The <slur> element
Parent element: <notations>
Most slurs are represented with two <slur> elements: one with a start type, and one with a stop type. Slurs can add more elements using a continue type. This is typically used to specify the formatting of cross-system slurs, or to specify the shape of very complex slurs.
Normal slurs and S-shaped slurs need only two bezier points: one associated with the start of the slur, the other with the stop. Complex slurs and slurs divided over system breaks can specify additional bezier data at <slur> elements with a continue type.
Content
Always empty.
Attributes
| Name | Type | Required? | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| type | start-stop-continue | Yes | Indicates if this is the start, stop, or continuation of the slur. |
| bezier-offset | divisions | No | The horizontal position of an outgoing bezier point for slurs and ties with a start type, or of an incoming bezier point for slurs and ties with types of stop or continue. If both the bezier-x and bezier-offset attributes are present, the bezier-x attribute takes priority. This attribute is deprecated as of MusicXML 3.1. |
| bezier-offset2 | divisions | No | The horizontal position of an outgoing bezier point for slurs with a continue type. Not valid for other types. If both the bezier-x2 and bezier-offset2 attributes are present, the bezier-x2 attribute takes priority. This attribute is deprecated as of MusicXML 3.1. |
| bezier-x | tenths | No | The horizontal position of an outgoing bezier point for slurs and ties with a start type, or of an incoming bezier point for slurs and ties with types of stop or continue. |
| bezier-x2 | tenths | No | The horizontal position of an outgoing bezier point for slurs with a continue type. Not valid for other types. |
| bezier-y | tenths | No | The vertical position of an outgoing bezier point for slurs and ties with a start type, or of an incoming bezier point for slurs and ties with types of stop or continue. |
| bezier-y2 | tenths | No | The vertical position of an outgoing bezier point for slurs with a continue type. Not valid for other types. |
| color | color | No | Indicates the color of an element. |
| dash-length | tenths | No | The length of dashes in a dashed line. Ignored if the corresponding line-type attribute is not dashed. |
| default-x | tenths | No | Changes the computation of the default horizontal position. The origin is changed relative to the left-hand side of the note or the musical position within the bar. Positive x is right and negative x is left. This attribute provides higher-resolution positioning data than the <offset> element. Applications reading a MusicXML file that can understand both features should generally rely on this attribute for its greater accuracy. |
| default-y | tenths | No | Changes the computation of the default vertical position. The origin is changed relative to the top line of the staff. Positive y is up and negative y is down. This attribute provides higher-resolution positioning data than the placement attribute. Applications reading a MusicXML file that can understand both attributes should generally rely on this attribute for its greater accuracy. |
| id | ID | No | Specifies an ID that is unique to the entire document. |
| line-type | line-type | No | Specifies if the line is solid, dashed, dotted, or wavy. |
| number | number-level | No | Distinguishes multiple slurs when they overlap in MusicXML document order. |
| orientation | over-under | No | Indicates whether slurs and ties are overhand (tips down) or underhand (tips up). This is distinct from the placement attribute used by any notation type. |
| placement | above-below | No | Indicates whether something is above or below another element, such as a note or a notation. |
| relative-x | tenths | No | Changes the horizontal position relative to the default position, either as computed by the individual program, or as overridden by the default-x attribute. Positive x is right and negative x is left. It should be interpreted in the context of the <offset> element or directive attribute if those are present. |
| relative-y | tenths | No | Changes the vertical position relative to the default position, either as computed by the individual program, or as overridden by the default-y attribute. Positive y is up and negative y is down. It should be interpreted in the context of the placement attribute if that is present. |
| space-length | tenths | No | The length of spaces in a dashed line. Ignored if the corresponding line-type attribute is not dashed. |
Examples
This element is used in the following examples: