<measure>

Unit of musical time consisting of a fixed number of note values of a given type, as determined by the prevailing meter, and delimited in musical notation by bar lines.
1.3.2 Events and Controlevents, 2.1.2.2 Content of Musical Divisions, 4.2.1 The Role of the Measure Element, 4.2.2 Defining Score Parameters for CMN, 4.2.4 Re-definition of Score Parameters, 4.2.5.3.1 Measure Rests, 4.3.2 Ties, Slurs and Phrase Marks, 4.3.3 Dynamics in CMN, 4.3.4 Tuplets, 4.3.6.2 Harp Pedals, 4.3.6.3 Piano Pedal, 4.3.7 Ossia, 4.3.9.1 Tempo changes and other directives, 4.4.1 Encoding Common To All Ornaments, 5.5 Music Data Organization, 8.1 Vocal Text, 10.1.2 Metrical Conformance, 11.1.3 Variants in Score Definitions, 11.3.3 Encoding Metatexts, 12.1.1 Elements of the Facsimile Module, 13.1.1 General Relationships Between Elements, 14.5.3 Recording MIDI Event Data
Module
MEI.cmn
Attributes
bar.len, bar.method, bar.place, class, control, copyof, corresp, decls, evaluate, facs, follows, join, label, left, metcon, n, next, precedes, prev, resp, right, sameas, synch, target, targettype, tstamp.ges, tstamp.real, type, when, width, xlink:actuate, xlink:role, xlink:show, xml:base, xml:id
bar.len(optional)States the length of bar lines in virtual units. The value must be greater than 0 and is typically equal to 2 times (the number of staff lines - 1); e.g., a value of 8 for a 5-line staff. Value is a decimal number.
<measure>att.measure.visatt.barring@bar.len
bar.method(optional)Records the method of barring. Value conforms to data.BARMETHOD.
<measure>att.measure.visatt.barring@bar.method
bar.place(optional)Denotes the staff location of bar lines, if the length is non-standard; that is, not equal to 2 times (the number of staff lines - 1). Value conforms to data.STAFFLOC.
<measure>att.measure.visatt.barring@bar.place
class(optional)Contains one or more URIs which denote classification terms that apply to the entity bearing this attribute. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
<measure>att.commonatt.typedatt.classed@class
control(optional)Indicates whether or not a bar line is "controlling"; that is, if it indicates a point of alignment across all the parts. Bar lines within a score are usually controlling; that is, they "line up". Bar lines within parts may or may not be controlling. When applied to measure, this attribute indicates the nature of the right bar line but not the left. Value conforms to data.BOOLEAN.
<measure>att.measure.logatt.meterConformance.bar@control
copyof(optional)Points to an element of which the current element is a copy. Value conforms to data.URI.
<measure>att.commonatt.linking@copyof
corresp(optional)Used to point to other elements that correspond to this one in a generic fashion. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
<measure>att.commonatt.linking@corresp
decls(optional)Identifies one or more metadata elements (other than classification terms) within the header, which are understood to apply to the element bearing this attribute and its content. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
<measure>att.metadataPointing@decls
evaluate(optional)Specifies the intended meaning when a participant in a relationship is itself a pointer. Allowed values are: "all" (If an element pointed to is itself a pointer, then the target of that pointer will be taken, and so on, until an element is found which is not a pointer.), "one" (If an element pointed to is itself a pointer, then its target (whether a pointer or not) is taken as the target of this pointer.), "none" (No further evaluation of targets is carried out beyond that needed to find the element(s) specified in plist or target attribute.)
<measure>att.targetEval@evaluate
facs(optional)Points to one or more images, portions of an image, or surfaces which correspond to the current element. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
<measure>att.facsimile@facs
follows(optional)points to one or more events in a user-defined collection that are known to be predecessors of the current element. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
<measure>att.commonatt.linking@follows
join(optional)Used for linking visually separate entities that form a single logical entity, for example, multiple slurs broken across a system break that form a single musical phrase. Also used to indicate a measure which metrically completes the current one. Record the identifiers of the separately encoded components, excluding the one carrying the attribute. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
<measure>att.measure.anlatt.joined@join
label(optional)Captures text to be used to generate a label for the element to which it’s attached, a "tool tip" or prefatory text, for example. Should not be used to record document content. Value is plain text.
<measure>att.commonatt.labelled@label
left(optional)Indicates the visual rendition of the left bar line. It is present here only for facilitation of translation from legacy encodings which use it. Usually, it can be safely ignored. Value conforms to data.BARRENDITION.
<measure>att.measure.log@left
metcon(optional)Indicates the relationship between the content of a measure and the prevailing meter. Value conforms to data.BOOLEAN.
<measure>att.measure.logatt.meterConformance.bar@metcon
n(optional)Provides a number-like designation that indicates an element’s position in a sequence of similar elements. May not contain space characters. Value conforms to data.WORD.
<measure>att.commonatt.nNumberLike@n
next(optional)Used to point to the next event(s) in a user-defined collection. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
<measure>att.commonatt.linking@next
precedes(optional)Points to one or more events in a user-defined collection that are known to be successors of the current element. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
<measure>att.commonatt.linking@precedes
prev(optional)Points to the previous event(s) in a user-defined collection. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
<measure>att.commonatt.linking@prev
resp(optional)Indicates the agent(s) responsible for some aspect of the text’s transcription, editing, or encoding. Its value must point to one or more identifiers declared in the document header. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
<measure>att.commonatt.responsibility@resp
right(optional)Indicates the function of the right bar line and is structurally important. Value conforms to data.BARRENDITION.
<measure>att.measure.log@right
sameas(optional)Points to an element that is the same as the current element but is not a literal copy of the current element. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
<measure>att.commonatt.linking@sameas
synch(optional)Points to elements that are synchronous with the current element. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
<measure>att.commonatt.linking@synch
target(optional)Identifies passive participants in a relationship; that is, the entities pointed "to". One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
<measure>att.pointing@target
targettype(optional)Characterization of target resource(s) using any convenient classification scheme or typology. Value is a NMTOKEN.
<measure>att.pointing@targettype
tstamp.ges(optional)Encodes the onset time in terms of musical time, i.e., beats[.fractional beat part], as expressed in the written time signature. Value conforms to data.BEAT.
<measure>att.measure.gesatt.timestamp.ges@tstamp.ges
tstamp.real(optional)Records the onset time in terms of ISO time. Value conforms to data.ISOTIME.
<measure>att.measure.gesatt.timestamp.ges@tstamp.real
type(optional)Designation which characterizes the element in some sense, using any convenient classification scheme or typology that employs single-token labels. One or more values of datatype NMTOKEN, separated by spaces.
<measure>att.commonatt.typed@type
when(optional)Indicates the point of occurrence of this feature along a time line. Its value must be the ID of a when element elsewhere in the document. Value conforms to data.URI.
<measure>att.measure.logatt.alignment@when
width(optional)Measurement of the horizontal dimension of an entity. Value conforms to data.MEASUREMENTUNSIGNED.
<measure>att.measure.visatt.width@width
xlink:actuate(optional)Defines whether a link occurs automatically or must be requested by the user. Allowed values are: "onLoad" (Load the target resource(s) immediately.), "onRequest" (Load the target resource(s) upon user request.), "none" (Do not permit loading of the target resource(s).), "other" (Behavior other than allowed by the other values of this attribute.)
<measure>att.pointing@xlink:actuate
xlink:role(optional)Characterization of the relationship between resources. The value of the role attribute must be a URI. Value conforms to data.URI.
<measure>att.pointing@xlink:role
xlink:show(optional)Defines how a remote resource is rendered. Allowed values are: "new" (Open in a new window.), "replace" (Load the referenced resource in the same window.), "embed" (Embed the referenced resource at the point of the link.), "none" (Do not permit traversal to the referenced resource.), "other" (Behavior other than permitted by the other values of this attribute.)
<measure>att.pointing@xlink:show
xml:base(optional)Provides a base URI reference with which applications can resolve relative URI references into absolute URI references. Value conforms to data.URI.
<measure>att.commonatt.basic@xml:base
xml:id(optional)Regularizes the naming of an element and thus facilitates building links between it and other resources. Each id attribute within a document must have a unique value. Value is a valid xml:id.
<measure>att.commonatt.basicatt.id@xml:id
(MEI.shared) Attributes common to many elements.
(MEI.shared) Attributes that form the basis of the att.common class.
xml:base(optional)Provides a base URI reference with which applications can resolve relative URI references into absolute URI references. Value conforms to data.URI.
(MEI.shared) Attributes that uniquely identify an element.
xml:id(optional)Regularizes the naming of an element and thus facilitates building links between it and other resources. Each id attribute within a document must have a unique value. Value is a valid xml:id.
(MEI.shared)
label(optional)Captures text to be used to generate a label for the element to which it’s attached, a "tool tip" or prefatory text, for example. Should not be used to record document content. Value is plain text.
(MEI.shared) Attributes that specify element-to-element relationships.
copyof(optional)Points to an element of which the current element is a copy. Value conforms to data.URI.
corresp(optional)Used to point to other elements that correspond to this one in a generic fashion. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
follows(optional)points to one or more events in a user-defined collection that are known to be predecessors of the current element. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
next(optional)Used to point to the next event(s) in a user-defined collection. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
precedes(optional)Points to one or more events in a user-defined collection that are known to be successors of the current element. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
prev(optional)Points to the previous event(s) in a user-defined collection. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
sameas(optional)Points to an element that is the same as the current element but is not a literal copy of the current element. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
synch(optional)Points to elements that are synchronous with the current element. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
(MEI.shared) Attributes used to supply a number-like designation for an element.
n(optional)Provides a number-like designation that indicates an element’s position in a sequence of similar elements. May not contain space characters. Value conforms to data.WORD.
(MEI.shared) Attributes capturing information regarding responsibility for some aspect of the text's creation, transcription, editing, or encoding.
resp(optional)Indicates the agent(s) responsible for some aspect of the text’s transcription, editing, or encoding. Its value must point to one or more identifiers declared in the document header. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
(MEI.shared) Attributes which can be used to classify features.
type(optional)Designation which characterizes the element in some sense, using any convenient classification scheme or typology that employs single-token labels. One or more values of datatype NMTOKEN, separated by spaces.
(MEI.shared) Attributes which can be used to classify features.
class(optional)Contains one or more URIs which denote classification terms that apply to the entity bearing this attribute. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
(MEI.facsimile) Attributes that associate a feature corresponding with all or part of an image.
facs(optional)Points to one or more images, portions of an image, or surfaces which correspond to the current element. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
(MEI.shared) Provides attributes for elements which may be associated with particular contextual elements within the header.
decls(optional)Identifies one or more metadata elements (other than classification terms) within the header, which are understood to apply to the element bearing this attribute and its content. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
(MEI.shared) Attributes common to all pointing/linking elements.
xlink:actuate(optional)Defines whether a link occurs automatically or must be requested by the user. Allowed values are: "onLoad" (Load the target resource(s) immediately.), "onRequest" (Load the target resource(s) upon user request.), "none" (Do not permit loading of the target resource(s).), "other" (Behavior other than allowed by the other values of this attribute.)
xlink:role(optional)Characterization of the relationship between resources. The value of the role attribute must be a URI. Value conforms to data.URI.
xlink:show(optional)Defines how a remote resource is rendered. Allowed values are: "new" (Open in a new window.), "replace" (Load the referenced resource in the same window.), "embed" (Embed the referenced resource at the point of the link.), "none" (Do not permit traversal to the referenced resource.), "other" (Behavior other than permitted by the other values of this attribute.)
target(optional)Identifies passive participants in a relationship; that is, the entities pointed "to". One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
targettype(optional)Characterization of target resource(s) using any convenient classification scheme or typology. Value is a NMTOKEN.
(MEI.analytical) Analytical domain attributes.
(MEI.shared) Attributes indicating that elements are semantically linked; that is, while the parts are encoded separately, together they may be thought of as a single intellectual object.
join(optional)Used for linking visually separate entities that form a single logical entity, for example, multiple slurs broken across a system break that form a single musical phrase. Also used to indicate a measure which metrically completes the current one. Record the identifiers of the separately encoded components, excluding the one carrying the attribute. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
(MEI.gestural) Gestural domain attributes. The tstamp.ges and tstamp.real attributes encode the onset time of the measure. In reality, this is usually the same as the onset time of the first event in the measure.
(MEI.gestural) Attributes that record a performed (as opposed to notated) time stamp.
tstamp.ges(optional)Encodes the onset time in terms of musical time, i.e., beats[.fractional beat part], as expressed in the written time signature. Value conforms to data.BEAT.
tstamp.real(optional)Records the onset time in terms of ISO time. Value conforms to data.ISOTIME.
(MEI.cmn) Logical domain attributes. The n attribute contains a name or number associated with the measure (Read, p. 445). Often, this is an integer, but not always. For example, some measures, especially incomplete measures or those under an ending mark, may have labels that contain an integer plus a suffix, such as '12a'. Measures may even have labels, especially in editorial or analytical uses of MEI, that are entirely non-numeric strings. Measure numbers may be machine-generated instead of encoding them in the markup. However, an explicit measure number should restart numbering with the given value. The join attribute may be used to indicate another measure which metrically completes the current, incomplete one.
left(optional)Indicates the visual rendition of the left bar line. It is present here only for facilitation of translation from legacy encodings which use it. Usually, it can be safely ignored. Value conforms to data.BARRENDITION.
right(optional)Indicates the function of the right bar line and is structurally important. Value conforms to data.BARRENDITION.
(MEI.performance) Temporal alignment attributes.
when(optional)Indicates the point of occurrence of this feature along a time line. Its value must be the ID of a when element elsewhere in the document. Value conforms to data.URI.
(MEI.shared) Attributes that provide information about a measure’s conformance to the prevailing meter.
metcon(optional)Indicates the relationship between the content of a measure and the prevailing meter. Value conforms to data.BOOLEAN.
control(optional)Indicates whether or not a bar line is "controlling"; that is, if it indicates a point of alignment across all the parts. Bar lines within a score are usually controlling; that is, they "line up". Bar lines within parts may or may not be controlling. When applied to measure, this attribute indicates the nature of the right bar line but not the left. Value conforms to data.BOOLEAN.
(MEI.visual) Visual domain attributes.
(MEI.shared) Attributes that capture the placement of bar lines.
bar.len(optional)States the length of bar lines in virtual units. The value must be greater than 0 and is typically equal to 2 times (the number of staff lines - 1); e.g., a value of 8 for a 5-line staff. Value is a decimal number.
bar.method(optional)Records the method of barring. Value conforms to data.BARMETHOD.
bar.place(optional)Denotes the staff location of bar lines, if the length is non-standard; that is, not equal to 2 times (the number of staff lines - 1). Value conforms to data.STAFFLOC.
(MEI.shared) Attributes that describe horizontal size.
width(optional)Measurement of the horizontal dimension of an entity. Value conforms to data.MEASUREMENTUNSIGNED.
(MEI.shared) Attributes that deal with resolution of values in plist or target attributes.
evaluate(optional)Specifies the intended meaning when a participant in a relationship is itself a pointer. Allowed values are: "all" (If an element pointed to is itself a pointer, then the target of that pointer will be taken, and so on, until an element is found which is not a pointer.), "one" (If an element pointed to is itself a pointer, then its target (whether a pointer or not) is taken as the target of this pointer.), "none" (No further evaluation of targets is carried out beyond that needed to find the element(s) specified in plist or target attribute.)
Common Music Notation (CMN) repertoire component declarations.
left(optional)Indicates the visual rendition of the left bar line. It is present here only for facilitation of translation from legacy encodings which use it. Usually, it can be safely ignored. Value conforms to data.BARRENDITION.
right(optional)Indicates the function of the right bar line and is structurally important. Value conforms to data.BARRENDITION.
Facsimile component declarations.
facs(optional)Points to one or more images, portions of an image, or surfaces which correspond to the current element. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
Gestural component declarations.
tstamp.ges(optional)Encodes the onset time in terms of musical time, i.e., beats[.fractional beat part], as expressed in the written time signature. Value conforms to data.BEAT.
tstamp.real(optional)Records the onset time in terms of ISO time. Value conforms to data.ISOTIME.
Performance component declarations.
when(optional)Indicates the point of occurrence of this feature along a time line. Its value must be the ID of a when element elsewhere in the document. Value conforms to data.URI.
Component declarations that are shared between two or more modules.
bar.len(optional)States the length of bar lines in virtual units. The value must be greater than 0 and is typically equal to 2 times (the number of staff lines - 1); e.g., a value of 8 for a 5-line staff. Value is a decimal number.
bar.method(optional)Records the method of barring. Value conforms to data.BARMETHOD.
bar.place(optional)Denotes the staff location of bar lines, if the length is non-standard; that is, not equal to 2 times (the number of staff lines - 1). Value conforms to data.STAFFLOC.
class(optional)Contains one or more URIs which denote classification terms that apply to the entity bearing this attribute. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
control(optional)Indicates whether or not a bar line is "controlling"; that is, if it indicates a point of alignment across all the parts. Bar lines within a score are usually controlling; that is, they "line up". Bar lines within parts may or may not be controlling. When applied to measure, this attribute indicates the nature of the right bar line but not the left. Value conforms to data.BOOLEAN.
copyof(optional)Points to an element of which the current element is a copy. Value conforms to data.URI.
corresp(optional)Used to point to other elements that correspond to this one in a generic fashion. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
decls(optional)Identifies one or more metadata elements (other than classification terms) within the header, which are understood to apply to the element bearing this attribute and its content. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
evaluate(optional)Specifies the intended meaning when a participant in a relationship is itself a pointer. Allowed values are: "all" (If an element pointed to is itself a pointer, then the target of that pointer will be taken, and so on, until an element is found which is not a pointer.), "one" (If an element pointed to is itself a pointer, then its target (whether a pointer or not) is taken as the target of this pointer.), "none" (No further evaluation of targets is carried out beyond that needed to find the element(s) specified in plist or target attribute.)
follows(optional)points to one or more events in a user-defined collection that are known to be predecessors of the current element. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
join(optional)Used for linking visually separate entities that form a single logical entity, for example, multiple slurs broken across a system break that form a single musical phrase. Also used to indicate a measure which metrically completes the current one. Record the identifiers of the separately encoded components, excluding the one carrying the attribute. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
label(optional)Captures text to be used to generate a label for the element to which it’s attached, a "tool tip" or prefatory text, for example. Should not be used to record document content. Value is plain text.
metcon(optional)Indicates the relationship between the content of a measure and the prevailing meter. Value conforms to data.BOOLEAN.
n(optional)Provides a number-like designation that indicates an element’s position in a sequence of similar elements. May not contain space characters. Value conforms to data.WORD.
next(optional)Used to point to the next event(s) in a user-defined collection. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
precedes(optional)Points to one or more events in a user-defined collection that are known to be successors of the current element. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
prev(optional)Points to the previous event(s) in a user-defined collection. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
resp(optional)Indicates the agent(s) responsible for some aspect of the text’s transcription, editing, or encoding. Its value must point to one or more identifiers declared in the document header. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
sameas(optional)Points to an element that is the same as the current element but is not a literal copy of the current element. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
synch(optional)Points to elements that are synchronous with the current element. One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
target(optional)Identifies passive participants in a relationship; that is, the entities pointed "to". One or more values from data.URI, separated by spaces.
targettype(optional)Characterization of target resource(s) using any convenient classification scheme or typology. Value is a NMTOKEN.
type(optional)Designation which characterizes the element in some sense, using any convenient classification scheme or typology that employs single-token labels. One or more values of datatype NMTOKEN, separated by spaces.
width(optional)Measurement of the horizontal dimension of an entity. Value conforms to data.MEASUREMENTUNSIGNED.
xlink:actuate(optional)Defines whether a link occurs automatically or must be requested by the user. Allowed values are: "onLoad" (Load the target resource(s) immediately.), "onRequest" (Load the target resource(s) upon user request.), "none" (Do not permit loading of the target resource(s).), "other" (Behavior other than allowed by the other values of this attribute.)
xlink:role(optional)Characterization of the relationship between resources. The value of the role attribute must be a URI. Value conforms to data.URI.
xlink:show(optional)Defines how a remote resource is rendered. Allowed values are: "new" (Open in a new window.), "replace" (Load the referenced resource in the same window.), "embed" (Embed the referenced resource at the point of the link.), "none" (Do not permit traversal to the referenced resource.), "other" (Behavior other than permitted by the other values of this attribute.)
xml:base(optional)Provides a base URI reference with which applications can resolve relative URI references into absolute URI references. Value conforms to data.URI.
xml:id(optional)Regularizes the naming of an element and thus facilitates building links between it and other resources. Each id attribute within a document must have a unique value. Value is a valid xml:id.
Member of
model.measureLikeGroups CMN measure-like elements.
Contained By
(MEI.cmn) Groups CMN measure-like elements.
(MEI.cmn) Groups elements that may appear as part of a section.
endingAlternative ending for a repeated passage of music; i.e., prima volta, seconda volta, etc.
(MEI.shared) Groups elements that may appear as part of a section.
abbrA generic element for 1) a shortened form of a word, including an acronym or 2) a shorthand notation.
addMarks an addition to the text.
corrContains the correct form of an apparent erroneous passage.
damageContains an area of damage to the physical medium.
delContains information deleted, marked as deleted, or otherwise indicated as superfluous or spurious in the copy text by an author, scribe, annotator, or corrector.
expanContains the expansion of an abbreviation.
lemContains the lemma, or base text, of a textual variation.
origContains material which is marked as following the original, rather than being normalized or corrected.
rdgContains a single reading within a textual variation.
regContains material which has been regularized or normalized in some sense.
restoreIndicates restoration of material to an earlier state by cancellation of an editorial or authorial marking or instruction.
sectionSegment of music data.
sicContains apparently incorrect or inaccurate material.
suppliedContains material supplied by the transcriber or editor for any reason.
unclearContains material that cannot be transcribed with certainty because it is illegible or inaudible in the source.
Critical apparatus component declarations.
lemContains the lemma, or base text, of a textual variation.
rdgContains a single reading within a textual variation.
Editorial and transcriptional component declarations.
abbrA generic element for 1) a shortened form of a word, including an acronym or 2) a shorthand notation.
addMarks an addition to the text.
corrContains the correct form of an apparent erroneous passage.
damageContains an area of damage to the physical medium.
delContains information deleted, marked as deleted, or otherwise indicated as superfluous or spurious in the copy text by an author, scribe, annotator, or corrector.
expanContains the expansion of an abbreviation.
origContains material which is marked as following the original, rather than being normalized or corrected.
regContains material which has been regularized or normalized in some sense.
restoreIndicates restoration of material to an earlier state by cancellation of an editorial or authorial marking or instruction.
sicContains apparently incorrect or inaccurate material.
suppliedContains material supplied by the transcriber or editor for any reason.
unclearContains material that cannot be transcribed with certainty because it is illegible or inaudible in the source.
Component declarations that are shared between two or more modules.
endingAlternative ending for a repeated passage of music; i.e., prima volta, seconda volta, etc.
sectionSegment of music data.
May Contain
mNumDesignation, 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.
(MEI.cmn) Groups elements that may appear within a CMN measure.
(MEI.cmn) Groups control events that appear in CMN.
arpegIndicates that the notes of a chord are to be performed successively rather than simultaneously, usually from lowest to highest. Sometimes called a "roll".
attaccaAn instruction to begin the next section or movement of a composition without pause.
beamSpanAlternative element for explicitly encoding beams, particularly those which extend across bar lines.
bracketSpanMarks a sequence of notational events grouped by a bracket.
breathAn indication of a point at which the performer on an instrument requiring breath (including the voice) may breathe.
fermataAn indication placed over a note or rest to indicate that it should be held longer than its written value. May also occur over a bar line to indicate the end of a phrase or section. Sometimes called a 'hold' or 'pause'.
hairpinIndicates continuous dynamics expressed on the score as wedge-shaped graphics, e.g., < and >.
harpPedalHarp pedal diagram.
lvA "tie-like" indication that a note should ring beyond its written duration.
octaveAn indication that a passage should be performed one or more octaves above or below its written pitch.
pedalPiano pedal mark.
rehIn an orchestral score and its corresponding parts, a mark indicating a convenient point from which to resume rehearsal after a break.
slurIndication of 1) a "unified melodic idea" or 2) performance technique.
tieAn indication that two notes of the same pitch form a single note with their combined rhythmic values.
tupletSpanAlternative element for encoding tuplets, especially useful for tuplets that extend across bar lines.
(MEI.cmnOrnaments) Groups CMN ornament elements.
mordentAn ornament indicating rapid alternation of the main note with a secondary note, usually a step below, but sometimes a step above.
trillRapid alternation of a note with another (usually at the interval of a second above).
turnAn ornament consisting of four notes — the upper neighbor of the written note, the written note, the lower neighbor, and the written note.
(MEI.cmn) Groups elements that function like ossia.
ossiaCaptures original notation and a differently notated version *present in the source being transcribed*.
(MEI.midi) Groups elements which group MIDI-like elements.
midiContainer for elements that contain information useful when generating MIDI output.
(MEI.shared) Groups elements, such as dynamics, ties, phrase marks, pedal marks, etc., which depend upon other events, such as notes or rests, for their existence.
bendA variation in pitch (often micro-tonal) upwards or downwards during the course of a note.
caesuraBreak, pause, or interruption in the normal tempo of a composition. Typically indicated by "railroad tracks", i.e., two diagonal slashes.
cpMarkA verbal or graphical indication to copy musical material written elsewhere.
dirAn instruction expressed as a combination of text and symbols, typically above, below, or between staves, but not on the staff — that is not encoded elsewhere in more specific elements, like tempo, dynam or repeatMark.
dynamIndication of the volume of a note, phrase, or section of music.
glissA continuous or sliding movement from one pitch to another, usually indicated by a straight or wavy line.
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.
ornamAn element indicating an ornament that is not a mordent, turn, or trill.
phraseIndication of 1) a "unified melodic idea" or 2) performance technique.
repeatMark An instruction expressed as a combination of text and symbols – segno and coda – typically above, below, or between staves, but not on the staff.
spContains an individual speech in a performance text.
tempoText and symbols descriptive of tempo, mood, or style, e.g., "allarg.", "a tempo", "cantabile", "Moderato", "♩=60", "Moderato ♩ =60").
(MEI.drama) Groups elements containing stage directions in performance texts.
stageDirContains any kind of stage direction within a dramatic text or fragment.
(MEI.fingering) Groups elements that capture performance instructions regarding the use of the fingers of the hand (or a subset of them).
fingAn individual finger in a fingering indication.
fingGrpA group of individual fingers in a fingering indication.
(MEI.harmony) Groups harmonic elements that function as control events; that is, those events that modify or otherwise depend on the existence of notated events.
(MEI.harmony) Groups elements that record indications of harmony.
harmAn indication of harmony, e.g., chord names, tablature grids, harmonic analysis, figured bass.
(MEI.shared) Groups elements that function like staves.
staffA group of equidistant horizontal lines on which notes are placed in order to represent pitch or a grouping element for individual 'strands' of notes, rests, etc. that may or may not actually be rendered on staff lines; that is, both diastematic and non-diastematic signs.
(MEI.critapp) Groups elements that contain a critical apparatus entry.
appContains one or more alternative encodings.
(MEI.edittrans) Groups elements for editorial interventions that may be useful both in transcribing and in authoring processes.
choiceGroups a number of alternative encodings for the same point in a text.
substGroups transcriptional elements when the combination is to be regarded as a single intervention in the text.
(MEI.edittrans) Groups elements used for editorial transcription of pre-existing source materials.
addMarks an addition to the text.
corrContains the correct form of an apparent erroneous passage.
damageContains an area of damage to the physical medium.
delContains information deleted, marked as deleted, or otherwise indicated as superfluous or spurious in the copy text by an author, scribe, annotator, or corrector.
gapIndicates a point where material has been omitted in a transcription, whether as part of sampling practice or for editorial reasons described in the MEI header.
handShiftMarks the beginning of a passage written in a new hand, or of a change in the scribe, writing style, ink or character of the document hand.
origContains material which is marked as following the original, rather than being normalized or corrected.
regContains material which has been regularized or normalized in some sense.
restoreIndicates restoration of material to an earlier state by cancellation of an editorial or authorial marking or instruction.
sicContains apparently incorrect or inaccurate material.
suppliedContains material supplied by the transcriber or editor for any reason.
unclearContains material that cannot be transcribed with certainty because it is illegible or inaudible in the source.
(MEI.shared) Groups annotation-like elements.
annotProvides a statement explaining the text or indicating the basis for an assertion.
(MEI.shared) Groups milestone-style elements found in music notation.
cbAn empty formatting element that forces text to begin in a new column.
colLayoutAn empty formatting element that signals the start of columnar layout.
sbAn empty formatting element that forces musical notation to begin on a new line.
(MEI.shared) Groups page beginning-like elements.
pbAn empty formatting element that forces text to begin on a new page.
(MEI.shared) Collects elements that express a relationship.
relationDescribes a relationship or linkage amongst entities.
relationListGathers relation elements.
(MEI.shared) Groups elements that permit declaration of staff properties.
staffDefContainer for staff meta-information.
(MEI.usersymbols) Groups elements that function as drawing primitives.
anchoredTextContainer for text that is fixed to a particular page location, regardless of changes made to the layout of the measures around it.
curveA curved line that cannot be represented by a more specific element, such as a slur.
lineA visual line that cannot be represented by a more specific; i.e., semantic, element.
Common Music Notation (CMN) repertoire component declarations.
arpegIndicates that the notes of a chord are to be performed successively rather than simultaneously, usually from lowest to highest. Sometimes called a "roll".
attaccaAn instruction to begin the next section or movement of a composition without pause.
beamSpanAlternative element for explicitly encoding beams, particularly those which extend across bar lines.
bendA variation in pitch (often micro-tonal) upwards or downwards during the course of a note.
bracketSpanMarks a sequence of notational events grouped by a bracket.
breathAn indication of a point at which the performer on an instrument requiring breath (including the voice) may breathe.
fermataAn indication placed over a note or rest to indicate that it should be held longer than its written value. May also occur over a bar line to indicate the end of a phrase or section. Sometimes called a 'hold' or 'pause'.
glissA continuous or sliding movement from one pitch to another, usually indicated by a straight or wavy line.
hairpinIndicates continuous dynamics expressed on the score as wedge-shaped graphics, e.g., < and >.
harpPedalHarp pedal diagram.
lvA "tie-like" indication that a note should ring beyond its written duration.
mNumDesignation, 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.
octaveAn indication that a passage should be performed one or more octaves above or below its written pitch.
ossiaCaptures original notation and a differently notated version *present in the source being transcribed*.
pedalPiano pedal mark.
rehIn an orchestral score and its corresponding parts, a mark indicating a convenient point from which to resume rehearsal after a break.
repeatMark An instruction expressed as a combination of text and symbols – segno and coda – typically above, below, or between staves, but not on the staff.
slurIndication of 1) a "unified melodic idea" or 2) performance technique.
tieAn indication that two notes of the same pitch form a single note with their combined rhythmic values.
tupletSpanAlternative element for encoding tuplets, especially useful for tuplets that extend across bar lines.
CMN ornament component declarations.
mordentAn ornament indicating rapid alternation of the main note with a secondary note, usually a step below, but sometimes a step above.
trillRapid alternation of a note with another (usually at the interval of a second above).
turnAn ornament consisting of four notes — the upper neighbor of the written note, the written note, the lower neighbor, and the written note.
Critical apparatus component declarations.
appContains one or more alternative encodings.
Dramatic text component declarations.
spContains an individual speech in a performance text.
stageDirContains any kind of stage direction within a dramatic text or fragment.
Editorial and transcriptional component declarations.
addMarks an addition to the text.
choiceGroups a number of alternative encodings for the same point in a text.
corrContains the correct form of an apparent erroneous passage.
cpMarkA verbal or graphical indication to copy musical material written elsewhere.
damageContains an area of damage to the physical medium.
delContains information deleted, marked as deleted, or otherwise indicated as superfluous or spurious in the copy text by an author, scribe, annotator, or corrector.
gapIndicates a point where material has been omitted in a transcription, whether as part of sampling practice or for editorial reasons described in the MEI header.
handShiftMarks the beginning of a passage written in a new hand, or of a change in the scribe, writing style, ink or character of the document hand.
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.
origContains material which is marked as following the original, rather than being normalized or corrected.
regContains material which has been regularized or normalized in some sense.
restoreIndicates restoration of material to an earlier state by cancellation of an editorial or authorial marking or instruction.
sicContains apparently incorrect or inaccurate material.
substGroups transcriptional elements when the combination is to be regarded as a single intervention in the text.
suppliedContains material supplied by the transcriber or editor for any reason.
unclearContains material that cannot be transcribed with certainty because it is illegible or inaudible in the source.
Fingering component declarations.
fingAn individual finger in a fingering indication.
fingGrpA group of individual fingers in a fingering indication.
Harmony component declarations.
harmAn indication of harmony, e.g., chord names, tablature grids, harmonic analysis, figured bass.
MIDI component declarations.
midiContainer for elements that contain information useful when generating MIDI output.
Component declarations that are shared between two or more modules.
annotProvides a statement explaining the text or indicating the basis for an assertion.
caesuraBreak, pause, or interruption in the normal tempo of a composition. Typically indicated by "railroad tracks", i.e., two diagonal slashes.
cbAn empty formatting element that forces text to begin in a new column.
colLayoutAn empty formatting element that signals the start of columnar layout.
dirAn instruction expressed as a combination of text and symbols, typically above, below, or between staves, but not on the staff — that is not encoded elsewhere in more specific elements, like tempo, dynam or repeatMark.
dynamIndication of the volume of a note, phrase, or section of music.
ornamAn element indicating an ornament that is not a mordent, turn, or trill.
pbAn empty formatting element that forces text to begin on a new page.
phraseIndication of 1) a "unified melodic idea" or 2) performance technique.
relationDescribes a relationship or linkage amongst entities.
relationListGathers relation elements.
sbAn empty formatting element that forces musical notation to begin on a new line.
staffA group of equidistant horizontal lines on which notes are placed in order to represent pitch or a grouping element for individual 'strands' of notes, rests, etc. that may or may not actually be rendered on staff lines; that is, both diastematic and non-diastematic signs.
staffDefContainer for staff meta-information.
tempoText and symbols descriptive of tempo, mood, or style, e.g., "allarg.", "a tempo", "cantabile", "Moderato", "♩=60", "Moderato ♩ =60").
User-defined symbols component declarations.
anchoredTextContainer for text that is fixed to a particular page location, regardless of changes made to the layout of the measures around it.
curveA curved line that cannot be represented by a more specific element, such as a slur.
lineA visual line that cannot be represented by a more specific; i.e., semantic, element.
Remarks

In MEI, the measure element is a grouping mechanism for events and control events. Pointing attributes make it possible to connect this element to other internal or external entities, such as media objects or annotations. The width attribute may be used to capture the width of the measure for interchange with music printing systems that utilize this information for printing.

Declaration
<elementSpec ident="measure" module="MEI.cmn">
<desc xml:lang="en">Unit of musical time consisting of a fixed number of note values of a given type, as determined by the prevailing meter, and delimited in musical notation by bar lines.</desc>
<classes>
<memberOf key="att.common"/>
<memberOf key="att.facsimile"/>
<memberOf key="att.metadataPointing"/>
<memberOf key="att.pointing"/>
<memberOf key="att.measure.anl"/>
<memberOf key="att.measure.ges"/>
<memberOf key="att.measure.log"/>
<memberOf key="att.measure.vis"/>
<memberOf key="att.targetEval"/>
<memberOf key="model.measureLike"/>
</classes>
<content>
<rng:optional>
<rng:ref name="mNum"/>
</rng:optional>
<rng:zeroOrMore>
<rng:choice>
<rng:ref name="model.annotLike"/>
<rng:ref name="model.appLike"/>
<rng:ref name="model.editLike"/>
<rng:ref name="model.graphicPrimitiveLike"/>
<rng:ref name="model.measurePart"/>
<rng:ref name="model.milestoneLike.music"/>
<rng:ref name="model.relationLike"/>
<rng:ref name="model.staffDefLike"/>
<rng:ref name="model.transcriptionLike"/>
</rng:choice>
</rng:zeroOrMore>
</content>
<remarks xml:lang="en">
<p>In MEI, the <gi scheme="MEI">measure</gi> element is a grouping mechanism for events and control events. Pointing attributes make it possible to connect this element to other internal or external entities, such as media objects or annotations. The <att>width</att> attribute may be used to capture the width of the measure for interchange with music printing systems that utilize this information for printing.</p>
</remarks>
</elementSpec>
MEI Version: 5.1-dev(#6d3dd03)