MusicXML progress update: September 9, 2026

ROADMAP PROGRESS

Slower progress than expected this month. Some roadmap issues opened deeper questions that kept me busy.

– Closed: Clarify fan attribute usage for multi-level beams https://github.com/w3c-cg/musicxml/issues/663  (thanks @rpatters1)

– Removed from roadmap: Add ‘smufl’ attribute to <senza-misura> https://github.com/w3c-cg/musicxml/issues/643 (thanks @lemzwerg – as per issue discussion, there’s broader work needed at the level of mixing SMuFL glyphs into textual content.)

– In progress: Clarify the whole-rest reference point for <display-step> and <display-octave> https://github.com/w3c-cg/musicxml/issues/681 (thanks @rpatters1)

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

While working on roadmap issues, it became clear to me that more often than not, specialized knowledge and focused attention on specific topics would be of great help to push groups of issues forward. I am therefore calling on members of the community to express their interest in forming special interest groups around the following, and other, topics:

• Instrument-specific techniques, typically under the <technical> element. (Ref “instruments” tag).
• Content (text and symbol) appearance, including SMuFL glyphs, text styling, enclosures, etc. (Ref “appearance” tag.)
• Editorial issues surrounding the documentation. (Ref “documentation” tag.)

Please reach out at the relevant discussion thread with your interests and ideas!