musicxml-abc-mcp

MCP server that converts between MusicXML and ABC notation.

What it does

Bridges MusicXML (the standard but verbose XML format) and ABC notation (a compact, human-readable text format). The primary use case is enabling LLM-assisted score editing: MusicXML → ABC → Claude edits → ABC → MusicXML.

ABC is ideal for LLM editing because it is concise enough to fit in a context window and expressive enough to represent most choral music.

Tools

Tool Description
musicxml_to_abc Convert MusicXML to ABC notation; optionally filter to a single part
abc_to_musicxml Convert ABC notation back to MusicXML
validate_abc Parse an ABC string and return errors or warnings
list_capabilities Return server metadata: backend version, ABC standard

Installation

cd musicxml-abc-mcp
uv sync --extra dev

Note: use --extra dev (not --group dev) to install pytest.

Running

uv run musicxml-abc-mcp

No environment variables required.

Usage examples

// Convert full score to ABC
{
  "tool": "musicxml_to_abc",
  "arguments": {"musicxml_path": "/path/to/score.mxl"}
}

// Extract just the Soprano part
{
  "tool": "musicxml_to_abc",
  "arguments": {"musicxml_path": "/path/to/score.mxl", "part_name": "Soprano"}
}

// Convert edited ABC back to MusicXML
{
  "tool": "abc_to_musicxml",
  "arguments": {"abc_text": "X:1\nT:My Song\n...", "output_path": "/tmp/edited.mxl"}
}

// Validate ABC before converting
{
  "tool": "validate_abc",
  "arguments": {"abc_text": "X:1\nT:My Song\n..."}
}

ABC notation basics

This server uses ABC standard v2.1:

  • c (lowercase) = C4 (middle C)
  • C (uppercase) = C3 (one octave below middle C)
  • Apostrophe raises an octave: c' = C5
  • Comma lowers an octave: C, = C2

Round-trips preserve notes within ±2%. Dynamics and complex articulations are not preserved.

Testing

# All tests including integration (round-trip SATB conversion)
VIRTUAL_ENV= .venv/bin/pytest tests/ -v

Dependencies

  • music21 — score parsing; ABC output uses a custom serializer (music21 9.x has no ABC writer)
  • mcp — MCP protocol

System requirements

  • Python 3.11+
  • No system libraries required

Project links

Data verified by PyPI on Aug 16, 2026
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  • Released:
Latest release

1 maintainer

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Avatar for raulkivi from gravatar.com raulkivi

Credits

Author: Raul Kivi

GitHub Statistics

Data verified by PyPI on Aug 16, 2026
The GitHub source repository was provided by the project maintainers and verified by PyPI at the time of upload. Stars, forks, and open issues/PRs are derived from that repository and have not been independently verified.

License

MIT License (MIT)

Requires

Python >=3.11

Provides Extra

dev

Tags

abc llm mcp music musicxml notation

Classifiers

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