01. Create a Musical Incipit

We are going to use MuseScore (open-source notation software).

1. Open MuseScore and create a new score

• Choose the instruments that the incipit will include
  • Look at the score. Is it for solo piano, voice and piano, multiple instruments?
  • For solo piano works, include both clefs. For voice and piano, you can choose the voice melody line, unless it would be clearer to transcribe voice and piano together
  • For other instrumentation, identify the clef or instrument from which you’ll be transcribing
• Choose the key signature:
  • Look at the score and identify the key signature at the beginning of the piece
• Choose the time signature:
  • Look at the score and identify the time signature at the beginning of the piece
• Enter in the number of measures, 5 or 6 will work. You can always add more in the score
  • Select done
  • If your composition has multiple movements or pieces, you will need to create a new score for each one
• Enter in the score information:
  • Title of the composition
  • Subtitle of the composition, if there is one
  • Composer
  • Lyricist, if this is a vocal piece (if known)

2. Enter the music notation of each piece for the first few measures on a single staff.

• If there are rests in the beginning of the piece, even for an entire measure, include this.
• Transcribe exactly what you see in the score. (You don't have to match the font style)
  • If a tempo marking is provided, include it but do not include abbreviations, such as M.M.
  • If tempo is only indicated by text (ex. Andante) use the tempo marking function (delete note/number to enter the text)
  • Include the dynamics, crescendos, and other attributes.
  • Include lyrics, if it is a vocal work.
  • If the piece is for voice and piano/instrument, or multiple instruments, you can transcribe the single melodic line if it appears in the voice or one instrument, such as the violin.
  • Do not include fingering numbers.
• Pay attention to the title information, spellings, and lower/upper-case as written in score. This is especially important for titles in foreign languages, such as German or French.
• Do not use double bar lines to close the incipit. Use a single bar-line if you end on a full measure or do not close (no bar-line) if you end on a partial measure.

Example of single bar-line

Example of no bar-line

3. In the incipit spreadsheet, check the composition title/movement column and verify that you have created as many incipits transcribed as movements or pieces in the work.

   • Fill in the instrumentation summary, instrumentation group, and medium (ensemble type) view list in the sheet.
   • Instrumentation summary = name of individual instrument; if there are multiples of the same instrument include in parenthesis, for example: trombone (2)
     • Instrument details can be found with the score and in JumboSearch
   • Instrumentation group = category of instrument

4. When you are finished, compare your notation to the score to make sure there are no errors.

• Save your file as a .mscz Musescore file
  • last name of composer_title_mvt [Write using lower case and no punctuation, no diacritics]
  • Example: andree_piano_trio_g_minor_mvt1
  • Upload the .mscz file to the "musescore-files" folder in the "incipits-in_progress" Github folder
• Then go to File --> Export
  • Export your file as a MusicXML uncompressed file (MuseScore format) with the same filename as above
  • Make sure you have "all layout" selected in the export settings
  • Upload the MusicXML file to the "for-review" folder in the "incipits-in_progress" Github folder