diff abc2xml/abc2xml.py @ 484:4fab69a1027d build-default-207

Add MusicXML conversion to tune pages. Might help someone.
author Jim Hague <jim.hague@acm.org>
date Tue, 17 Jun 2014 09:11:38 +0100
parents
children b1dbb76f4eb9
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--- /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
+++ b/abc2xml/abc2xml.py	Tue Jun 17 09:11:38 2014 +0100
@@ -0,0 +1,1747 @@
+# coding=latin-1
+'''
+Copyright (C) 2012: Willem G. Vree
+Contributions: Nils Liberg, Nicolas Froment, Norman Schmidt, Reinier Maliepaard, Martin Tarenskeen
+
+This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the
+GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of
+the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+
+This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY;
+without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
+See the GNU General Public License for more details. <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>.
+'''
+
+from pyparsing import Word, OneOrMore, Optional, Literal, NotAny, MatchFirst
+from pyparsing import Group, oneOf, Suppress, ZeroOrMore, Combine, FollowedBy
+from pyparsing import srange, CharsNotIn, StringEnd, LineEnd, White, Regex
+from pyparsing import nums, alphas, alphanums, ParseException, Forward
+try:    import xml.etree.cElementTree as E
+except: import xml.etree.ElementTree as E
+import types, sys, os, re, datetime
+
+VERSION = 58
+
+def info (s, warn=1):
+    x = (warn and '-- ' or '') + s
+    try: sys.stderr.write (x + '\n')
+    except: sys.stderr.write (repr (x) + '\n')
+
+def abc_grammar ():     # header, voice and lyrics grammar for ABC
+    b1 = Word (u"-,'<>\u2019#", exact=1)  # catch misplaced chars in chords
+
+    #-----------------------------------------------------------------
+    # ABC header (fld_text elements are matched later with reg. epr's)
+    #-----------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    number = Word (nums).setParseAction (lambda t: int (t[0]))
+    field_str = Regex (r'(?:\\.|[^]\\])*')  # match anything until end of field, skip escaped \]
+    field_str.setParseAction (lambda t: t[0].strip ())  # and strip spacing
+
+    userdef_symbol  = Word (srange ('[H-Wh-w~]'), exact=1)
+    fieldId = oneOf ('K L M Q P I T C O A Z N G H R B D F S E r') # info fields
+    X_field = Literal ('X') + Suppress (':') + number + field_str
+    U_field = Literal ('U') + Suppress (':') + userdef_symbol + Suppress ('=') + field_str
+    V_field = Literal ('V') + Suppress (':') + Word (alphanums + '_') + field_str
+    inf_fld = fieldId + Suppress (':') + field_str
+    ifield = Suppress ('[') + (X_field | U_field | V_field | inf_fld) + Suppress (']')
+    abc_header = OneOrMore (ifield) + StringEnd ()
+
+    #---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # I:score with recursive part groups and {* grand staff marker
+    #---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    voiceId = Suppress (Optional ('*')) + Word (alphanums + '_')
+    voice_gr = Suppress ('(') + OneOrMore (voiceId | Suppress ('|')) + Suppress (')')
+    simple_part = voiceId | voice_gr | Suppress ('|')
+    grand_staff = oneOf ('{* {') + OneOrMore (simple_part) + Suppress ('}')
+    part = Forward ()
+    part_seq = OneOrMore (part | Suppress ('|'))
+    brace_gr = Suppress ('{') + part_seq + Suppress ('}')
+    bracket_gr = Suppress ('[') + part_seq + Suppress ('\]')    # closing brackets are escaped by splitHeaderVoices
+    part << MatchFirst (simple_part | grand_staff | brace_gr | bracket_gr | Suppress ('|'))
+    abc_scoredef = Suppress (oneOf ('staves score')) + OneOrMore (part)
+
+    #---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # ABC voice (not white space sensitive, beams detected in note/rest parse actions)
+    #---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    inline_field =  Suppress ('[') + (inf_fld | U_field | V_field) + Suppress (']')
+
+    note_length = Optional (number, 1) + Group (ZeroOrMore ('/')) + Optional (number, 2)
+    octaveHigh = OneOrMore ("'").setParseAction (lambda t: len(t))
+    octaveLow = OneOrMore (',').setParseAction (lambda t: -len(t))
+    octave  = octaveHigh | octaveLow
+
+    basenote = oneOf ('C D E F G A B c d e f g a b y')  # includes spacer for parse efficiency
+    accidental = oneOf ('^^ __ ^ _ =')
+    rest_sym  = oneOf ('x X z Z')
+    slur_beg = oneOf ('( .(') + ~Word (nums)    # no tuplet_start
+    slur_ends = OneOrMore (oneOf (') .)'))
+
+    long_decoration = Combine (oneOf ('! +') + CharsNotIn ('!+ \n') + oneOf ('! +'))
+    staccato        = Literal ('.') + ~Literal ('|')    # avoid dotted barline
+    decoration      = staccato | userdef_symbol | long_decoration | slur_beg
+    decorations     = OneOrMore (decoration)
+    staff_decos     = decorations + ~oneOf (': | [|] []')
+
+    tie = oneOf ('.- -')
+    rest = Optional (accidental) + rest_sym + note_length
+    pitch = Optional (accidental) + basenote + Optional (octave, 0)
+    note = pitch + note_length + Optional (tie) + Optional (slur_ends)
+    chord_note = Optional (decorations) + pitch + note_length + Optional (tie) + Optional (slur_ends)
+    chord_notes = OneOrMore (chord_note | rest | b1)
+    grace_notes = Forward ()
+    chord = Suppress ('[') + OneOrMore (chord_notes | grace_notes) + Suppress (']') + note_length + Optional (tie) + Optional (slur_ends)
+    stem = note | chord | rest
+
+    broken = Combine (OneOrMore ('<') | OneOrMore ('>'))
+
+    tuplet_num   = Suppress ('(') + number
+    tuplet_into  = Suppress (':') + Optional (number, 0)
+    tuplet_notes = Suppress (':') + Optional (number, 0)
+    tuplet_start = tuplet_num + Optional (tuplet_into + Optional (tuplet_notes))
+
+    acciaccatura    = Literal ('/')
+    grace_stem      = Optional (decorations) + stem
+    grace_notes     << Group (Suppress ('{') + Optional (acciaccatura) + OneOrMore (grace_stem) + Suppress ('}'))
+
+    text_expression  = Optional (oneOf ('^ _ < > @'), '^') + Optional (CharsNotIn ('"'), "")
+    chord_accidental = oneOf ('# b =')
+    triad            = oneOf ('ma Maj maj M mi min m aug dim o + -')
+    seventh          = oneOf ('7 ma7 Maj7 M7 maj7 mi7 m7 dim7 o7 -7 aug7 +7 m7b5 mi7b5')
+    sixth            = oneOf ('6 ma6 M6 m6 mi6')
+    ninth            = oneOf ('9 ma9 M9 maj9 Maj9 mi9 m9')
+    elevn            = oneOf ('11 ma11 M11 maj11 Maj11 mi m11')
+    suspended        = oneOf ('sus sus2 sus4')
+    chord_degree     = Combine (Optional (chord_accidental) + oneOf ('2 4 5 6 7 9 11 13'))
+    chord_kind       = Optional (seventh | sixth | ninth | elevn | triad, '_') + Optional (suspended)
+    chord_root       = oneOf ('C D E F G A B') + Optional (chord_accidental)
+    chord_bass       = oneOf ('C D E F G A B') + Optional (chord_accidental) # needs a different parse action
+    chordsym         = chord_root + chord_kind + ZeroOrMore (chord_degree) + Optional (Suppress ('/') + chord_bass)
+    chord_sym        = chordsym + Optional (Literal ('(') + CharsNotIn (')') + Literal (')')).suppress ()
+    chord_or_text    = Suppress ('"') + (chord_sym ^ text_expression) + Suppress ('"')
+
+    volta_nums = Optional ('[').suppress () + Combine (Word (nums) + ZeroOrMore (oneOf (', -') + Word (nums)))
+    volta_text = Literal ('[').suppress () + Regex (r'"[^"]+"')
+    volta = volta_nums | volta_text
+    invisible_barline = oneOf ('[|] []')
+    dashed_barline = oneOf (': .|')
+    double_rep = Literal (':') + FollowedBy (':')   # otherwise ambiguity with dashed barline
+    voice_overlay = Combine (OneOrMore ('&'))
+    bare_volta = FollowedBy (Literal ('[') + Word (nums))   # no barline, but volta follows (volta is parsed in next measure)
+    bar_left = (oneOf ('[|: |: [: :') + Optional (volta)) | Optional ('|').suppress () + volta | oneOf ('| [|')
+    bars = ZeroOrMore (':') + ZeroOrMore ('[') + OneOrMore (oneOf ('| ]'))
+    bar_right = Optional (decorations) + (invisible_barline | double_rep | Combine (bars) | dashed_barline | voice_overlay | bare_volta)
+    
+    errors =  ~bar_right + Optional (Word (' \n')) + CharsNotIn (':&|', exact=1)
+    linebreak = Literal ('$') | ~decorations + Literal ('!')    # no need for I:linebreak !!!
+    element = inline_field | broken | staff_decos | stem | chord_or_text | grace_notes | tuplet_start | linebreak | errors
+    measure      = Group (ZeroOrMore (inline_field) + Optional (bar_left) + ZeroOrMore (element) + bar_right + Optional (linebreak))
+    noBarMeasure = Group (ZeroOrMore (inline_field) + Optional (bar_left) + OneOrMore (element) + Optional (linebreak))
+    abc_voice = ZeroOrMore (measure) + Optional (noBarMeasure | Group (bar_left)) + ZeroOrMore (inline_field).suppress () + StringEnd ()
+
+    #----------------------------------------
+    # ABC lyric lines (white space sensitive)
+    #----------------------------------------
+
+    skip_note   = oneOf ('* - ~')
+    extend_note = Literal ('_')
+    measure_end = Literal ('|')
+    syl_chars   = CharsNotIn ('*~-_| \t\n')
+    white       = Word (' \t')
+    syllable    = Combine (Optional ('~') + syl_chars + ZeroOrMore (Literal ('~') + syl_chars)) + Optional ('-')
+    lyr_elem    = (syllable | skip_note | extend_note | measure_end) + Optional (white).suppress ()
+    lyr_head    = (Literal ('w:') + Optional (white)).suppress ()
+    lyr_line    = Group (lyr_head + ZeroOrMore (lyr_elem) + LineEnd ().suppress ())
+
+    #----------------------------------------------------------------
+    # Parse actions to convert all relevant results into an abstract
+    # syntax tree where all tree nodes are instances of pObj
+    #----------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    ifield.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('field', t))
+    grand_staff.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('grand', t, 1)) # 1 = keep ordered list of results
+    brace_gr.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('bracegr', t, 1))
+    bracket_gr.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('bracketgr', t, 1))
+    voice_gr.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('voicegr', t, 1))
+    voiceId.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('vid', t, 1))
+    abc_scoredef.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('score', t, 1))
+    note_length.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('dur', (t[0], (t[2] << len (t[1])) >> 1)))
+    chordsym.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('chordsym', t))
+    chord_root.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('root', t))
+    chord_kind.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('kind', t))
+    chord_degree.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('degree', t))
+    chord_bass.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('bass', t))
+    text_expression.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('text', t))
+    inline_field.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('inline', t))
+    grace_notes.setParseAction (doGrace) # (lambda t: pObj ('grace', t))
+    acciaccatura.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('accia', t))
+    note.setParseAction (noteActn)
+    chord_note.setParseAction (noteActn)
+    rest.setParseAction (restActn)
+    decorations.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('deco', t))
+    slur_ends.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('slurs', t))
+    chord.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('chord', t))
+    tie.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('tie', t))
+    pitch.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('pitch', t))
+    bare_volta.setParseAction (lambda t: ['|']) # return barline that user forgot
+    dashed_barline.setParseAction (lambda t: ['.|'])
+    bar_right.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('rbar', t))
+    bar_left.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('lbar', t))
+    broken.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('broken', t))
+    tuplet_start.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('tup', t))
+    linebreak.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('linebrk', t))
+    measure.setParseAction (doMaat)
+    noBarMeasure.setParseAction (doMaat)
+    syllable.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('syl', t))
+    skip_note.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('skip', t))
+    extend_note.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('ext', t))
+    measure_end.setParseAction (lambda t: pObj ('sbar', t))
+    b1.setParseAction (errorWarn)
+    errors.setParseAction (errorWarn)
+    lyr_block   = OneOrMore (lyr_line).leaveWhitespace ()   # after leaveWhiteSpace no more parse actions can be set!!
+
+    return abc_header, abc_voice, lyr_block, abc_scoredef
+
+class pObj (object):    # every relevant parse result is converted into a pObj
+    def __init__ (s, name, t, seq=0):   # t = list of nested parse results
+        s.name = name   # name uniqueliy identifies this pObj
+        rest = []       # collect parse results that are not a pObj
+        attrs = {}      # new attributes
+        for x in t:     # nested pObj's become attributes of this pObj
+            if type (x) == pObj:
+                attrs [x.name] = attrs.get (x.name, []) + [x]
+            else:
+                rest.append (x)             # collect non-pObj's (mostly literals)
+        for name, xs in attrs.items ():
+            if len (xs) == 1: xs = xs[0]    # only list if more then one pObj
+            setattr (s, name, xs)           # create the new attributes
+        s.t = rest      # all nested non-pObj's (mostly literals)
+        s.objs = seq and t or []            # for nested ordered (lyric) pObj's
+
+    def __repr__ (s):   # make a nice string representation of a pObj
+        r = []
+        for nm in dir (s):
+            if nm.startswith ('_'): continue # skip build in attributes
+            elif nm == 'name': continue     # redundant
+            else:
+                x = getattr (s, nm)
+                if not x: continue          # s.t may be empty (list of non-pObj's)
+                if type (x) == types.ListType:  r.extend (x)
+                else:                           r.append (x)
+        xs = []
+        for x in r:     # recursively call __repr__ and convert all strings to latin-1
+            if isinstance (x, types.StringTypes):
+                try:    xs.append (x.encode ('latin-1'))
+                except: xs.append (repr (x))    # string -> no recursion
+            else:       xs.append (repr (x))    # pObj -> recursive call
+        return '(' + s.name + ' ' +','.join (xs) + ')'
+
+global prevloc                  # global to remember previous match position of a note/rest
+prevloc = 0
+def detectBeamBreak (line, loc, t):
+    global prevloc              # location in string 'line' of previous note match
+    xs = line[prevloc:loc+1]    # string between previous and current note match
+    xs = xs.lstrip ()           # first note match starts on a space!
+    prevloc = loc               # location in string 'line' of current note match
+    b = pObj ('bbrk', [' ' in xs])      # space somewhere between two notes -> beambreak
+    t.insert (0, b)             # insert beambreak as a nested parse result
+
+def noteActn (line, loc, t):    # detect beambreak between previous and current note/rest
+    if 'y' in t[0].t: return [] # discard spacer
+    detectBeamBreak (line, loc, t)      # adds beambreak to parse result t as side effect
+    return pObj ('note', t)
+
+def restActn (line, loc, t):    # detect beambreak between previous and current note/rest
+    detectBeamBreak (line, loc, t)  # adds beambreak to parse result t as side effect
+    return pObj ('rest', t)
+
+def errorWarn (line, loc, t):      # warning for misplaced symbols and skip them
+    info ('**misplaced symbol: %s' % t[0], warn=0)
+    lineCopy = line [:]
+    if loc > 40:
+        lineCopy = line [loc - 40: loc + 40]
+        loc = 40
+    info (lineCopy.replace ('\n', ' '), warn=0)
+    info (loc * '-' + '^', warn=0)
+    return []
+
+#-------------------------------------------------------------
+# transformations of a measure (called by parse action doMaat)
+#-------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def simplify (a, b):    # divide a and b by their greatest common divisor
+    x, y = a, b
+    while b: a, b = b, a % b
+    return x / a, y / a
+
+def doBroken (prev, brk, x):
+    if not prev: info ('error in broken rhythm: %s' % x); return    # no changes
+    nom1, den1 = prev.dur.t # duration of first note/chord
+    nom2, den2 = x.dur.t    # duration of second note/chord
+    if  brk == '>':
+        nom1, den1  = simplify (3 * nom1, 2 * den1)
+        nom2, den2  = simplify (1 * nom2, 2 * den2)
+    elif brk == '<':
+        nom1, den1  = simplify (1 * nom1, 2 * den1)
+        nom2, den2  = simplify (3 * nom2, 2 * den2)
+    elif brk == '>>':
+        nom1, den1  = simplify (7 * nom1, 4 * den1)
+        nom2, den2  = simplify (1 * nom2, 4 * den2)
+    elif brk == '<<':
+        nom1, den1  = simplify (1 * nom1, 4 * den1)
+        nom2, den2  = simplify (7 * nom2, 4 * den2)
+    else: return            # give up
+    prev.dur.t = nom1, den1 # change duration of previous note/chord
+    x.dur.t = nom2, den2    # and current note/chord
+
+def convertBroken (t):  # convert broken rhythms to normal note durations
+    prev = None # the last note/chord before the broken symbol
+    brk = ''    # the broken symbol
+    remove = [] # indexes to broken symbols (to be deleted) in measure
+    for i, x in enumerate (t):  # scan all elements in measure
+        if x.name == 'note' or x.name == 'chord' or x.name == 'rest':
+            if brk:                 # a broken symbol was encountered before
+                doBroken (prev, brk, x) # change duration previous note/chord/rest and current one
+                brk = ''
+            else:
+                prev = x            # remember the last note/chord/rest
+        elif x.name == 'broken':
+            brk = x.t[0]            # remember the broken symbol (=string)
+            remove.insert (0, i)    # and its index, highest index first
+    for i in remove: del t[i]       # delete broken symbols from high to low
+
+def convertChord (t):   # convert chord to sequence of notes in musicXml-style
+    ins = []
+    for i, x in enumerate (t):
+        if x.name == 'chord':
+            if hasattr (x, 'rest') and not hasattr (x, 'note'): # chords containing only rests
+                if type (x.rest) == types.ListType: x.rest = x.rest[0]  # more rests == one rest
+                ins.insert (0, (i, [x.rest]))   # just output a single rest, no chord
+                continue
+            num1, den1 = x.dur.t                # chord duration
+            tie = getattr (x, 'tie', None)      # chord tie
+            slurs = getattr (x, 'slurs', [])    # slur endings
+            deco = getattr (x, 'deco', [])      # chord decorations
+            if type (x.note) != types.ListType: x.note = [x.note]   # when chord has only one note ...
+            for j, nt in enumerate (x.note):    # all notes of the chord
+                num2, den2 = nt.dur.t           # note duration * chord duration
+                nt.dur.t = simplify (num1 * num2, den1 * den2)
+                if tie: nt.tie = tie            # tie on all chord notes
+                if j == 0 and deco: nt.deco = deco      # decorations only on first chord note
+                if j == 0 and slurs: nt.slurs = slurs   # slur endings only on first chord note
+                if j > 0: nt.chord = pObj ('chord', [1]) # label all but first as chord notes
+                else:                           # remember all pitches of the chord in the first note
+                    pitches = [n.pitch for n in x.note] # to implement conversion of erroneous ties to slurs
+                    nt.pitches = pObj ('pitches', pitches)
+            ins.insert (0, (i, x.note))         # high index first
+    for i, notes in ins:                        # insert from high to low
+        for nt in reversed (notes):
+            t.insert (i+1, nt)                  # insert chord notes after chord
+        del t[i]                                # remove chord itself
+
+def doMaat (t):             # t is a Group() result -> the measure is in t[0]
+    convertBroken (t[0])    # remove all broken rhythms and convert to normal durations
+    convertChord (t[0])     # replace chords by note sequences in musicXML style
+
+def doGrace (t):        # t is a Group() result -> the grace sequence is in t[0]
+    convertChord (t[0]) # a grace sequence may have chords
+    for nt in t[0]:     # flag all notes within the grace sequence
+        if nt.name == 'note': nt.grace = 1 # set grace attribute
+    return t[0]         # ungroup the parse result
+#--------------------
+# musicXML generation
+#----------------------------------
+
+def compChordTab ():    # avoid some typing work: returns mapping constant {ABC chordsyms -> musicXML kind}
+    maj, min, aug, dim, dom, ch7, ch6, ch9, ch11, hd = 'major minor augmented diminished dominant -seventh -sixth -ninth -11th half-diminished'.split ()
+    triad   = zip ('ma Maj maj M mi min m aug dim o + -'.split (), [maj, maj, maj, maj, min, min, min, aug, dim, dim, aug, min])
+    seventh = zip ('7 ma7 Maj7 M7 maj7 mi7 m7 dim7 o7 -7 aug7 +7 m7b5 mi7b5'.split (),
+                   [dom, maj+ch7, maj+ch7, maj+ch7, maj+ch7, min+ch7, min+ch7, dim+ch7, dim+ch7, min+ch7, aug+ch7, aug+ch7, hd, hd])
+    sixth   = zip ('6 ma6 M6 mi6 m6'.split (), [maj+ch6, maj+ch6, maj+ch6, min+ch6, min+ch6])
+    ninth   = zip ('9 ma9 M9 maj9 Maj9 mi9 m9'.split (), [dom+ch9, maj+ch9, maj+ch9, maj+ch9, maj+ch9, min+ch9, min+ch9])
+    elevn   = zip ('11 ma11 M11 maj11 Maj11 mi11 m11'.split (), [dom+ch11, maj+ch11, maj+ch11, maj+ch11, maj+ch11, min+ch11, min+ch11])
+    return dict (triad + seventh + sixth + ninth + elevn)
+
+def addElem (parent, child, level):
+    indent = 2
+    chldrn = parent.getchildren ()
+    if chldrn:
+        chldrn[-1].tail += indent * ' '
+    else:
+        parent.text = '\n' + level * indent * ' '
+    parent.append (child)
+    child.tail = '\n' + (level-1) * indent * ' '
+
+def addElemT (parent, tag, text, level):
+    e = E.Element (tag)
+    e.text = text
+    addElem (parent, e, level)
+    
+def mkTmod (tmnum, tmden, lev):
+    tmod = E.Element ('time-modification')
+    addElemT (tmod, 'actual-notes', str (tmnum), lev + 1)
+    addElemT (tmod, 'normal-notes', str (tmden), lev + 1)
+    return tmod
+
+def addDirection (parent, elem, lev, gstaff, subelms=[], placement='below', cue_on=0):
+    dir = E.Element ('direction', placement=placement)
+    addElem (parent, dir, lev)
+    typ = E.Element ('direction-type')
+    addElem (dir, typ, lev + 1)
+    addElem (typ, elem, lev + 2)
+    for subel in subelms: addElem (elem, subel, lev + 3)
+    if cue_on: addElem (dir, E.Element ('level', size='cue'), lev + 1)
+    if gstaff: addElemT (dir, 'staff', str (gstaff), lev + 1)
+    return dir
+
+def removeElems (root_elem, parent_str, elem_str):
+    for p in root_elem.findall (parent_str):
+        e = p.find (elem_str)
+        if e != None: p.remove (e)
+
+def alignLyr (vce, lyrs):
+    empty_el = pObj ('leeg', '*')
+    for k, lyr in enumerate (lyrs): # lyr = one full line of lyrics
+        i = 0               # syl counter
+        for msre in vce:    # reiterate the voice block for each lyrics line
+            for elem in msre:
+                if elem.name == 'note' and not (hasattr (elem, 'chord') or hasattr (elem, 'grace')):
+                    if i >= len (lyr): lr = empty_el
+                    else: lr = lyr [i]
+                    elem.objs.append (lr)
+                    if lr.name != 'sbar': i += 1
+            if i < len (lyr) and lyr[i].name == 'sbar': i += 1
+    return vce
+
+slur_move = re.compile (r'(?<![!+])([}><][<>]?)(\)+)')  # (?<!...) means: not preceeded by ...
+mm_rest = re.compile (r'([XZ])(\d+)')
+bar_space = re.compile (r'([:|][ |\[\]]+[:|])')         # barlines with spaces
+def fixSlurs (x):   # repair slurs when after broken sign or grace-close
+    def f (mo):     # replace a multi-measure rest by single measure rests
+        n = int (mo.group (2))
+        return (n * (mo.group (1) + '|')) [:-1]
+    def g (mo):     # squash spaces in barline expressions
+        return mo.group (1).replace (' ','')
+    x = mm_rest.sub (f, x)
+    x = bar_space.sub (g, x)
+    return slur_move.sub (r'\2\1', x)
+
+def splitHeaderVoices (abctext):
+    r1 = re.compile (r'%.*$')           # comments
+    r2 = re.compile (r'^[A-Z]:.*$')     # information field
+    r3 = re.compile (r'^%%(?=[^%])')    # directive: ^%% folowed by not a %
+    xs, nx = [], 0
+    for x in abctext.splitlines ():
+        x = x.strip ()
+        if not x and nx == 1: break     # end of tune
+        x = r3.sub ('I:', x)            # replace %% -> I:
+        x2 = r1.sub ('', x)             # remove comment
+        while x2.endswith ('*'): x2 = x2[:-1]   # remove old syntax for right adjusting
+        if not x2: continue             # empty line
+        if x2[:2] == 'W:': continue     # skip W: lyrics
+        if x2[:2] == 'w:' and xs[-1][-1] ==  '\\':
+            xs[-1] = xs[-1][:-1]        # ignore line continuation before lyrics line
+        ro = r2.match (x2)
+        if ro:                          # field -> inline_field, escape all ']'
+            if x2[-1] == '\\': x2 = x2[:-1] # ignore continuation after field line
+            x2 = '[' + x2.replace (']',r'\]') + ']'
+        if x2[:2] == '+:':              # new style continuation
+            xs[-1] += x2[2:]
+        elif xs and xs[-1][-1] ==  '\\':  # old style continuation
+            xs[-1] = xs[-1][:-1] + x2
+        else:                           # skip lines (except I:) until first X:
+            if x.startswith ('X:'):
+                if nx == 1: break       # second tune starts without an empty line !!
+                nx = 1                  # start of first tune
+            if nx == 1 or x.startswith ('I:'):
+                xs.append (x2)
+    if xs and xs[-1][-1] == '\\':       # nothing left to continue with, remove last continuation
+        xs[-1] = xs[-1][:-1]
+
+    r1 = re.compile (r'\[[A-Z]:(\\.|[^]\\])*\]') # inline field with escaped ']'
+    r2 = re.compile (r'\[K:')           # start of K: field
+    r3 = re.compile (r'\[V:|\[I:MIDI')  # start of V: field or midi field
+    fields, voices, b = [], [], 0
+    for i, x in enumerate (xs):
+        n = len (r1.sub ('', x))        # remove all inline fields
+        if n > 0: b = 1; break          # real abc present -> end of header
+        if r2.search (x):               # start of K: field
+            fields.append (x)
+            i += 1; b = 1
+            break                       # first K: field -> end of header
+        if r3.search (x):               # start of V: field
+            voices.append (x)
+        else:
+            fields.append (x)
+    if b: voices += xs[i:]
+    else: voices += []                  # tune has only header fields
+    header =  '\n'.join (fields)
+    abctext = '\n'.join (voices)
+
+    xs = abctext.split ('[V:')
+    if len (xs) == 1: abctext = '[V:1]' + abctext # abc has no voice defs at all
+    elif r1.sub ('', xs[0]).strip ():   # remove inline fields from starting text, if any
+        abctext = '[V:1]' + abctext     # abc with voices has no V: at start
+
+    r1 = re.compile (r'\[V:\s*(\S*)[ \]]') # get voice id from V: field (skip spaces betwee V: and ID)
+    vmap = {}                           # {voice id -> [voice abc string]}
+    vorder = {}                         # mark document order of voices
+    xs = re.split (r'(\[V:[^]]*\])', abctext)   # split on every V-field (V-fields included in split result list)
+    if len (xs) == 1: raise (Exception ('bugs ...'))
+    else:
+        header += xs[0]     # xs[0] = text between K: and first V:, normally empty, but we put it in the header
+        i = 1
+        while i < len (xs):             # xs = ['', V-field, voice abc, V-field, voice abc, ...]
+            vce, abc = xs[i:i+2]
+            id = r1.search (vce).group (1)                  # get voice ID from V-field
+            vmap[id] = vmap.get (id, []) + [vce, abc]       # collect abc-text for each voice id (include V-fields)
+            if id not in vorder: vorder [id] = i            # store document order of first occurrence of voice id
+            i += 2
+    voices = []
+    ixs = sorted ([(i, id) for id, i in vorder.items ()])   # restore document order of voices
+    for i, id in ixs:
+        voice = ''.join (vmap [id])                         # all abc of one voice
+        xs = re.split (r'((?:\nw:[^\n]*)+)', voice)         # split voice into voice-lyrics blocks
+        if len (xs) == 1:               # no lyrics
+            voice = fixSlurs (xs[0])    # put slurs right after the notes
+            vce_lyr = [[voice, '']]
+        else:
+            if xs[-1].strip () != '': xs.append ('w:')               # last block had no lyrics
+            vce_lyr = []                # [[voice, lyrics],[],...] list of voice-lyrics blocks
+            for k in range (0, len (xs) - 1, 2):
+                voice, lyrics = xs [k:k+2]
+                voice = fixSlurs (voice)    # put slurs right after the notes
+                vce_lyr.append ((voice, lyrics))
+        voices.append ((id, vce_lyr))
+    return header, voices
+
+def mergeMeasure (m1, m2, slur_offset, voice_offset, is_grand=0):
+    slurs = m2.findall ('note/notations/slur')
+    for slr in slurs:
+        slrnum = int (slr.get ('number')) + slur_offset 
+        slr.set ('number', str (slrnum))    # make unique slurnums in m2
+    vs = m2.findall ('note/voice')          # set all voice number elements in m2
+    for v in vs: v.text  = str (voice_offset + int (v.text))
+    ls = m1.findall ('note/lyric')          # all lyric elements in m1
+    lnum_max = max ([int (l.get ('number')) for l in ls] + [0]) # highest lyric number in m1
+    ls = m2.findall ('note/lyric')          # update lyric elements in m2
+    for el in ls:
+        n = int (el.get ('number'))
+        el.set ('number', str (n + lnum_max))
+    ns = m1.findall ('note')    # determine the total duration of m1, subtract all backups
+    dur1 = sum (int (n.find ('duration').text) for n in ns
+                if n.find ('grace') == None and n.find ('chord') == None)
+    dur1 -= sum (int (b.text) for b in m1.findall ('backup/duration'))
+    nns, es = 0, []             # nns = number of real notes in m2
+    for e in m2.getchildren (): # scan all elements of m2
+        if e.tag == 'attributes':
+            if not is_grand: continue # no attribute merging for normal voices
+            else: nns += 1       # but we do merge (clef) attributes for a grand staff
+        if e.tag == 'print': continue
+        if e.tag == 'note' and (mxm.gmwr or e.find ('rest') == None): nns += 1
+        es.append (e)           # buffer elements to be merged
+    if nns > 0:                 # only merge if m2 contains any real notes
+        if dur1 > 0:            # only insert backup if duration of m1 > 0
+            b = E.Element ('backup')
+            addElem (m1, b, level=3)
+            addElemT (b, 'duration', str (dur1), level=4)
+        for e in es: addElem (m1, e, level=3)   # merge buffered elements of m2
+
+def mergePartList (parts, is_grand=0):  # merge parts, make grand staff when is_grand true
+
+    def delAttrs (part):                # for the time being we only keep clef attributes
+        xs = [(m, e) for m in part.findall ('measure') for e in m.findall ('attributes')]
+        for m, e in xs:
+            for c in e.getchildren ():
+                if c.tag == 'clef': continue    # keep clef attribute
+                e.remove (c)                    # delete all other attrinutes for higher staff numbers
+            if len (e.getchildren ()) == 0: m.remove (e)    # remove empty attributes element
+
+    p1 = parts[0]
+    for p2 in parts[1:]:
+        if is_grand: delAttrs (p2)                          # delete all attributes except clef
+        for i in range (len (p1) + 1, len (p2) + 1):        # second part longer than first one
+            maat = E.Element ('measure', number = str(i))   # append empty measures
+            addElem (p1, maat, 2)
+        slurs = p1.findall ('measure/note/notations/slur')  # find highest slur num in first part
+        slur_max = max ([int (slr.get ('number')) for slr in slurs] + [0])
+        vs = p1.findall ('measure/note/voice')              # all voice number elements in first part
+        vnum_max = max ([int (v.text) for v in vs] + [0])   # highest voice number in first part
+        for im, m2 in enumerate (p2.findall ('measure')):   # merge all measures of p2 into p1
+            mergeMeasure (p1[im], m2, slur_max, vnum_max, is_grand) # may change slur numbers in p1
+    return p1
+
+def mergeParts (parts, vids, staves, is_grand=0):
+    if not staves: return parts, vids   # no voice mapping
+    partsnew, vidsnew = [], []
+    for voice_ids in staves:
+        pixs = []
+        for vid in voice_ids:
+            if vid in vids: pixs.append (vids.index (vid))
+            else: info ('score partname %s does not exist' % vid)
+        if pixs:
+            xparts = [parts[pix] for pix in pixs]
+            if len (xparts) > 1: mergedpart = mergePartList (xparts, is_grand)
+            else:                mergedpart = xparts [0]
+            partsnew.append (mergedpart)
+            vidsnew.append (vids [pixs[0]])
+    return partsnew, vidsnew
+
+def mergePartMeasure (part, msre, ovrlaynum):               # merge msre into last measure of part, only for overlays
+    slurs = part.findall ('measure/note/notations/slur')    # find highest slur num in part
+    slur_max = max ([int (slr.get ('number')) for slr in slurs] + [0])
+    last_msre = part.getchildren ()[-1] # last measure in part
+    mergeMeasure (last_msre, msre, slur_max, ovrlaynum)     # voice offset = s.overlayVNum
+
+def setFristVoiceNameFromGroup (vids, vdefs): # vids = [vid], vdef = {vid -> (name, subname, voicedef)}
+    vids = [v for v in vids if v in vdefs]  # only consider defined voices
+    if not vids: return vdefs
+    vid0 = vids [0]                         # first vid of the group
+    _, _, vdef0 = vdefs [vid0]              # keep de voice definition (vdef0) when renaming vid0
+    for vid in vids:
+        nm, snm, vdef = vdefs [vid]
+        if nm:                              # first non empty name encountered will become
+            vdefs [vid0] = nm, snm, vdef0   # name of merged group == name of first voice in group (vid0)
+            break
+    return vdefs
+
+def mkGrand (p, vdefs):             # transform parse subtree into list needed for s.grands
+    xs = []
+    for i, x in enumerate (p.objs): # changing p.objs [i] alters the tree. changing x has no effect on the tree.
+        if type (x) == pObj:
+            us = mkGrand (x, vdefs) # first get transformation results of current pObj
+            if x.name == 'grand':   # x.objs contains ordered list of nested parse results within x
+                vids = [y.objs[0] for y in x.objs[1:]]  # the voice ids in the grand staff
+                nms = [vdefs [u][0] for u in vids if u in vdefs] # the names of those voices
+                accept = sum ([1 for nm in nms if nm]) == 1 # accept as grand staff when only one of the voices has a name
+                if accept or us[0] == '{*':
+                    xs.append (us[1:])      # append voice ids as a list (discard first item '{' or '{*')
+                    vdefs = setFristVoiceNameFromGroup (vids, vdefs)
+                    p.objs [i] = x.objs[1]  # replace voices by first one in the grand group (this modifies the parse tree)
+                else:
+                    xs.extend (us[1:])      # extend current result with all voice ids of rejected grand staff
+            else: xs.extend (us)    # extend current result with transformed pObj
+        else: xs.append (p.t[0])    # append the non pObj (== voice id string)
+    return xs
+
+def mkStaves (p, vdefs):            # transform parse tree into list needed for s.staves
+    xs = []
+    for i, x in enumerate (p.objs): # structure and comments identical to mkGrand
+        if type (x) == pObj:
+            us = mkStaves (x, vdefs)
+            if x.name == 'voicegr':
+                xs.append (us)
+                vids = [y.objs[0] for y in x.objs]
+                vdefs = setFristVoiceNameFromGroup (vids, vdefs)
+                p.objs [i] = x.objs[0]
+            else:
+                xs.extend (us)
+        else:
+            if p.t[0] not in '{*':  xs.append (p.t[0])
+    return xs
+
+def mkGroups (p):                   # transform parse tree into list needed for s.groups
+    xs = []
+    for x in p.objs:
+        if type (x) == pObj:
+            if x.name == 'vid': xs.extend (mkGroups (x))
+            elif x.name == 'bracketgr': xs.extend (['['] + mkGroups (x) + [']'])
+            elif x.name == 'bracegr':   xs.extend (['{'] + mkGroups (x) + ['}'])
+            else: xs.extend (mkGroups (x) + ['}'])  # x.name == 'grand' == rejected grand staff
+        else:
+            xs.append (p.t[0])
+    return xs
+
+class MusicXml:
+    typeMap = {1:'long', 2:'breve', 4:'whole', 8:'half', 16:'quarter', 32:'eighth', 64:'16th', 128:'32nd', 256:'64th'}
+    dynaMap = {'p':1,'pp':1,'ppp':1,'f':1,'ff':1,'fff':1,'mp':1,'mf':1,'sfz':1}
+    wedgeMap = {'>(':1, '>)':1, '<(':1,'<)':1,'crescendo(':1,'crescendo)':1,'diminuendo(':1,'diminuendo)':1}
+    artMap = {'.':'staccato','>':'accent','accent':'accent','wedge':'staccatissimo','tenuto':'tenuto'}
+    ornMap = {'trill':'trill-mark','T':'trill-mark','turn':'turn','uppermordent':'inverted-mordent','lowermordent':'mordent',
+              'pralltriller':'inverted-mordent','mordent':'mordent','turn':'turn','invertedturn':'inverted-turn'}
+    tecMap = {'upbow':'up-bow', 'downbow':'down-bow'}
+    capoMap = {'fine':('Fine','fine','yes'), 'D.S.':('D.S.','dalsegno','segno'), 'D.C.':('D.C.','dacapo','yes'),'dacapo':('D.C.','dacapo','yes'),
+               'dacoda':('To Coda','tocoda','coda'), 'coda':('coda','coda','coda'), 'segno':('segno','segno','segno')}
+    sharpness = ['Fb', 'Cb','Gb','Db','Ab','Eb','Bb','F','C','G','D','A', 'E', 'B', 'F#','C#','G#','D#','A#','E#','B#']
+    offTab = {'maj':8, 'm':11, 'min':11, 'mix':9, 'dor':10, 'phr':12, 'lyd':7, 'loc':13}
+    modTab = {'maj':'major', 'm':'minor', 'min':'minor', 'mix':'mixolydian', 'dor':'dorian', 'phr':'phrygian', 'lyd':'lydian', 'loc':'locrian'}
+    clefMap = { 'alto1':('C','1'), 'alto2':('C','2'), 'alto':('C','3'), 'alto4':('C','4'), 'tenor':('C','4'),
+                'bass3':('F','3'), 'bass':('F','4'), 'treble':('G','2'), 'perc':('percussion',''), 'none':('','')}
+    clefLineMap = {'B':'treble', 'G':'alto1', 'E':'alto2', 'C':'alto', 'A':'tenor', 'F':'bass3', 'D':'bass'}
+    alterTab = {'=':'0', '_':'-1', '__':'-2', '^':'1', '^^':'2'}
+    accTab = {'=':'natural', '_':'flat', '__':'flat-flat', '^':'sharp', '^^':'sharp-sharp'}
+    chordTab = compChordTab ()
+    uSyms = {'~':'roll', 'H':'fermata','L':'>','M':'lowermordent','O':'coda',
+             'P':'uppermordent','S':'segno','T':'trill','u':'upbow','v':'downbow'}
+    pageFmtDef = [1.764,297,210,10,10,10,10] # the MuseScore page formatting defaults for A4
+    creditTab = {'O':'origin', 'A':'area', 'Z':'transcription', 'N':'notes', 'G':'group', 'H':'history', 'R':'rhythm',
+                 'B':'book', 'D':'discography', 'F':'fileurl', 'S':'source'}
+
+    def __init__ (s):
+        s.pageFmtCmd = []   # set by command line option -p
+        s.gmwr = 0          # set by command line option -r
+        s.reset ()
+    def reset (s):
+        s.divisions = 120   # xml duration of 1/4 note
+        s.ties = {}         # {abc pitch tuple -> alteration} for all open ties
+        s.slurstack = []    # stack of open slur numbers
+        s.slurbeg = 0       # number of slurs to start (when slurs are detected at element-level)
+        s.tmnum = 0         # time modification, numerator
+        s.tmden = 0         # time modification, denominator
+        s.ntup = 0          # number of tuplet notes remaining
+        s.tupnts = []       # all tuplet modifiers with corresp. durations: [(duration, modifier), ...]
+        s.irrtup = 0        # 1 if an irregular tuplet
+        s.ntype = ''        # the normal-type of a tuplet (== duration type of a normal tuplet note)
+        s.unitL =  (1, 8)   # default unit length
+        s.unitLcur = (1, 8) # unit length of current voice
+        s.keyAlts = {}      # alterations implied by key
+        s.msreAlts = {}     # temporarily alterations
+        s.curVolta = ''     # open volta bracket
+        s.slurstack = []    # stack of open slur numbers
+        s.title = ''        # title of music
+        s.creator = {}      # {creator-type -> creator string}
+        s.credits = {}      # {credit-type -> string}
+        s.lyrdash = {}      # {lyric number -> 1 if dash between syllables}
+        s.usrSyms = s.uSyms # user defined symbols
+        s.prevNote = None   # xml element of previous beamed note to correct beams (start, continue)
+        s.grcbbrk = False   # remember any bbrk in a grace sequence
+        s.linebrk = 0       # 1 if next measure should start with a line break
+        s.bardecos = []     # barline decorations (coda, segno) that go into the next measure (MuseScore deficiency!)
+        s.nextdecos = []    # decorations for the next note
+        s.prevmsre = None   # the previous measure
+        s.supports_tag = 0  # issue supports-tag in xml file when abc uses explicit linebreaks
+        s.staveDefs = []    # collected %%staves or %%score instructions from score
+        s.staves = []       # staves = [[voice names to be merged into one stave]]
+        s.groups = []       # list of merged part names with interspersed {[ and }]
+        s.grands = []       # [[vid1, vid2, ..], ...] voiceIds to be merged in a grand staff
+        s.gStaffNums = {}   # map each voice id in a grand staff to a staff number
+        s.gNstaves = {}     # map each voice id in a grand staff to total number of staves
+        s.pageFmtAbc = []   # formatting from abc directives
+        s.mdur = (4,4)      # duration of one measure
+        s.gtrans = 0        # octave transposition (by clef)
+        s.midprg = ['', ''] # MIDI channel nr, program nr for the current part
+        s.vid = ''          # abc voice id for the current part
+        s.gcue_on = 0       # insert <cue/> tag in each note
+
+    def mkPitch (s, acc, note, oct, lev):
+        nUp = note.upper ()
+        octnum = (4 if nUp == note else 5) + int (oct) + s.gtrans
+        pitch = E.Element ('pitch')
+        addElemT (pitch, 'step', nUp, lev + 1)
+        alter = ''
+        if (note, oct) in s.ties:
+            tied_alter, _, vnum = s.ties [(note,oct)]               # vnum = overlay voice number when tie started
+            if vnum == s.overlayVnum: alter = tied_alter            # tied note in the same overlay -> same alteration
+        elif acc:
+            s.msreAlts [(nUp, octnum)] = s.alterTab [acc]
+            alter = s.alterTab [acc]                                # explicit notated alteration
+        elif (nUp, octnum) in s.msreAlts:   alter = s.msreAlts [(nUp, octnum)]  # temporary alteration
+        elif nUp in s.keyAlts:              alter = s.keyAlts [nUp] # alteration implied by the key
+        if alter: addElemT (pitch, 'alter', alter, lev + 1)
+        addElemT (pitch, 'octave', str (octnum), lev + 1)
+        return pitch, alter
+
+    def mkNote (s, n, lev):
+        nnum, nden = n.dur.t            # abc dutation of note
+        if nden == 0: nden = 1          # occurs with illegal ABC like: "A2 1". Now interpreted as A2/1
+        num, den = simplify (nnum * s.unitLcur[0], nden * s.unitLcur[1])  # normalised with unit length
+        if den > 64:    # limit denominator to 64
+            num = int (round (64 * float (num) / den))  # scale note to num/64
+            num, den  = simplify (max ([num, 1]), 64)   # smallest num == 1
+            info ('duration too small: rounded to %d/%d' % (num, den))
+        if n.name == 'rest' and ('Z' in n.t or 'X' in n.t):
+              num, den = s.mdur         # duration of one measure
+        dvs = (4 * s.divisions * num) / den     # divisions is xml-duration of 1/4
+        rdvs = dvs                      # real duration (will be 0 for chord/grace)
+        num, den = simplify (num, den * 4)      # scale by 1/4 for s.typeMap
+        ndot = 0
+        if num == 3: ndot = 1; den = den / 2    # look for dotted notes
+        if num == 7: ndot = 2; den = den / 4
+        nt = E.Element ('note')
+        if getattr (n, 'grace', ''):    # a grace note (and possibly a chord note)
+            grace = E.Element ('grace')
+            if s.acciatura: grace.set ('slash', 'yes'); s.acciatura = 0
+            addElem (nt, grace, lev + 1)
+            dvs = rdvs = 0              # no (real) duration for a grace note
+            if den <= 16: den = 32      # not longer than 1/8 for a grace note
+        if s.gcue_on:                   # insert cue tag
+            cue = E.Element ('cue')
+            addElem (nt, cue, lev + 1)
+        if getattr (n, 'chord', ''):    # a chord note
+            chord = E.Element ('chord')
+            addElem (nt, chord, lev + 1)
+            rdvs = 0                    # chord notes no real duration
+        if rdvs and s.ntup >= 0: s.ntup -= 1    # count tuplet notes only on non-chord, non grace notes (rdvs > 0)
+        if den not in s.typeMap:        # take the nearest smaller legal duration
+            info ('illegal duration %d/%d' % (nnum, nden))
+            den = min (x for x in s.typeMap.keys () if x > den)
+        xmltype = str (s.typeMap [den]) # xml needs the note type in addition to duration
+        acc, step, oct = '', 'C', '0'   # abc-notated pitch elements (accidental, pitch step, octave)
+        alter = ''                      # xml alteration
+        if n.name == 'rest':
+            if 'x' in n.t or 'X' in n.t: nt.set ('print-object', 'no')
+            rest = E.Element ('rest')
+            addElem (nt, rest, lev + 1)
+        else:
+            p = n.pitch.t           # get pitch elements from parsed tokens
+            if len (p) == 3:    acc, step, oct = p
+            else:               step, oct = p
+            pitch, alter = s.mkPitch (acc, step, oct, lev + 1)
+            addElem (nt, pitch, lev + 1)
+        if s.ntup >= 0:                 # modify duration for tuplet notes
+            dvs = dvs * s.tmden / s.tmnum
+        if dvs: addElemT (nt, 'duration', str (dvs), lev + 1)   # skip when dvs == 0, requirement of musicXML
+        inst = E.Element ('instrument', id='I-'+s.vid)          # instrument id for midi
+        if s.midprg != ['', '']: addElem (nt, inst, lev + 1)    # only add when %%midi was present
+        addElemT (nt, 'voice', '1', lev + 1)    # default voice, for merging later
+        addElemT (nt, 'type', xmltype, lev + 1) # add note type
+        for i in range (ndot):          # add dots
+            dot = E.Element ('dot')
+            addElem (nt, dot, lev + 1)
+        ptup = (step, oct)              # pitch tuple without alteration to check for ties
+        tstop = ptup in s.ties and s.ties[ptup][2] == s.overlayVnum  # open tie on this pitch tuple in this overlay
+        if acc and not tstop: addElemT (nt, 'accidental', s.accTab [acc], lev + 1) # only add accidental if note not tied
+        tupnotation = ''                # start/stop notation element for tuplets
+        if s.ntup >= 0:                 # add time modification element for tuplet notes
+            tmod = mkTmod (s.tmnum, s.tmden, lev + 1)
+            addElem (nt, tmod, lev + 1)
+            if s.ntup > 0 and not s.tupnts: tupnotation = 'start'
+            s.tupnts.append ((rdvs, tmod))      # remember all tuplet modifiers with corresp. durations
+            if s.ntup == 0:             # last tuplet note (and possible chord notes there after)
+                if rdvs: tupnotation = 'stop'   # only insert notation in the real note (rdvs > 0)
+                s.cmpNormType (rdvs, lev + 1)   # compute and/or add normal-type elements (-> s.ntype)
+        gstaff = s.gStaffNums.get (s.vid, 0)    # staff number of the current voice
+        if gstaff: addElemT (nt, 'staff', str (gstaff), lev + 1)
+        s.doBeams (n, nt, den, lev + 1)
+        s.doNotations (n, ptup, alter, tupnotation, tstop, nt, lev + 1)
+        if n.objs: s.doLyr (n, nt, lev + 1)
+        return nt
+
+    def cmpNormType (s, rdvs, lev): # compute the normal-type of a tuplet (only needed for Finale)
+        if rdvs:    # the last real tuplet note (chord notes can still follow afterwards with rdvs == 0)
+            durs = [dur for dur, tmod in s.tupnts if dur > 0]
+            ndur = sum (durs) / s.tmnum # duration of the normal type
+            s.irrtup = any ((dur != ndur) for dur in durs)  # irregular tuplet
+            tix = 16 * s.divisions / ndur       # index in typeMap of normal-type duration
+            if tix in s.typeMap:
+                s.ntype = str (s.typeMap [tix]) # the normal-type
+            else: s.irrtup = 0          # give up, no normal type possible
+        if s.irrtup:                    # only add normal-type for irregular tuplets
+            for dur, tmod in s.tupnts:  # add normal-type to all modifiers
+                addElemT (tmod, 'normal-type', s.ntype, lev + 1)
+        s.tupnts = []                   # reset the tuplet buffer
+
+    def doNotations (s, n, ptup, alter, tupnotation, tstop, nt, lev):
+        slurs = getattr (n, 'slurs', 0) # slur ends
+        pts = getattr (n, 'pitches', [])            # all chord notes available in the first note
+        if pts:                                     # make list of pitches in chord: [(pitch, octave), ..]
+            if type (pts.pitch) == pObj: pts = [pts.pitch]      # chord with one note
+            else: pts = [tuple (p.t[-2:]) for p in pts.pitch]   # normal chord
+        for pt, (tie_alter, nts, vnum) in s.ties.items ():      # scan all open ties and delete illegal ones
+            if vnum != s.overlayVnum: continue      # tie belongs to different overlay
+            if pts and pt in pts: continue          # pitch tuple of tie exists in chord
+            if getattr (n, 'chord', 0): continue    # skip chord notes
+            if pt == ptup: continue                 # skip correct single note tie
+            if getattr (n, 'grace', 0): continue    # skip grace notes
+            info ('tie between different pitches: %s%s converted to slur' % pt)
+            del s.ties [pt]                         # remove the note from pending ties
+            e = [t for t in nts.findall ('tied') if t.get ('type') == 'start'][0]   # get the tie start element
+            e.tag = 'slur'                          # convert tie into slur
+            slurnum = len (s.slurstack) + 1
+            s.slurstack.append (slurnum)
+            e.set ('number', str (slurnum))
+            if slurs: slurs.t.append (')')          # close slur on this note
+            else: slurs = pObj ('slurs', [')'])
+        tstart = getattr (n, 'tie', 0)  # start a new tie
+        decos = s.nextdecos     # decorations encountered so far
+        ndeco = getattr (n, 'deco', 0)  # possible decorations of notes of a chord
+        if ndeco:               # add decorations, translate used defined symbols
+            decos += [s.usrSyms.get (d, d).strip ('!+') for d in ndeco.t]
+        s.nextdecos = []
+        if not (tstop or tstart or decos or slurs or s.slurbeg or tupnotation): return nt
+        nots = E.Element ('notations')  # notation element needed
+        if tupnotation:         # add tuplet type
+            tup = E.Element ('tuplet', type=tupnotation)
+            if tupnotation == 'start': tup.set ('bracket', 'yes')
+            addElem (nots, tup, lev + 1)
+        if tstop:               # stop tie
+            del s.ties[ptup]    # remove flag
+            tie = E.Element ('tied', type='stop')
+            addElem (nots, tie, lev + 1)
+        if tstart:              # start a tie
+            s.ties[ptup] = (alter, nots, s.overlayVnum) # remember pitch tuple to stop tie and apply same alteration
+            tie = E.Element ('tied', type='start')
+            addElem (nots, tie, lev + 1)
+        if decos:               # look for slurs and decorations
+            arts = []           # collect articulations
+            for d in decos:     # do all slurs and decos
+                if d == '(': s.slurbeg += 1; continue # slurs made in while loop at the end
+                elif d == 'fermata' or d == 'H':
+                    ntn = E.Element ('fermata', type='upright')
+                elif d == 'arpeggio':
+                    ntn = E.Element ('arpeggiate', number='1')
+                else: arts.append (d); continue
+                addElem (nots, ntn, lev + 1)
+            if arts:        # do only note articulations and collect staff annotations in xmldecos
+                rest = s.doArticulations (nots, arts, lev + 1)
+                if rest: info ('unhandled note decorations: %s' % rest)
+        while s.slurbeg > 0:
+            s.slurbeg -= 1
+            slurnum = len (s.slurstack) + 1
+            s.slurstack.append (slurnum)
+            ntn = E.Element ('slur', number='%d' % slurnum, type='start')
+            addElem (nots, ntn, lev + 1)            
+        if slurs:           # these are only slur endings
+            for d in slurs.t:
+                if not s.slurstack: break   # no more open slurs
+                slurnum = s.slurstack.pop ()
+                slur = E.Element ('slur', number='%d' % slurnum, type='stop')
+                addElem (nots, slur, lev + 1)
+        if nots.getchildren() != []:        # only add notations if not empty
+            addElem (nt, nots, lev)
+
+    def doArticulations (s, nots, arts, lev):
+        decos = []
+        for a in arts:
+            if a in s.artMap:
+                art = E.Element ('articulations')
+                addElem (nots, art, lev)
+                addElem (art, E.Element (s.artMap[a]), lev + 1)
+            elif a in s.ornMap:
+                orn = E.Element ('ornaments')
+                addElem (nots, orn, lev)
+                addElem (orn, E.Element (s.ornMap[a]), lev + 1)
+            elif a in s.tecMap:
+                tec = E.Element ('technical')
+                addElem (nots, tec, lev)
+                addElem (tec, E.Element (s.tecMap[a]), lev + 1)
+            else: decos.append (a)  # return staff annotations
+        return decos
+
+    def doLyr (s, n, nt, lev):
+        for i, lyrobj in enumerate (n.objs):
+            if lyrobj.name != 'syl': continue
+            dash = len (lyrobj.t) == 2
+            if dash:
+                if i in s.lyrdash:  type = 'middle'
+                else:               type = 'begin'; s.lyrdash [i] = 1
+            else:
+                if i in s.lyrdash:  type = 'end';   del s.lyrdash [i]
+                else:               type = 'single'
+            lyrel = E.Element ('lyric', number = str (i + 1))
+            addElem (nt, lyrel, lev)
+            addElemT (lyrel, 'syllabic', type, lev + 1)
+            addElemT (lyrel, 'text', lyrobj.t[0].replace ('~',' '), lev + 1)
+
+    def doBeams (s, n, nt, den, lev):
+        if hasattr (n, 'chord') or hasattr (n, 'grace'):
+            s.grcbbrk = s.grcbbrk or n.bbrk.t[0]    # remember if there was any bbrk in or before a grace sequence
+            return
+        bbrk = s.grcbbrk or n.bbrk.t[0] or den < 32
+        s.grcbbrk = False
+        if not s.prevNote:  pbm = None
+        else:               pbm = s.prevNote.find ('beam')
+        bm = E.Element ('beam', number='1')
+        bm.text = 'begin'
+        if pbm != None:
+            if bbrk:
+                if pbm.text == 'begin':
+                    s.prevNote.remove (pbm)
+                elif pbm.text == 'continue':
+                    pbm.text = 'end'
+                s.prevNote = None
+            else: bm.text = 'continue'
+        if den >= 32 and n.name != 'rest':
+            addElem (nt, bm, lev)
+            s.prevNote = nt
+
+    def stopBeams (s):
+        if not s.prevNote: return
+        pbm = s.prevNote.find ('beam')
+        if pbm != None:
+            if pbm.text == 'begin':
+                s.prevNote.remove (pbm)
+            elif pbm.text == 'continue':
+                pbm.text = 'end'
+        s.prevNote = None
+
+    def staffDecos (s, decos, maat, lev, bardecos=0):
+        gstaff = s.gStaffNums.get (s.vid, 0)        # staff number of the current voice        
+        for d in decos:
+            d = s.usrSyms.get (d, d).strip ('!+')   # try to replace user defined symbol
+            if d in s.dynaMap:
+                dynel = E.Element ('dynamics')
+                addDirection (maat, dynel, lev, gstaff, [E.Element (d)], 'below', s.gcue_on)
+            elif d in s.wedgeMap:  # wedge
+                if ')' in d: type = 'stop'
+                else: type = 'crescendo' if '<' in d or 'crescendo' in d else 'diminuendo'
+                addDirection (maat, E.Element ('wedge', type=type), lev, gstaff)
+            elif d in ['coda', 'segno']:
+                if bardecos: s.bardecos.append (d)  # postpone to begin next measure
+                else:
+                    text, attr, val = s.capoMap [d]
+                    dir = addDirection (maat, E.Element (text), lev, gstaff, placement='above')
+                    sound = E.Element ('sound'); sound.set (attr, val)
+                    addElem (dir, sound, lev + 1)
+            elif d in s.capoMap:
+                text, attr, val = s.capoMap [d]
+                words = E.Element ('words'); words.text = text
+                dir = addDirection (maat, words, lev, gstaff, placement='above')
+                sound = E.Element ('sound'); sound.set (attr, val)
+                addElem (dir, sound, lev + 1)
+            elif d == '(': s.slurbeg += 1   # start slur on next note
+            else: s.nextdecos.append (d)    # keep annotation for the next note
+
+    def doFields (s, maat, fieldmap, lev):
+        def doClef ():
+            clef, gtrans = 0, 0
+            clefn = re.search (r'alto1|alto2|alto4|alto|tenor|bass3|bass|treble|perc|none', field)
+            clefm = re.search (r"(?:^m=| m=|middle=)([A-Ga-g])([,']*)", field)
+            trans_oct2 = re.search (r'octave=([-+]\d)', field)
+            trans = re.search (r'(?:^t=| t=|transpose=)(-?[\d]+)', field)
+            trans_oct = re.search (r'([+-^_])(8|15)', field)
+            cue_onoff = re.search (r'cue=(on|off)', field)
+            if clefn:
+                clef = clefn.group ()
+            if clefm:
+                note, octstr = clefm.groups ()
+                nUp = note.upper ()
+                octnum = (4 if nUp == note else 5) + (len (octstr) if "'" in octstr else -len (octstr))
+                gtrans = (3 if nUp in 'AFD' else 4) - octnum 
+                if clef not in ['perc', 'none']: clef = s.clefLineMap [nUp]
+            if clef:
+                s.gtrans = gtrans   # only change global tranposition when a clef is really defined
+                sign, line = s.clefMap [clef]
+                if not sign: return
+                c = E.Element ('clef')
+                gstaff = s.gStaffNums.get (s.vid, 0)        # the current staff number
+                if gstaff: c.set ('number', str (gstaff))   # only add staff number when defined
+                addElemT (c, 'sign', sign, lev + 2)
+                if line: addElemT (c, 'line', line, lev + 2)
+                if trans_oct:
+                    n = trans_oct.group (1) in '-_' and -1 or 1
+                    if trans_oct.group (2) == '15': n *= 2  # 8 => 1 octave, 15 => 2 octaves
+                    addElemT (c, 'clef-octave-change', str (n), lev + 2) # transpose print out
+                    if trans_oct.group (1) in '+-': s.gtrans += n   # also transpose all pitches with one octave
+                if trans_oct2:
+                    n = int (trans_oct2.group (1))
+                    s.gtrans += n
+                atts.append ((7, c))
+            if trans != None:   # add transposition in semitones
+                e = E.Element ('transpose')
+                addElemT (e, 'chromatic', str (trans.group (1)), lev + 3)
+                atts.append ((9, e))
+            if cue_onoff: s.gcue_on = cue_onoff.group (1) == 'on'
+        atts = []               # collect xml attribute elements [(order-number, xml-element), ..]
+        for ftype, field in fieldmap.items ():
+            if not field:       # skip empty fields
+                continue
+            if ftype == 'Div':  # not an abc field, but handled as if
+                d = E.Element ('divisions')
+                d.text = field
+                atts.append ((1, d))
+            elif ftype == 'gstaff':  # make grand staff
+                e = E.Element ('staves')
+                e.text = str (field)
+                atts.append ((4, e))
+            elif ftype == 'M':
+                if field == 'none': continue
+                if field == 'C': field = '4/4'
+                elif field == 'C|': field = '2/2'
+                t = E.Element ('time')
+                if '/' not in field:
+                    info ('M:%s not recognized, 4/4 assumed' % field)
+                    field = '4/4'
+                beats, btype = field.split ('/')[:2]
+                try: s.mdur = simplify (eval (beats), int (btype))  # measure duration for Z and X rests (eval allows M:2+3/4)
+                except:
+                    info ('error in M:%s, 4/4 assumed' % field)
+                    s.mdur = (4,4)
+                    beats, btype = '4','4'
+                addElemT (t, 'beats', beats, lev + 2)
+                addElemT (t, 'beat-type', btype, lev + 2)
+                atts.append ((3, t))
+            elif ftype == 'K':
+                accs = ['F','C','G','D','A','E','B']    # == s.sharpness [7:14]
+                mode = ''
+                key = re.match (r'\s*([A-G][#b]?)\s*([a-zA-Z]*)', field)
+                alts = re.search (r'\s((\s?[=^_][A-Ga-g])+)', ' ' + field)  # avoid matching middle=G and m=G
+                if key:
+                    key, mode = key.groups ()
+                    mode = mode.lower ()[:3] # only first three chars, no case
+                    if mode not in s.offTab: mode = 'maj'
+                    fifths = s.sharpness.index (key) - s.offTab [mode]
+                    if fifths >= 0: s.keyAlts = dict (zip (accs[:fifths], fifths * ['1']))
+                    else:           s.keyAlts = dict (zip (accs[fifths:], -fifths * ['-1']))
+                elif field.startswith ('none') or field == '':  # the default key
+                    fifths = 0
+                    mode = 'maj'
+                if alts:
+                    alts = re.findall (r'[=^_][A-Ga-g]', alts.group(1)) # list of explicit alterations
+                    alts = [(x[1], s.alterTab [x[0]]) for x in alts]    # [step, alter]
+                    for step, alter in alts:                # correct permanent alterations for this key
+                        s.keyAlts [step.upper ()] = alter
+                    k = E.Element ('key')
+                    koctave = []
+                    lowerCaseSteps = [step.upper () for step, alter in alts if step.islower ()]
+                    for step, alter in s.keyAlts.items ():
+                        if alter == '0':                    # skip neutrals
+                            del s.keyAlts [step.upper ()]   # otherwise you get neutral signs on normal notes
+                            continue
+                        addElemT (k, 'key-step', step.upper (), lev + 2)
+                        addElemT (k, 'key-alter', alter, lev + 2)
+                        koctave.append ('5' if step in lowerCaseSteps else '4')
+                    if koctave:                     # only key signature if not empty
+                        for oct in koctave:
+                            e = E.Element ('key-octave', number=oct)
+                            addElem (k, e, lev + 2)
+                        atts.append ((2, k))
+                elif mode:
+                    k = E.Element ('key')
+                    addElemT (k, 'fifths', str (fifths), lev + 2)
+                    addElemT (k, 'mode', s.modTab [mode], lev + 2)
+                    atts.append ((2, k))
+                doClef ()
+            elif ftype == 'L':
+                s.unitLcur = map (int, field.split ('/'))
+                if len (s.unitLcur) == 1 or s.unitLcur[1] not in s.typeMap:
+                    info ('L:%s is not allowed, 1/8 assumed' % field)
+                    s.unitLcur = 1,8
+            elif ftype == 'V':
+                doClef ()
+            elif ftype == 'I':
+                xs = s.doField_I (ftype, field)
+                if xs and len (xs) == 1:    # when "%%MIDI transpose" matched insert 'attribute/transpose/chromatic'
+                    e = E.Element ('transpose')
+                    addElemT (e, 'chromatic', xs[0], lev + 2)  # xs[0] == signed number string given after transpose
+                    atts.append ((9, e))
+                if xs and len (xs) == 2:    # repeated occurrence of [I:MIDI] -> instrument change
+                    midchan, midprog = xs
+                    snd = E.Element ('sound')
+                    mi = E.Element ('midi-instrument', id='I-' + s.vid)
+                    addElem (maat, snd, lev)
+                    addElem (snd, mi, lev + 1)
+                    if midchan: addElemT (mi, 'midi-channel', midchan, lev + 2)
+                    if midprog: addElemT (mi, 'midi-program', str (int (midprog) + 1), lev + 2) # compatible with abc2midi
+
+            elif ftype == 'Q':
+                s.doTempo (maat, field, lev)
+            elif ftype in 'TCOAZNGHRBDFSU':
+                info ('**illegal header field in body: %s, content: %s' % (ftype, field))
+            else:
+                info ('unhandled field: %s, content: %s' % (ftype, field))
+
+        if atts:
+            att = E.Element ('attributes')      # insert sub elements in the order required by musicXML
+            addElem (maat, att, lev)
+            for _, att_elem in sorted (atts):   # ordering !
+                addElem (att, att_elem, lev + 1)
+
+    def doTempo (s, maat, field, lev):
+        gstaff = s.gStaffNums.get (s.vid, 0)    # staff number of the current voice
+        t = re.search (r'(\d)/(\d\d?)\s*=\s*([.\d]+)|([.\d]+)', field)
+        if not t: return
+        try:
+            if t.group (4):
+                num, den, upm = 1, s.unitLcur[1] , float (t.group (4))
+            else:
+                num, den, upm = int (t.group (1)), int (t.group (2)), float (t.group (3))
+        except: return  # float or int conversion failure
+        if num != 1: info ('in Q: numerator > 1 in %d/%d not supported' % (num, den))
+        qpm = 4. * num * upm / den
+        metro = E.Element ('metronome')
+        u = E.Element ('beat-unit'); u.text = s.typeMap [4 * den]
+        pm = E.Element ('per-minute'); pm.text = '%.2f' % upm
+        dir = addDirection (maat, metro, lev, gstaff, [u, pm], placement='above')
+        sound = E.Element ('sound'); sound.set ('tempo', '%.2f' % qpm)
+        addElem (dir, sound, lev + 1)
+
+    def mkBarline (s, maat, loc, lev, style='', dir='', ending=''):
+        b = E.Element ('barline', location=loc)
+        if style:
+            addElemT (b, 'bar-style', style, lev + 1)
+        if s.curVolta:    # first stop a current volta
+            end = E.Element ('ending', number=s.curVolta, type='stop')
+            s.curVolta = ''
+            if loc == 'left':   # stop should always go to a right barline
+                bp = E.Element ('barline', location='right')
+                addElem (bp, end, lev + 1)
+                addElem (s.prevmsre, bp, lev)   # prevmsre has no right barline! (ending would have stopped there)
+            else:
+                addElem (b, end, lev + 1)
+        if ending:
+            ending = ending.replace ('-',',')   # MusicXML only accepts comma's
+            endtxt = ''
+            if ending.startswith ('"'):     # ending is a quoted string
+                endtxt = ending.strip ('"')
+                ending = '33'               # any number that is not likely to occur elsewhere
+            end = E.Element ('ending', number=ending, type='start')
+            if endtxt: end.text = endtxt    # text appears in score in stead of number attribute
+            addElem (b, end, lev + 1)
+            s.curVolta = ending
+        if dir:
+            r = E.Element ('repeat', direction=dir)
+            addElem (b, r, lev + 1)
+        addElem (maat, b, lev)
+
+    def doChordSym (s, maat, sym, lev):
+        alterMap = {'#':'1','=':'0','b':'-1'}
+        rnt = sym.root.t
+        chord = E.Element ('harmony')
+        addElem (maat, chord, lev)
+        root = E.Element ('root')
+        addElem (chord, root, lev + 1)
+        addElemT (root, 'root-step', rnt[0], lev + 2)
+        if len (rnt) == 2: addElemT (root, 'root-alter', alterMap [rnt[1]], lev + 2)
+        kind = s.chordTab.get (sym.kind.t[0], 'major')
+        addElemT (chord, 'kind', kind, lev + 1)
+        degs = getattr (sym, 'degree', '')
+        if degs:
+            if type (degs) != types.ListType: degs = [degs]
+            for deg in degs:
+                deg = deg.t[0]
+                if deg[0] == '#':   alter = '1';  deg = deg[1:]
+                elif deg[0] == 'b': alter = '-1'; deg = deg[1:]
+                else:               alter = '0';  deg = deg
+                degree = E.Element ('degree')
+                addElem (chord, degree, lev + 1)
+                addElemT (degree, 'degree-value', deg, lev + 2)
+                addElemT (degree, 'degree-alter', alter, lev + 2)
+                addElemT (degree, 'degree-type', 'add', lev + 2)
+
+    def mkMeasure (s, i, t, lev, fieldmap={}):
+        s.msreAlts = {}
+        s.ntup = -1
+        s.acciatura = 0 # next grace element gets acciatura attribute
+        overlay = 0
+        maat = E.Element ('measure', number = str(i))
+        if fieldmap: s.doFields (maat, fieldmap, lev + 1)
+        if s.linebrk:   # there was a line break in the previous measure
+            e = E.Element ('print')
+            e.set ('new-system', 'yes')
+            addElem (maat, e, lev + 1)
+            s.linebrk = 0
+        if s.bardecos:  # output coda and segno attached to the previous right barline
+            s.staffDecos (s.bardecos, maat, lev + 1)
+            s.bardecos = []
+        for it, x in enumerate (t):
+            if x.name == 'note' or x.name == 'rest':
+                note = s.mkNote (x, lev + 1)
+                addElem (maat, note, lev + 1)
+            elif x.name == 'lbar':
+                bar = x.t[0]
+                if bar == '|': pass # skip redundant bar
+                elif ':' in bar:    # forward repeat
+                    volta = x.t[1] if len (x.t) == 2  else ''
+                    s.mkBarline (maat, 'left', lev + 1, style='heavy-light', dir='forward', ending=volta)
+                else:               # bar must be a volta number
+                    s.mkBarline (maat, 'left', lev + 1, ending=bar)
+            elif x.name == 'rbar':
+                if hasattr (x, 'deco'): # MuseScore does not support this -> emergency solution
+                    s.staffDecos (x.deco.t, maat, lev + 1, bardecos=1)  # coda, segno -> next measure
+                bar = x.t[0]
+                if bar == '.|':
+                    s.mkBarline (maat, 'right', lev + 1, style='dotted')
+                elif ':' in bar:  # backward repeat
+                    s.mkBarline (maat, 'right', lev + 1, style='light-heavy', dir='backward')
+                elif bar == '||':
+                    s.mkBarline (maat, 'right', lev + 1, style='light-light')
+                elif bar == '[|]' or bar == '[]':
+                    s.mkBarline (maat, 'right', lev + 1, style='none')
+                elif '[' in bar or ']' in bar:
+                    s.mkBarline (maat, 'right', lev + 1, style='light-heavy')
+                elif bar[0] == '&': overlay = 1
+            elif x.name == 'tup':
+                if len (x.t) == 3:  n, into, nts = x.t
+                else:               n, into, nts = x.t[0], 0, 0
+                if into == 0: into = 3 if n in [2,4,8] else 2
+                if nts == 0: nts = n
+                s.tmnum, s.tmden, s.ntup = n, into, nts
+            elif x.name == 'deco':
+                s.staffDecos (x.t, maat, lev + 1)   # output staff decos, postpone note decos to next note
+            elif x.name == 'text':
+                pos, text = x.t[:2]
+                place = 'above' if pos == '^' else 'below'
+                words = E.Element ('words')
+                words.text = text
+                gstaff = s.gStaffNums.get (s.vid, 0)    # staff number of the current voice
+                addDirection (maat, words, lev + 1, gstaff, placement=place)
+            elif x.name == 'inline':
+                fieldtype, fieldval = x.t[:2]
+                s.doFields (maat, {fieldtype:fieldval}, lev + 1)
+            elif x.name == 'accia': s.acciatura = 1
+            elif x.name == 'linebrk':
+                s.supports_tag = 1
+                if it > 0 and t[it -1].name == 'lbar':  # we are at start of measure
+                    e = E.Element ('print')             # output linebreak now
+                    e.set ('new-system', 'yes')
+                    addElem (maat, e, lev + 1)
+                else:
+                    s.linebrk = 1   # output linebreak at start of next measure
+            elif x.name == 'chordsym':
+                s.doChordSym (maat, x, lev + 1)
+        s.stopBeams ()
+        s.prevmsre = maat
+        return maat, overlay
+
+    def mkPart (s, maten, id, lev, attrs, nstaves):
+        s.slurstack = []
+        s.unitLcur = s.unitL    # set the default unit length at begin of each voice
+        s.curVolta = ''
+        s.lyrdash = {}
+        s.linebrk = 0
+        s.midprg = ['', '']     # MIDI channel nr, program nr for the current part
+        s.gcue_on = 0           # reset cue note marker for each new voice
+        s.gtrans = 0            # reset octave transposition (by clef)
+        part = E.Element ('part', id=id)
+        s.overlayVnum = 0       # overlay voice number to relate ties that extend from one overlayed measure to the next
+        gstaff = s.gStaffNums.get (s.vid, 0)    # staff number of the current voice
+        attrs_cpy = attrs.copy ()   # don't change attrs itself in next line
+        if gstaff == 1: attrs_cpy ['gstaff'] = nstaves  # make a grand staff
+        msre, overlay = s.mkMeasure (1, maten[0], lev + 1, attrs_cpy)
+        addElem (part, msre, lev + 1)
+        for i, maat in enumerate (maten[1:]):
+            s.overlayVnum = s.overlayVnum + 1 if overlay else 0
+            msre, next_overlay = s.mkMeasure (i+2, maat, lev + 1)
+            if overlay: mergePartMeasure (part, msre, s.overlayVnum)
+            else:       addElem (part, msre, lev + 1)
+            overlay = next_overlay
+        return part
+
+    def mkScorePart (s, id, vids_p, partAttr, lev):
+        naam, subnm, midprg = partAttr [id]
+        sp = E.Element ('score-part', id='P'+id)
+        nm = E.Element ('part-name')
+        nm.text = naam
+        addElem (sp, nm, lev + 1)
+        snm = E.Element ('part-abbreviation')
+        snm.text = subnm
+        if subnm: addElem (sp, snm, lev + 1)    # only add if subname was given
+        if s.staves: instr_vids = [vids for vids in s.staves if vids[0] == id][0]
+        else:        instr_vids = [id]
+        inst = []
+        for id in instr_vids:
+            if id not in partAttr: continue     # error in %%score -> instr_vids may have non existing id's
+            naam, subnm, midprg = partAttr [id]
+            midchan, midprog = midprg
+            if not midchan and not midprog: continue    # only add if program nr or channel was given
+            si = E.Element ('score-instrument', id='I-'+id)
+            addElemT (si, 'instrument-name', naam, lev + 2)
+            mi = E.Element ('midi-instrument', id='I-'+id)
+            if midchan: addElemT (mi, 'midi-channel', midchan, lev + 2)
+            if midprog: addElemT (mi, 'midi-program', str (int (midprog) + 1), lev + 2) # compatible with abc2midi
+            inst.append ((si, mi))
+        for si, mi in inst: addElem (sp, si, lev + 1)
+        for si, mi in inst: addElem (sp, mi, lev + 1)
+        return sp, len (inst)
+
+    def mkPartlist (s, vids, partAttr, lev):
+        def addPartGroup (sym, num):
+            pg = E.Element ('part-group', number=str (num), type='start')
+            addElem (partlist, pg, lev + 1)
+            addElemT (pg, 'group-symbol', sym, lev + 2)
+            addElemT (pg, 'group-barline', 'yes', lev + 2)
+        partlist = E.Element ('part-list')
+        g_num = 0       # xml group number
+        nInstrs = []    # number of instruments in each part
+        for g in (s.groups or vids):    # brace/bracket or abc_voice_id
+            if   g == '[': g_num += 1; addPartGroup ('bracket', g_num)
+            elif g == '{': g_num += 1; addPartGroup ('brace', g_num)
+            elif g in '}]':
+                pg = E.Element ('part-group', number=str (g_num), type='stop')
+                addElem (partlist, pg, lev + 1)
+                g_num -= 1
+            else:   # g = abc_voice_id
+                if g not in vids: continue  # error in %%score
+                sp, nInst = s.mkScorePart (g, vids, partAttr, lev + 1)
+                addElem (partlist, sp, lev + 1)
+                nInstrs.append (nInst)
+        return partlist, nInstrs
+
+    def doField_I (s, type, x):
+        def readPfmt (x, n): # read ABC page formatting constant
+            if not s.pageFmtAbc: s.pageFmtAbc = s.pageFmtDef    # set the default values on first change
+            ro = re.search (r'[^.\d]*([\d.]+)\s*(cm|in|pt)?', x)    # float followed by unit
+            if ro:
+                x, unit = ro.groups ()  # unit == None when not present
+                u = {'cm':10., 'in':25.4, 'pt':25.4/72} [unit] if unit else 1.
+                s.pageFmtAbc [n] = float (x) * u   # convert ABC values to millimeters
+            else: info ('error in page format: %s' % x)
+
+        if x.startswith ('score') or x.startswith ('staves'):
+            s.staveDefs += [x]          # collect all voice mappings
+        elif x.startswith ('staffwidth'): info ('skipped I-field: %s' % x)
+        elif x.startswith ('staff'):    # set new staff number of the current voice
+            r1 = re.search (r'staff *([+-]?)(\d)', x)
+            if r1:
+                sign = r1.group (1)
+                num = int (r1.group (2))
+                gstaff = s.gStaffNums.get (s.vid, 0)    # staff number of the current voice
+                if sign:                                # relative staff number
+                    num = (sign == '-') and gstaff - num or gstaff + num
+                else:                                   # absolute abc staff number
+                    try: vabc = s.staves [num - 1][0]   # vid of (first voice of) abc-staff num
+                    except: vabc = 0; info ('abc staff %s does not exist' % num)
+                    num = s.gStaffNumsOrg.get (vabc, 0) # xml staff number of abc-staff num
+                if gstaff and num > 0 and num <= s.gNstaves [s.vid]:
+                    s.gStaffNums [s.vid] = num
+                else: info ('could not relocate to staff: %s' % r1.group ())
+            else: info ('not a valid staff redirection: %s' % x)
+        elif x.startswith ('scale'): readPfmt (x, 0)
+        elif x.startswith ('pageheight'): readPfmt (x, 1)
+        elif x.startswith ('pagewidth'): readPfmt (x, 2)
+        elif x.startswith ('leftmargin'): readPfmt (x, 3)
+        elif x.startswith ('rightmargin'): readPfmt (x, 4)
+        elif x.startswith ('topmargin'): readPfmt (x, 5)
+        elif x.startswith ('botmargin'): readPfmt (x, 6)
+        elif x.startswith ('MIDI'):
+            r1 = re.search (r'program *(\d*) +(\d+)', x)
+            r2 = re.search (r'channel\D*(\d+)', x)
+            if r1: ch, prg = r1.groups ()        # channel nr or '', program nr
+            if r2: ch, prg = r2.group (1), ''    # channel nr only
+            if r1 or r2:
+                if s.midprg[1] == '': # no instrument defined yet
+                    s.midprg[1] = prg
+                    if ch: s.midprg[0] = ch
+                elif ch and s.midprg[0] == '':  # no channel defined yet
+                    s.midprg[0] = ch
+                else:   # repeated midi def -> insert instument change
+                    return [ch, prg]
+            r = re.search (r'transpose[^-\d]*(-?\d+)', x)
+            if r: return [r.group (1)]
+        else: info ('skipped I-field: %s' % x)
+
+    def parseStaveDef (s, vdefs):
+        if not s.staveDefs: return vdefs
+        for x in s.staveDefs [1:]: info ('%%%%%s dropped, multiple stave mappings not supported' % x)
+        x = s.staveDefs [0]                                 # only the first %%score is honoured
+        score = abc_scoredef.parseString (x) [0]
+        f = lambda x: type (x) == types.UnicodeType and [x] or x
+        s.staves = map (f, mkStaves (score, vdefs))
+        s.grands = map (f, mkGrand (score, vdefs))
+        s.groups = mkGroups (score)
+        vce_groups = [vids for vids in s.staves if len (vids) > 1]  # all voice groups
+        d = {}                                              # for each voice group: map first voice id -> all merged voice ids
+        for vgr in vce_groups: d [vgr[0]] = vgr
+        for gstaff in s.grands:                             # for all grand staves
+            if len (gstaff) == 1: continue                  # skip single parts
+            for v, stf_num in zip (gstaff, range (1, len (gstaff) + 1)):
+                for vx in d.get (v, [v]):                   # allocate staff numbers
+                    s.gStaffNums [vx] = stf_num             # to all constituant voices
+                    s.gNstaves [vx] = len (gstaff)          # also remember total number of staves
+        s.gStaffNumsOrg = s.gStaffNums.copy ()              # keep original allocation for abc -> xml staff map
+        return vdefs
+
+    def voiceNamesAndMaps (s, ps):  # get voice names and mappings
+        vdefs = {}
+        for vid, vcedef, vce in ps: # vcedef == emtpy of first pObj == voice definition
+            pname, psubnm = '', ''  # part name and abbreviation
+            if not vcedef:          # simple abc without voice definitions
+                vdefs [vid] =  pname, psubnm, ''
+            else:                   # abc with voice definitions
+                if vid != vcedef.t[1]: info ('voice ids unequal: %s (reg-ex) != %s (grammar)' % (vid, vcedef.t[1]))
+                rn = re.search (r'(?:name|nm)="([^"]*)"', vcedef.t[2])
+                if rn: pname = rn.group (1)
+                rn = re.search (r'(?:subname|snm|sname)="([^"]*)"', vcedef.t[2])
+                if rn: psubnm = rn.group (1)
+                vdefs [vid] =  pname, psubnm, vcedef.t[2]
+            xs = [pObj.t[1] for maat in vce for pObj in maat if pObj.name == 'inline']  # all inline statements in vce
+            s.staveDefs += [x for x in xs if x.startswith ('score') or x.startswith ('staves')] # filter %%score and %%staves
+        return vdefs
+
+    def doHeaderField (s, fld, attrmap):
+        type, value = fld.t[:2]
+        if not value:    # skip empty field
+            return
+        if type == 'M':
+            attrmap [type] = value
+        elif type == 'L':
+            try: s.unitL = map (int, fld.t[1].split ('/'))
+            except:
+                info ('illegal unit length:%s, 1/8 assumed' % fld.t[1])
+                s.unitL = 1,8
+            if len (s.unitL) == 1 or s.unitL[1] not in s.typeMap:
+                info ('L:%s is not allowed, 1/8 assumed' % fld.t[1])
+                s.unitL = 1,8
+        elif type == 'K':
+            attrmap[type] = value
+        elif type == 'T':
+            if s.title: s.title = s.title + '\n' + value
+            else:       s.title = value
+        elif type == 'C':
+            s.creator ['composer'] = s.creator.get ('composer', '') + value
+        elif type == 'Z':
+            s.creator ['lyricist'] = s.creator.get ('lyricist', '') + value
+        elif type == 'U':
+            sym = fld.t[2].strip ('!+')
+            s.usrSyms [value] = sym
+        elif type == 'I':
+            s.doField_I (type, value)
+        elif type == 'Q':
+            attrmap[type] = value
+        elif type in s.creditTab: s.credits [s.creditTab [type]] = value
+        else:
+            info ('skipped header: %s' % fld)
+
+    def mkIdentification (s, score, lev):
+        if s.title:
+            addElemT (score, 'movement-title', s.title, lev + 1)
+        ident = E.Element ('identification')
+        addElem (score, ident, lev + 1)
+        if s.creator:
+            for ctype, cname in s.creator.items ():
+                c = E.Element ('creator', type=ctype)
+                c.text = cname
+                addElem (ident, c, lev + 2)
+        encoding = E.Element ('encoding')
+        addElem (ident, encoding, lev + 2)
+        encoder = E.Element ('encoder')
+        encoder.text = 'abc2xml version %d' % VERSION
+        addElem (encoding, encoder, lev + 3)
+        if s.supports_tag:  # avoids interference of auto-flowing and explicit linebreaks
+            suports = E.Element ('supports', attribute="new-system", element="print", type="yes", value="yes")
+            addElem (encoding, suports, lev + 3)
+        encodingDate = E.Element ('encoding-date')
+        encodingDate.text = str (datetime.date.today ())
+        addElem (encoding, encodingDate, lev + 3)
+
+    def mkDefaults (s, score, lev):
+        if s.pageFmtCmd: s.pageFmtAbc = s.pageFmtCmd
+        if not s.pageFmtAbc: return # do not output the defaults if none is desired
+        space, h, w, l, r, t, b = s.pageFmtAbc
+        mils = 4 * space    # staff height in millimeters
+        scale = 40. / mils  # tenth's per millimeter
+        dflts = E.Element ('defaults')
+        addElem (score, dflts, lev)
+        scaling = E.Element ('scaling')
+        addElem (dflts, scaling, lev + 1)
+        addElemT (scaling, 'millimeters', '%g' % mils, lev + 2)
+        addElemT (scaling, 'tenths', '40', lev + 2)
+        layout = E.Element ('page-layout')
+        addElem (dflts, layout, lev + 1)
+        addElemT (layout, 'page-height', '%g' % (h * scale), lev + 2)
+        addElemT (layout, 'page-width', '%g' % (w * scale), lev + 2)
+        margins = E.Element ('page-margins', type='both')
+        addElem (layout, margins, lev + 2)
+        addElemT (margins, 'left-margin', '%g' % (l * scale), lev + 3)
+        addElemT (margins, 'right-margin', '%g' % (r * scale), lev + 3)
+        addElemT (margins, 'top-margin', '%g' % (t * scale), lev + 3)
+        addElemT (margins, 'bottom-margin', '%g' % (b * scale), lev + 3)
+
+    def mkCredits (s, score, lev):
+        if not s.credits: return
+        for ctype, ctext in s.credits.items ():
+            credit = E.Element ('credit', page='1')
+            addElemT (credit, 'credit-type', ctype, lev + 2)
+            addElemT (credit, 'credit-words', ctext, lev + 2)
+            addElem (score, credit, lev)
+
+    def parse (s, abc_string):
+        abctext = abc_string if type (abc_string) == types.UnicodeType else decodeInput (abc_string)
+        abctext = abctext.replace ('[I:staff ','[I:staff')  # avoid false beam breaks
+        s.reset ()
+        header, voices = splitHeaderVoices (abctext)
+        ps = []
+        try:
+            hs = abc_header.parseString (header) if header else ''
+            for id, vce_lyr in voices:  # vce_lyr = [voice-block] where voice-block = (measures, corresponding lyric lines)
+                vcelyr = []             # list of measures where measure = list of elements (see syntax)
+                prevLeftBar = None      # previous voice ended with a left-bar symbol (double repeat)
+                for voice, lyr in vce_lyr:
+                    vce = abc_voice.parseString (voice).asList ()
+                    if not vce:         # empty voice, insert an inline field that will be rejected
+                        vce = [[pObj ('inline', ['I', 'empty voice'])]]
+                    if prevLeftBar:
+                        vce[0].insert (0, prevLeftBar)  # insert at begin of first measure
+                        prevLeftBar = None
+                    if vce[-1] and vce[-1][-1].name == 'lbar':  # last measure ends with an lbar
+                        prevLeftBar = vce[-1][-1]
+                        if len (vce) > 1:   # vce should not become empty (-> exception when taking vcelyr [0][0])
+                            del vce[-1]     # lbar was the only element in measure vce[-1]
+                    lyr = lyr.strip ()  # strip leading \n (because we split on '\nw:...')
+                    if lyr:             # no lyrics for this measures-lyrics block
+                        lyr = lyr_block.parseString (lyr).asList ()
+                        xs = alignLyr (vce, lyr)    # put all syllables into corresponding notes
+                    else: xs = vce
+                    vcelyr += xs
+                elem1 = vcelyr [0][0]   # the first element of the first measure
+                if  elem1.name == 'inline'and elem1.t[0] == 'V':    # is a voice definition
+                    voicedef = elem1 
+                    del vcelyr [0][0]   # do not read voicedef twice
+                else:
+                    voicedef = ''
+                ps.append ((id, voicedef, vcelyr))
+        except ParseException, err:
+            if err.loc > 40:    # limit length of error message, compatible with markInputline
+                err.pstr = err.pstr [err.loc - 40: err.loc + 40]
+                err.loc = 40
+            xs = err.line[err.col-1:]
+            try:    info (err.line.encode ('utf-8'), warn=0)    # err.line is a unicode string!!
+            except: info (err.line.encode ('latin-1'), warn=0)
+            info ((err.col-1) * '-' + '^', warn=0)
+            if   re.search (r'\[U:[XYZxyz]', xs):
+                info ('Error: illegal user defined symbol: %s' % xs[1:], warn=0)
+            elif re.search (r'\[[OAPZNGHRBDFSXTCIU]:', xs):
+                info ('Error: header-only field %s appears after K:' % xs[1:], warn=0)
+            else:
+                info ('Syntax error at column %d' % err.col, warn=0)
+            raise err
+
+        s.unitL = (1, 8)
+        s.title = ''
+        s.creator = {}  # {creator type -> name string}
+        s.credits = {}  # {credit type -> string}
+        score = E.Element ('score-partwise')
+        attrmap = {'Div': str (s.divisions), 'K':'C treble', 'M':'4/4'}
+        for res in hs:
+            if res.name == 'field':
+                s.doHeaderField (res, attrmap)
+            else:
+                info ('unexpected header item: %s' % res)
+
+        vdefs = s.voiceNamesAndMaps (ps)
+        vdefs = s.parseStaveDef (vdefs)
+
+        lev = 0
+        vids, parts, partAttr = [], [], {}
+        for vid, _, vce in ps:          # voice id, voice parse tree
+            pname, psubnm, voicedef = vdefs [vid]   # part name
+            attrmap ['V'] = voicedef    # abc text of first voice definition (after V:vid) or empty
+            pid = 'P%s' % vid           # let part id start with an alpha
+            s.vid = vid                 # avoid parameter passing, needed in mkNote for instrument id
+            part = s.mkPart (vce, pid, lev + 1, attrmap, s.gNstaves.get (vid, 0))
+            if 'Q' in attrmap: del attrmap ['Q']    # header tempo only in first part
+            parts.append (part)
+            vids.append (vid)
+            partAttr [vid] = (pname, psubnm, s.midprg)
+        parts, vidsnew = mergeParts (parts, vids, s.staves) # merge parts into staves as indicated by %%score
+        parts, _ = mergeParts (parts, vidsnew, s.grands, 1) # merge grand staves
+
+        s.mkIdentification (score, lev)
+        s.mkDefaults (score, lev + 1)
+        s.mkCredits (score, lev)
+
+        partlist, nInstrs = s.mkPartlist (vids, partAttr, lev + 1)
+        addElem (score, partlist, lev + 1)
+        for ip, part in enumerate (parts):
+            if nInstrs [ip] < 2:    # no instrument tag needed for one- or no-instrument parts
+                removeElems (part, 'measure/note', 'instrument')
+            addElem (score, part, lev + 1)
+
+        return score
+
+def decodeInput (data_string):
+    try:        enc = 'utf-8';   unicode_string = data_string.decode (enc)
+    except:
+        try:    enc = 'latin-1'; unicode_string = data_string.decode (enc)
+        except: raise Exception ('data not encoded in utf-8 nor in latin-1')
+    info ('decoded from %s' % enc)
+    return unicode_string
+
+xmlVersion = "<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>"    
+def fixDoctype (elem, enc):
+    xs = E.tostring (elem, encoding=enc)
+    ys = xs.split ('\n')
+    if enc == 'utf-8': ys.insert (0, xmlVersion)  # crooked logic of ElementTree lib
+    ys.insert (1, '<!DOCTYPE score-partwise PUBLIC "-//Recordare//DTD MusicXML 3.0 Partwise//EN" "http://www.musicxml.org/dtds/partwise.dtd">')
+    return '\n'.join (ys)
+
+def xml2mxl (pad, fnm, data):   # write xml data to compressed .mxl file
+    from zipfile import ZipFile, ZIP_DEFLATED
+    fnmext = fnm + '.xml'       # file name with extension, relative to the root within the archive
+    outfile = os.path.join (pad, fnm + '.mxl')
+    meta  = '%s\n<container><rootfiles>\n' % xmlVersion
+    meta += '<rootfile full-path="%s" media-type="application/vnd.recordare.musicxml+xml"/>\n' % fnmext
+    meta += '</rootfiles></container>'
+    f = ZipFile (outfile, 'w', ZIP_DEFLATED)
+    f.writestr ('META-INF/container.xml', meta)
+    f.writestr (fnmext, data)
+    f.close ()
+    info ('%s written' % outfile, warn=0)
+
+def convert (pad, fnm, abc_string, mxl):
+    # these globals should be initialised (as in the __main__ secion) before calling convert
+    global mxm                                              # optimisation 1: keep instance of MusicXml
+    global abc_header, abc_voice, lyr_block, abc_scoredef   # optimisation 2: keep computed grammars
+    score = mxm.parse (abc_string)
+    if pad:
+        data = fixDoctype (score, 'utf-8')
+        if not mxl or mxl in ['a', 'add']:
+            outfnm = os.path.join (pad, fnm + '.xml')
+            outfile = file (outfnm, 'wb')
+            outfile.write (data)
+            outfile.close ()
+            info ('%s written' % outfnm, warn=0)
+        if mxl: xml2mxl (pad, fnm, data)     # also write a compressed version
+    else:
+        outfile = sys.stdout
+        outfile.write (fixDoctype (score, 'utf-8'))
+        outfile.write ('\n')
+    
+#----------------
+# Main Program
+#----------------
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    from optparse import OptionParser
+    from glob import glob
+    import time
+    global mxm      # keep instance of MusicXml
+    global abc_header, abc_voice, lyr_block, abc_scoredef # keep computed grammars
+    mxm = MusicXml ()
+
+    parser = OptionParser (usage='%prog [-h] [-r] [-m SKIP NUM] [-o DIR] [-p PFMT] [-z MODE] <file1> [<file2> ...]', version='version %d' % VERSION)
+    parser.add_option ("-o", action="store", help="store xml files in DIR", default='', metavar='DIR')
+    parser.add_option ("-m", action="store", help="skip SKIP tunes, then read at most NUM tunes", nargs=2, type='int', default=(0,1), metavar='SKIP NUM')
+    parser.add_option ("-p", action="store", help="page formatting in PFMT", default='', metavar='PFMT')
+    parser.add_option ("-z", "--mxl", dest="mxl", help="store as compressed mxl, MODE = a(dd) or r(eplace)", default='', metavar='MODE')
+    parser.add_option ("-r", action="store_true", help="show whole measure rests in merged staffs", default=False)
+    options, args = parser.parse_args ()
+    if len (args) == 0: parser.error ('no input file given')
+    pad = options.o
+    if options.mxl and options.mxl not in ['a','add', 'r', 'replace']:
+        parser.error ('MODE should be a(dd) or r(eplace), not: %s' % options.mxl)
+    if pad:
+        if not os.path.exists (pad): os.mkdir (pad)
+        if not os.path.isdir (pad): parser.error ('%s is not a directory' % pad)
+    if options.p:   # set page formatting values
+        try:        # space, page-height, -width, margin-left, -right, -top, -bottom
+            mxm.pageFmtCmd = map (float, options.p.split (','))
+            if len (mxm.pageFmtCmd) != 7: raise Exception ('-p needs 7 values')
+        except Exception, err: parser.error (err)
+    mxm.gmwr = options.r    # ugly: needs to be globally accessable
+
+    abc_header, abc_voice, lyr_block, abc_scoredef = abc_grammar ()  # compute grammar only once per file set
+    fnmext_list = []
+    for i in args: fnmext_list += glob (i)
+    if not fnmext_list: parser.error ('none of the input files exist')
+    t_start = time.time ()
+    for X, fnmext in enumerate (fnmext_list):
+        fnm, ext = os.path.splitext (fnmext)
+        if ext.lower () not in ('.abc'):
+            info ('skipped input file %s, it should have extension .abc' % fnmext)
+            continue
+        if os.path.isdir (fnmext):
+            info ('skipped directory %s. Only files are accepted' % fnmext)
+            continue
+
+        fobj = open (fnmext, 'rb')
+        encoded_data = fobj.read ()
+        fobj.close ()
+        fragments =  encoded_data.split ('X:')
+        preamble = fragments [0]    # tunes can be preceeded by formatting instructions
+        tunes = fragments[1:]
+        if not tunes and preamble: tunes, preamble = ['1\n' + preamble], ''  # tune without X:
+        skip, num = options.m       # skip tunes, then read at most num tunes
+        numtunes = min ([len (tunes), num])     # number of tunes to be converted
+        for itune, tune in enumerate (tunes):
+            if itune < skip: continue
+            if itune >= skip + num: break
+            tune = preamble + 'X:' + tune       # restore preamble before each tune
+            fnmNum = '%s%02d' % (fnm, itune + 1) if numtunes > 1 else fnm
+            try:                                # convert string abctext -> file pad/fnmNum.xml
+                convert (pad, fnmNum, tune, options.mxl)
+            except ParseException, err: pass    # output already printed
+            except Exception, err: info ('an exception occurred.\n%s' % err)
+    info ('done in %.2f secs' % (time.time () - t_start))