig(track configuration) – Number of physical/input tracks on a sound medium (e.g., eight track, twelve track).

treatHist(treatment history) – A record of the treatment the item has undergone (e.g., de-acidification, restoration, etc.).

treatSched(treatment scheduled) – Scheduled treatment, e.g. de-acidification, restoration, etc., for an item.

trkName(track name) – MIDI track/sequence name.

typeDesc(type description) – Contains a description of the typefaces or other aspects of the printing of a printed source.

typeNote(type note) – Describes a particular font or other significant typographic feature of a printed resource.

unclearContains material that cannot be transcribed with certainty because it is illegible or inaudible in the source.

unpub(unpublished) – Used to explicitly indicate that a bibliographic resource is unpublished.

useRestrict(usage restrictions) – Container for information about the conditions that affect use of a bibliographic item after access has been granted.

verseDivision of a poem or song lyrics, sometimes having a fixed length, meter or rhyme scheme; a stanza.

voltaSung text for a specific iteration of a repeated section of music.

watermarkContains a description of a watermark or similar device.

widthDescription of the horizontal size of an object.

MEI.cmnCommon Music Notation (CMN) repertoire component declarations.