Table Of Contents

Previous topic

music21.environment

Next topic

music21.features.base

music21.expressions

This module provides object representations of expressions, that is notational symbols such as Fermatas, Mordents, Trills, Turns, etc. which are stored under a Music21Object’s .expressions attribute

music21.expressions.realizeOrnaments(srcObject)

given a Music21Object with Ornament expressions, convert them into a list of objects that represents the performed version of the object:

>>> from music21 import *
>>> n1 = note.Note("D5")
>>> n1.quarterLength = 1
>>> n1.expressions.append(expressions.WholeStepMordent())
>>> expList = expressions.realizeOrnaments(n1)
>>> st1 = stream.Stream()
>>> st1.append(expList)
>>> st1.show()
_images/expressionsMordentRealize.png

Appoggiatura

Inherits from: GeneralAppoggiatura, Ornament, Expression, Music21Object, JSONSerializer

class music21.expressions.Appoggiatura

Expression

Inherits from: Music21Object, JSONSerializer

class music21.expressions.Expression
This base class is inherited by many diverse expressions.

Fermata

Inherits from: Expression, Music21Object, JSONSerializer

class music21.expressions.Fermata

Fermatas by default get appended to the last note if a note is split because of measures. To override this (for Fermatas or for any expression) set .tieAttach to ‘all’ or ‘first’ instead of ‘last’.

>>> from music21 import *
>>> p1 = stream.Part()
>>> p1.append(meter.TimeSignature('6/8'))
>>> n1 = note.Note("D-2")
>>> n1.quarterLength = 6
>>> n1.expressions.append(expressions.Fermata())
>>> p1.append(n1)
>>> p1.show()
_images/expressionsFermata.png

Fermata attributes

Attributes without Documentation: lily, shape, tieAttach, type

Attributes inherited from Music21Object: classSortOrder, hideObjectOnPrint, id, isSpanner, isStream, isWrapper, groups

Fermata properties

mx

Advanced feature: As a getter gives the music21.musicxml object for the Fermata or as a setter changes the current fermata to have the characteristics of the musicxml object to fit this type:

>>> from music21 import *
>>> a = Fermata()
>>> mxFermata = a.mx
>>> mxFermata.get('type')
'upright'
>>> mxFermata2 = musicxml.Fermata()
>>> mxFermata2.set('type', 'upright-inverted')
>>> a.mx = mxFermata2
>>> a.type
'upright-inverted'

Properties inherited from Music21Object: activeSite, beat, beatDuration, beatStr, beatStrength, classes, derivationHierarchy, duration, measureNumber, offset, priority

Properties inherited from JSONSerializer: json

Fermata methods

Methods inherited from Music21Object: searchParentByAttr(), getContextAttr(), setContextAttr(), addContext(), addLocation(), addLocationAndActiveSite(), freezeIds(), getAllContextsByClass(), getCommonSiteIds(), getCommonSites(), getContextByClass(), getOffsetBySite(), getSiteIds(), getSites(), getSpannerSites(), hasContext(), hasSpannerSite(), isClassOrSubclass(), mergeAttributes(), purgeLocations(), removeLocationBySite(), removeLocationBySiteId(), removeNonContainedLocations(), setOffsetBySite(), show(), splitAtDurations(), splitAtQuarterLength(), splitByQuarterLengths(), unfreezeIds(), unwrapWeakref(), wrapWeakref(), write()

Methods inherited from JSONSerializer: jsonAttributes(), jsonComponentFactory(), jsonPrint(), jsonRead(), jsonWrite()

GeneralAppoggiatura

Inherits from: Ornament, Expression, Music21Object, JSONSerializer

class music21.expressions.GeneralAppoggiatura

GeneralAppoggiatura attributes

Attributes without Documentation: direction, size

Attributes inherited from Ornament: connectedToPrevious, tieAttach

Attributes inherited from Music21Object: classSortOrder, hideObjectOnPrint, id, isSpanner, isStream, isWrapper, groups

GeneralAppoggiatura properties

Properties inherited from Music21Object: activeSite, beat, beatDuration, beatStr, beatStrength, classes, derivationHierarchy, duration, measureNumber, offset, priority

Properties inherited from JSONSerializer: json

GeneralAppoggiatura methods

realize(srcObject)

realize an appoggiatura returns a three-element tuple. The first is the notes that the grace note was converted to. The second is the rest of the note The third is an empty list (since there are no notes at the end of an appoggiatura)

>>> from music21 import *
>>> n1 = note.Note("C4")
>>> n1.quarterLength = 0.5
>>> a1 = expressions.Appoggiatura()
>>> a1.realize(n1)
(<music21.note.Note D>, <music21.note.Note C>, [])
>>> from music21 import *
>>> n2 = note.Note("C4")
>>> n2.quarterLength = 1
>>> a2 = expressions.HalfStepInvertedAppoggiatura()
>>> a2.realize(n2)
(<music21.note.Note B>, <music21.note.Note C>, [])

Methods inherited from Music21Object: searchParentByAttr(), getContextAttr(), setContextAttr(), addContext(), addLocation(), addLocationAndActiveSite(), freezeIds(), getAllContextsByClass(), getCommonSiteIds(), getCommonSites(), getContextByClass(), getOffsetBySite(), getSiteIds(), getSites(), getSpannerSites(), hasContext(), hasSpannerSite(), isClassOrSubclass(), mergeAttributes(), purgeLocations(), removeLocationBySite(), removeLocationBySiteId(), removeNonContainedLocations(), setOffsetBySite(), show(), splitAtDurations(), splitAtQuarterLength(), splitByQuarterLengths(), unfreezeIds(), unwrapWeakref(), wrapWeakref(), write()

Methods inherited from JSONSerializer: jsonAttributes(), jsonComponentFactory(), jsonPrint(), jsonRead(), jsonWrite()

GeneralMordent

Inherits from: Ornament, Expression, Music21Object, JSONSerializer

class music21.expressions.GeneralMordent

GeneralMordent attributes

Attributes without Documentation: direction, quarterLength, size

Attributes inherited from Ornament: connectedToPrevious, tieAttach

Attributes inherited from Music21Object: classSortOrder, hideObjectOnPrint, id, isSpanner, isStream, isWrapper, groups

GeneralMordent properties

Properties inherited from Music21Object: activeSite, beat, beatDuration, beatStr, beatStrength, classes, derivationHierarchy, duration, measureNumber, offset, priority

Properties inherited from JSONSerializer: json

GeneralMordent methods

realize(srcObject)

realize a mordent. returns a three-element tuple. The first is a list of the two notes that the beginning of the note were converted to. The second is the rest of the note The third is an empty list (since there are no notes at the end of a mordent)

>>> from music21 import *
>>> n1 = note.Note("C4")
>>> n1.quarterLength = 0.5
>>> m1 = expressions.Mordent()
>>> m1.realize(n1)
([<music21.note.Note C>, <music21.note.Note B>], <music21.note.Note C>, [])
>>> from music21 import *
>>> n2 = note.Note("C4")
>>> n2.quarterLength = 0.125
>>> m2 = expressions.GeneralMordent()
>>> m2.realize(n2)
...
ExpressionException: Cannot realize a mordent if I do not know its direction

Methods inherited from Music21Object: searchParentByAttr(), getContextAttr(), setContextAttr(), addContext(), addLocation(), addLocationAndActiveSite(), freezeIds(), getAllContextsByClass(), getCommonSiteIds(), getCommonSites(), getContextByClass(), getOffsetBySite(), getSiteIds(), getSites(), getSpannerSites(), hasContext(), hasSpannerSite(), isClassOrSubclass(), mergeAttributes(), purgeLocations(), removeLocationBySite(), removeLocationBySiteId(), removeNonContainedLocations(), setOffsetBySite(), show(), splitAtDurations(), splitAtQuarterLength(), splitByQuarterLengths(), unfreezeIds(), unwrapWeakref(), wrapWeakref(), write()

Methods inherited from JSONSerializer: jsonAttributes(), jsonComponentFactory(), jsonPrint(), jsonRead(), jsonWrite()

HalfStepAppoggiatura

Inherits from: Appoggiatura, GeneralAppoggiatura, Ornament, Expression, Music21Object, JSONSerializer

class music21.expressions.HalfStepAppoggiatura

HalfStepInvertedAppoggiatura

Inherits from: InvertedAppoggiatura, GeneralAppoggiatura, Ornament, Expression, Music21Object, JSONSerializer

class music21.expressions.HalfStepInvertedAppoggiatura

HalfStepInvertedMordent

Inherits from: InvertedMordent, GeneralMordent, Ornament, Expression, Music21Object, JSONSerializer

class music21.expressions.HalfStepInvertedMordent

HalfStepMordent

Inherits from: Mordent, GeneralMordent, Ornament, Expression, Music21Object, JSONSerializer

class music21.expressions.HalfStepMordent

HalfStepTrill

Inherits from: Trill, Ornament, Expression, Music21Object, JSONSerializer

class music21.expressions.HalfStepTrill

InvertedAppoggiatura

Inherits from: GeneralAppoggiatura, Ornament, Expression, Music21Object, JSONSerializer

class music21.expressions.InvertedAppoggiatura

InvertedMordent

Inherits from: GeneralMordent, Ornament, Expression, Music21Object, JSONSerializer

class music21.expressions.InvertedMordent

InvertedTurn

Inherits from: Turn, Ornament, Expression, Music21Object, JSONSerializer

class music21.expressions.InvertedTurn

Mordent

Inherits from: GeneralMordent, Ornament, Expression, Music21Object, JSONSerializer

class music21.expressions.Mordent

Ornament

Inherits from: Expression, Music21Object, JSONSerializer

class music21.expressions.Ornament

Ornament attributes

Attributes without Documentation: connectedToPrevious, tieAttach

Attributes inherited from Music21Object: classSortOrder, hideObjectOnPrint, id, isSpanner, isStream, isWrapper, groups

Ornament properties

Properties inherited from Music21Object: activeSite, beat, beatDuration, beatStr, beatStrength, classes, derivationHierarchy, duration, measureNumber, offset, priority

Properties inherited from JSONSerializer: json

Ornament methods

realize(sourceObject)
subclassible method call that takes a sourceObject and returns a three-element tuple of a list of notes before the “main note”, the “main note” itself, and a list of notes after the “main note”.

Methods inherited from Music21Object: searchParentByAttr(), getContextAttr(), setContextAttr(), addContext(), addLocation(), addLocationAndActiveSite(), freezeIds(), getAllContextsByClass(), getCommonSiteIds(), getCommonSites(), getContextByClass(), getOffsetBySite(), getSiteIds(), getSites(), getSpannerSites(), hasContext(), hasSpannerSite(), isClassOrSubclass(), mergeAttributes(), purgeLocations(), removeLocationBySite(), removeLocationBySiteId(), removeNonContainedLocations(), setOffsetBySite(), show(), splitAtDurations(), splitAtQuarterLength(), splitByQuarterLengths(), unfreezeIds(), unwrapWeakref(), wrapWeakref(), write()

Methods inherited from JSONSerializer: jsonAttributes(), jsonComponentFactory(), jsonPrint(), jsonRead(), jsonWrite()

TextExpression

Inherits from: Expression, Music21Object, JSONSerializer, TextFormat

class music21.expressions.TextExpression(content=None)

A TextExpression is a word, phrase, or similar bit of text that is positioned in a Stream or Measure. Conventional expressive indications are text like “agitato” or “con fuoco.”

>>> from music21 import *
>>> te = expressions.TextExpression('testing')
>>> te.size = 24
>>> te.size
24.0
>>> te.style = 'bolditalic'
>>> te.letterSpacing = 0.5

TextExpression attributes

classSortOrder

Property which returns an number (int or otherwise) depending on the class of the Music21Object that represents a priority for an object based on its class alone – used as a tie for stream sorting in case two objects have the same offset and priority. Lower numbers are sorted to the left of higher numbers. For instance, Clef, KeySignature, TimeSignature all come (in that order) before Note. All undefined classes have classSortOrder of 20 – same as note.Note

>>> from music21 import *
>>> tc = clef.TrebleClef()
>>> tc.classSortOrder
0
>>> ks = key.KeySignature(3)
>>> ks.classSortOrder
1

New classes can define their own default classSortOrder

>>> class ExampleClass(base.Music21Object):
...     classSortOrderDefault = 5
...
>>> ec1 = ExampleClass()
>>> ec1.classSortOrder
5

Attributes inherited from Music21Object: hideObjectOnPrint, id, isSpanner, isStream, isWrapper, groups

TextExpression properties

content

Get or set the the content.

>>> from music21 import *
>>> te = expressions.TextExpression('testing')
>>> te.content
'testing'
enclosure

Get or set the the enclosure.

>>> from music21 import *
>>> te = expressions.TextExpression()
>>> te.justify = 'center'
>>> te.enclosure = None
>>> te.enclosure = 'rectangle'
positionVertical

Get or set the the vertical position, where 0 is the top line of the staff and units are in 10ths of a staff space.

>>> from music21 import *
>>> te = expressions.TextExpression()
>>> te.positionVertical = 10
>>> te.positionVertical
10.0

Properties inherited from Music21Object: activeSite, beat, beatDuration, beatStr, beatStrength, classes, derivationHierarchy, duration, measureNumber, offset, priority

Properties inherited from JSONSerializer: json

Properties inherited from TextFormat: justify, letterSpacing, size, style

TextExpression methods

getRepeatExpression()
If this TextExpression can be a RepeatExpression, return a new RepeatExpression. object, otherwise, return None.
getTempoText()
No documentation.

Methods inherited from Music21Object: searchParentByAttr(), getContextAttr(), setContextAttr(), addContext(), addLocation(), addLocationAndActiveSite(), freezeIds(), getAllContextsByClass(), getCommonSiteIds(), getCommonSites(), getContextByClass(), getOffsetBySite(), getSiteIds(), getSites(), getSpannerSites(), hasContext(), hasSpannerSite(), isClassOrSubclass(), mergeAttributes(), purgeLocations(), removeLocationBySite(), removeLocationBySiteId(), removeNonContainedLocations(), setOffsetBySite(), show(), splitAtDurations(), splitAtQuarterLength(), splitByQuarterLengths(), unfreezeIds(), unwrapWeakref(), wrapWeakref(), write()

Methods inherited from JSONSerializer: jsonAttributes(), jsonComponentFactory(), jsonPrint(), jsonRead(), jsonWrite()

Trill

Inherits from: Ornament, Expression, Music21Object, JSONSerializer

class music21.expressions.Trill

Trill attributes

size

An Interval class that encapsulates both Chromatic and Diatonic intervals all in one model. The interval is specified either as named arguments, a DiatonicInterval and a ChromaticInterval, or two Note objects, from which both a ChromaticInterval and DiatonicInterval are derived.

>>> from music21 import *
>>> n1 = note.Note('c3')
>>> n2 = note.Note('c5')
>>> aInterval = interval.Interval(noteStart=n1, noteEnd=n2)
>>> aInterval
<music21.interval.Interval P15>

Two Intervals are the same if their Chromatic and Diatonic intervals are the same. N.B. that interval.Interval(‘a4’) != ‘a4’ – maybe it should...

Attributes without Documentation: nachschlag, placement, quarterLength, tieAttach

Attributes inherited from Ornament: connectedToPrevious

Attributes inherited from Music21Object: classSortOrder, hideObjectOnPrint, id, isSpanner, isStream, isWrapper, groups

Trill properties

mx

Returns a musicxml.TrillMark object

>>> a = Trill()
>>> a.placement = 'above'
>>> mxTrillMark = a.mx
>>> mxTrillMark.get('placement')
'above'

Properties inherited from Music21Object: activeSite, beat, beatDuration, beatStr, beatStrength, classes, derivationHierarchy, duration, measureNumber, offset, priority

Properties inherited from JSONSerializer: json

Trill methods

realize(srcObject)

realize a trill. returns a three-element tuple. The first is a list of the notes that the note was converted to. The second is None because the trill “eats up” the whole note. The third is a list of the notes at the end if nachschlag is True, and empty list if False.

>>> from music21 import *
>>> n1 = note.Note("C4")
>>> n1.quarterLength = 0.5
>>> t1 = expressions.Trill()
>>> t1.realize(n1)
([<music21.note.Note C>, <music21.note.Note D>, <music21.note.Note C>, <music21.note.Note D>], None, [])
>>> from music21 import *
>>> n2 = note.Note("D4")
>>> n2.quarterLength = 0.125
>>> t2 = expressions.Trill()
>>> t2.realize(n2)
...
ExpressionException: The note is not long enough to realize a trill

Methods inherited from Music21Object: searchParentByAttr(), getContextAttr(), setContextAttr(), addContext(), addLocation(), addLocationAndActiveSite(), freezeIds(), getAllContextsByClass(), getCommonSiteIds(), getCommonSites(), getContextByClass(), getOffsetBySite(), getSiteIds(), getSites(), getSpannerSites(), hasContext(), hasSpannerSite(), isClassOrSubclass(), mergeAttributes(), purgeLocations(), removeLocationBySite(), removeLocationBySiteId(), removeNonContainedLocations(), setOffsetBySite(), show(), splitAtDurations(), splitAtQuarterLength(), splitByQuarterLengths(), unfreezeIds(), unwrapWeakref(), wrapWeakref(), write()

Methods inherited from JSONSerializer: jsonAttributes(), jsonComponentFactory(), jsonPrint(), jsonRead(), jsonWrite()

Turn

Inherits from: Ornament, Expression, Music21Object, JSONSerializer

class music21.expressions.Turn

Turn attributes

size

An Interval class that encapsulates both Chromatic and Diatonic intervals all in one model. The interval is specified either as named arguments, a DiatonicInterval and a ChromaticInterval, or two Note objects, from which both a ChromaticInterval and DiatonicInterval are derived.

>>> from music21 import *
>>> n1 = note.Note('c3')
>>> n2 = note.Note('c5')
>>> aInterval = interval.Interval(noteStart=n1, noteEnd=n2)
>>> aInterval
<music21.interval.Interval P15>

Two Intervals are the same if their Chromatic and Diatonic intervals are the same. N.B. that interval.Interval(‘a4’) != ‘a4’ – maybe it should...

Attributes without Documentation: nachschlag, placement, quarterLength, tieAttach

Attributes inherited from Ornament: connectedToPrevious

Attributes inherited from Music21Object: classSortOrder, hideObjectOnPrint, id, isSpanner, isStream, isWrapper, groups

Turn properties

Properties inherited from Music21Object: activeSite, beat, beatDuration, beatStr, beatStrength, classes, derivationHierarchy, duration, measureNumber, offset, priority

Properties inherited from JSONSerializer: json

Turn methods

realize(srcObject)

realize a turn. returns a three-element tuple. The first is a list of the four notes that the beginning of the note was converted to. The second is a note of duration 0 because the turn “eats up” the whole note. The third is a list of the notes at the end if nachschlag is True, and empty list if False.

>>> from  music21 import *
>>> m1 = stream.Measure()
>>> m1.append(key.Key('F', 'major'))
>>> n1 = note.Note("C5")
>>> m1.append(n1)
>>> t1 = expressions.Turn()
>>> t1.realize(n1)
([], <music21.note.Note C>, [<music21.note.Note D>, <music21.note.Note C>, <music21.note.Note B->, <music21.note.Note C>])
>>> from music21 import *
>>> m2 = stream.Measure()
>>> m2.append(key.KeySignature(5))
>>> n2 = note.Note("B4")
>>> m2.append(n2)
>>> t2 = expressions.InvertedTurn()
>>> t2.realize(n2)
([], <music21.note.Note B>, [<music21.note.Note A#>, <music21.note.Note B>, <music21.note.Note C#>, <music21.note.Note B>])
>>> from music21 import *
>>> n2 = note.Note("C4")
>>> n2.quarterLength = 0.125
>>> t2 = expressions.Turn()
>>> t2.realize(n2)
...
ExpressionException: The note is not long enough to realize a turn

Methods inherited from Music21Object: searchParentByAttr(), getContextAttr(), setContextAttr(), addContext(), addLocation(), addLocationAndActiveSite(), freezeIds(), getAllContextsByClass(), getCommonSiteIds(), getCommonSites(), getContextByClass(), getOffsetBySite(), getSiteIds(), getSites(), getSpannerSites(), hasContext(), hasSpannerSite(), isClassOrSubclass(), mergeAttributes(), purgeLocations(), removeLocationBySite(), removeLocationBySiteId(), removeNonContainedLocations(), setOffsetBySite(), show(), splitAtDurations(), splitAtQuarterLength(), splitByQuarterLengths(), unfreezeIds(), unwrapWeakref(), wrapWeakref(), write()

Methods inherited from JSONSerializer: jsonAttributes(), jsonComponentFactory(), jsonPrint(), jsonRead(), jsonWrite()

WholeStepAppoggiatura

Inherits from: Appoggiatura, GeneralAppoggiatura, Ornament, Expression, Music21Object, JSONSerializer

class music21.expressions.WholeStepAppoggiatura

WholeStepInvertedAppoggiatura

Inherits from: InvertedAppoggiatura, GeneralAppoggiatura, Ornament, Expression, Music21Object, JSONSerializer

class music21.expressions.WholeStepInvertedAppoggiatura

WholeStepInvertedMordent

Inherits from: InvertedMordent, GeneralMordent, Ornament, Expression, Music21Object, JSONSerializer

class music21.expressions.WholeStepInvertedMordent

WholeStepMordent

Inherits from: Mordent, GeneralMordent, Ornament, Expression, Music21Object, JSONSerializer

class music21.expressions.WholeStepMordent

WholeStepTrill

Inherits from: Trill, Ornament, Expression, Music21Object, JSONSerializer

class music21.expressions.WholeStepTrill