dynamics

Dynamics can be associated either with a note or a general musical direction. To avoid inconsistencies between and amongst the letter abbreviations for dynamics (what is sf vs. sfz, standing alone or with a trailing dynamic that is not always piano), we use the actual letters as the names of these dynamic elements. The other-dynamics element allows other dynamic marks that are not covered here, but many of those should perhaps be included in a more general musical direction element. Dynamics elements may also be combined to create marks not covered by a single element, such as sfmp.
	
These letter dynamic symbols are separated from crescendo, decrescendo, and wedge indications. Dynamic representation is inconsistent in scores. Many things are assumed by the composer and left out, such as returns to original dynamics. Systematic representations are quite complex: for example, Humdrum has at least 3 representation formats related to dynamics. The MusicXML format captures what is in the score, but does not try to be optimal for analysis or synthesis of dynamics.

Complex Type Information

Model

p | pp | ppp | pppp | ppppp | pppppp | f | ff | fff | ffff | fffff | ffffff | mp | mf | sf | sfp | sfpp | fp | rf | rfz | sfz | sffz | fz | other-dynamics

Attributes

QName Type Fixed Default Use Inheritable Annotation
color color optional
default-x tenths optional
default-y tenths optional
font-family comma-separated-text optional
font-size font-size optional
font-style font-style optional
font-weight font-weight optional
placement above-below optional
relative-x tenths optional
relative-y tenths optional

Used By

Source

<xs:complexType name="dynamics">
  <xs:annotation>
    <xs:documentation>Dynamics can be associated either with a note or a general musical direction. To avoid inconsistencies between and amongst the letter abbreviations for dynamics (what is sf vs. sfz, standing alone or with a trailing dynamic that is not always piano), we use the actual letters as the names of these dynamic elements. The other-dynamics element allows other dynamic marks that are not covered here, but many of those should perhaps be included in a more general musical direction element. Dynamics elements may also be combined to create marks not covered by a single element, such as sfmp. These letter dynamic symbols are separated from crescendo, decrescendo, and wedge indications. Dynamic representation is inconsistent in scores. Many things are assumed by the composer and left out, such as returns to original dynamics. Systematic representations are quite complex: for example, Humdrum has at least 3 representation formats related to dynamics. The MusicXML format captures what is in the score, but does not try to be optimal for analysis or synthesis of dynamics.</xs:documentation>
  </xs:annotation>
  <xs:choice minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded">
    <xs:element name="p" type="empty"/>
    <xs:element name="pp" type="empty"/>
    <xs:element name="ppp" type="empty"/>
    <xs:element name="pppp" type="empty"/>
    <xs:element name="ppppp" type="empty"/>
    <xs:element name="pppppp" type="empty"/>
    <xs:element name="f" type="empty"/>
    <xs:element name="ff" type="empty"/>
    <xs:element name="fff" type="empty"/>
    <xs:element name="ffff" type="empty"/>
    <xs:element name="fffff" type="empty"/>
    <xs:element name="ffffff" type="empty"/>
    <xs:element name="mp" type="empty"/>
    <xs:element name="mf" type="empty"/>
    <xs:element name="sf" type="empty"/>
    <xs:element name="sfp" type="empty"/>
    <xs:element name="sfpp" type="empty"/>
    <xs:element name="fp" type="empty"/>
    <xs:element name="rf" type="empty"/>
    <xs:element name="rfz" type="empty"/>
    <xs:element name="sfz" type="empty"/>
    <xs:element name="sffz" type="empty"/>
    <xs:element name="fz" type="empty"/>
    <xs:element name="other-dynamics" type="xs:string"/>
  </xs:choice>
  <xs:attributeGroup ref="print-style"/>
  <xs:attributeGroup ref="placement"/>
</xs:complexType>