Can MuseScore be used programmatically?

Question

I wasn't sure whether to post this on StackOverflow or here, but since the pros in MuseScore should be on this platform, here it goes:

I have a custom build system to create a pdf songbook using LaTeX and I want to include tablature there. I parse ASCII tablatures myself and just need to render them.

So my idea would be:

I export the tablature to a format that MuseScore can read (XML?), then call MuseScore from the command line to render it as a PDF or image, which I then include in my LaTeX page.

Does MuseScore support this?

As you're already using latex, are you aware of LilyPond? – flawr Aug 27 '19 at 07:22 — flawr, Aug 27 '19 at 07:22

score 18 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 26 '19 at 18:16

18

Another option (if this could be allowed as an answer) is to read the XML in LilyPond, perhaps via musicxml2ly.

Since LaTeX and LilyPond can work relatively well together, you may have better luck that way. And done the right way (like with the lyluatex package) you could bypass creating the "output" altogether and have it immediately created in your file.

answered Aug 26 '19 at 18:16

Richard

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Seconded. MuseScore is first and foremost designed to be used graphically, LilyPond programmatically. – Draconis Aug 27 '19 at 04:28
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This sounds like the better option, +1. LilyPond seems to be designed for these kind of scenario's. – Willem van Rumpt Aug 27 '19 at 13:53

score 12 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 26 '19 at 15:28

MuseScore supports MusicXml, so if you can export to that, you're good.

According to the command line options of MuseScore, you can use the "-o" options to specify an output format, and it even has an example specifying input and output.

How to include it in your LaTeX page is of course beyond MuseScore, that's up to you.

Can MuseScore be used programmatically?

2 Answers2