Plaine & Easie Code

The Plaine & Easie Code is a library standard that enables entering music incipits in modern or mensural notation.

This version of the code is maintained by the International Association of Music Libraries, Archives and Documentation Centres (IAML) and the Répertoire International des Sources Musicales (RISM) for use as an exchange format in the library environment. Observations or queries may be addressed to Massimo Gentili-Tedeschi or Balázs Mikusi. A tutorial is available here.

Also available in PDF format.

Adapted from the RISM guidelines.

The Plaine & Easie Code

Clef

Every encoding MUST include a clef.

The clef code MUST be three characters long. The first character specifies the clef shape and MUST be one of the values G, g (octave G), C, or F.

The second character MUST be one of the characters - to indicate modern notation, or + to indicate mensural notation.

The third character MUST be a numeric value in the range 1-5, and indicates the reference staff line for the clef starting from the bottom.

Code	Notation
`G-2`
`C+2`
`F-4`
`g-2`

Key Signature

An encoding MAY include a key signature.

The character x indicates sharp keys and b flat keys. These characters MUST be followed by a list of note names that indicate the altered notes.

The list of note names in a key signature SHOULD follow the circle of fifths ordering. Missing accidentals in this list SHOULD be supplied by the transcriber. Note names MUST NOT be repeated.

A key signature containing a single n character MAY be supplied to indicate a natural key signature. This character MUST NOT be followed by any note names.

A key signature MAY contain note names within square brackets, [], to indicate that the note names are not in the original source and have been supplied by the transcriber. Consecutively supplied note names MUST be within a single set of brackets. A key signature MAY contain more than one set of non-consecutive bracket groups.

Code	Notation	Note
`xFC`		F and C sharp (key is D major or B minor).
`bBEA`		B, E, A flat (key is E-flat major or C minor).
`bB[EA]`		The E and A flats in the key signature have been supplied by the transcriber.
`n`		The natural key signature with no accidentals.
`xF[C]G[D]`		F, C, G, and D sharp. The C and D are marked as supplied by the transcriber.

Time Signature

An encoding MAY include a time signature. There are two main categories of time signature forms, CWMN and Mensural. If a mensuration sign is specified, the clef MUST specify a + separator to indicate the encoding is in mensural notation.

Encodings MUST NOT mix CWMN and Mensural time signatures.

CWMN time signatures are expressed as one number above another. These numbers MUST be separated by a / character. Any positive digit MAY be used, but encoders SHOULD use commonly accepted values where possible. For "common" and "alla breve" key signatures, use c and c/, respectively.

CWMN time signatures that indicate alternating measures MAY be indicated by transcribing both. These MUST be separated by a single space character.

For mensuration signs, the c and o characters indicate tempus imperfectus and tempus perfectus, respectively. The . character indicates "major" prolation; omitting . indicates "minor" prolation. A / character may follow the tempus character to indicate diminution.

A mensuration sign MAY include a numerical component as a proportion or augmentation, indicating Modus cum tempore. These numerals MUST be either a 3 or 2. These numbers MAY be combined and separated by a /.

Code	Notation	Note
`2/4`
`12/16`
`c`		common time
`c/`		alla breve
`o`		Perfect tempus, minor prolation
`o.`		Perfect tempus, major prolation
`c3`		Perfect tempus, imperfect minor modus
`c2`		Imerfect tempus, imperfect minor modus
`c/`		With diminution
`3/4 4/4`		Not currently supported by Verovio

Musical Notation

Octave

Octaves are indicated using the apostrophe, ' for octave C4 and above, and the comma, ,, for octaves C3 and below. These characters are repeated to indicate successively higher or lower octaves: ' indicates C4, '' indicates C5, ''' indicates C6, and so on.

The octave indication MAY be omitted. If the octave is omitted, the last specified octave indication is used.

An encoding MAY omit all octave indications. If no octave is supplied on any note, all notes are assumed to be in octave C4.

Code	Notation	Remarks
`'C''B`		octave C4-B5
`,,C,B`		octave C2-B3
`''C'GC,GC,,G`		Octaves using ' and ,
`AB''CDC'BA`		Using the last-specified octave indication.
`ABCD`		No octave indication on any note (All notes in the 4th octave).

Rhythmic Values

Code	Notation	Note
`0`		longa
`9`		breve
`1`		whole note / semibreve
`2`		half note / minim
`4`		quarter note / crochet / semiminim
`8`		eighth note / quaver / fusa
`6`		16th note / semiquaver / semifusa
`3`		32nd note / demisemiquaver
`5`		64th note / hemidemisemiquaver
`7`		128th note

Periods are used for dotted notes. Multiple periods can be added to a note.

Code	Notation	Note
`4.`		dotted quarter-note
`8..`		double-dotted eighth-note
`7.`		neumatic notation

Accidentals

Code	Notation	Note
`x`		sharp
`x`		sharp
`xx`		double sharp
`b`		flat
`bb`		double flat
`n`		natural

Note Names

C, D, E, F, G, A, B

Grace Notes

Code	Notation	Note
`g`		acciaccatura (without rhythmic value, precedes the note name)
`q`		appoggiatura (with rhythmic value, precedes the note name)
`qq..r`		double appoggiatura, slide, or multiple appoggiatura (with rhythmic value)

Rests

Rests for single notes are indicated by - (a minus sign).

Code	Name
`-`	single-note rest (preceded by rhythmic value like note names)
`=`	measure rest (followed by number of measures and a bar line)

Code	Notation	Note
`8-`		eighth-note rest
`2-`		half-note rest
`=`		single measure rest
`=35`		35 measures rest

Bar (measure) Lines

Code	Notation	Note
`/`		bar line
`//`		double bar line
`//:`		double bar line with repeat sign on the right
`://`		double bar line with repeat sign on the left
`://:`		double bar line with repeat sign on the left and on the right

Other Symbols

Code	Notation	Note
`t`		trill (immediately follows the note)
`+`		tie (immediately follows the note; only for notes of the same pitch, not for slurs)
`( )`		fermata (include only one note or rest; accidentals or octave symbols must be outside the parentheses. See also "Special rhythmic groupings" below.)

Beaming

Code	Note
`{`	beginning of beaming
`}`	end of beaming

Code	Notation
`{''6E'B8G}{GA}-''C{'3B8..G}`

Special Rhythmic Groupings

Code	Name
`(`	beginning of special group
`)`	end of special group

Before ( you must indicate the total value of the group.

After ( you must indicate the rhythmic value of the first note, even if it is equal to that of the group.

Before ) you must indicate the number of notes of the group, preceded by ;.

Code	Notation	Note
`4('6DEFGA;5)`		Quintuplet, 5 16th notes, in the space of a quarter note
`8({'3DEFGA};5)`		Quintuplet, 5 32nd notes, in the space of an eighth note, with beamed notes

The triplet is a special case; strictly speaking, it should be coded as follows:

                8(6ABC;3) or 8({6ABC};3)

Instead, the following shortcut is permitted:

                (6ABC) or ({6ABC})

The rhythmic value inside the parentheses is required.

Shortcuts

Repeated figures

Code	Name
`!`	beginning and end of passage
`f`	repetition indication of the notes that appear within !...!

The group will be repeated as many times as the f appears after the second !. Repetition is possible only within the same measure.

Code	Notation	Note
`!{'8ABAG}!ff`		repeat twice

Repeated measures

The symbol i repeats the last measure. It must always be included within bar lines.

Code	Notation	Note
`'4ABAG/i/i/`		repeat measure twice

Rhythmic sequence

When the same rhythmic sequence is repeated, the sequence of rhythmic values can be stated once before the note names.

Code	Notation	Note
`'8.68{AB''C}{DEF}`		instead of `{'8.A6B''8C}{8.D6E8F}` the code can be `'8.68{AB''C}{DEF}`. The rhythmic sequence ends when a new rhythmic value appears.

Change of Clef, Key Signature, Time Signature

Use % to change the clef, $ to change the key, and @ to change the time signature. Follow this with the new indication (clef, key, or time), followed by a space.

The introductory characters are mandatory.

Code	Notation
`%C-1 $bBEA @c '2A-//$xFC 8B-4-2-/@3/2 1C2-//`

Abbreviations

Notation abbreviations, such as tremolo, slash, etc., must be written out in full using the actual notation.

Code	Notation	Note
`{''8CCCC}`		Tremolo on C

Chords

Enter chords from the highest to the lowest note, each one separated by ^.

Code	Notation
`''2D^'A^xF`

Representations

There are several ways in which Plaine & Easie code can be expressed. The choice of representation depends on the environment in which you are using Plaine & Easie code, and the support of your software tools.

MARC21 and UNIMARC

The most common use of Plaine & Easie code is as part of a MARC (MAchine Readable Catalogue) record or UNIMARC (UNIversal MARC). The 031 MARC field is used to record incipits for bibliographic catalogues. For UNIMARC the 036 field is similarly used.

In MARC and UNIMARC records, the Plaine & Easie notation components are separated out into subfields. The specifics of this encoding are given in the MARC documentation, or in the UNIMARC documentation.

MARC21 and UNIMARC subfields for Plaine & Easie
Field	MARC21	UNIMARC
Clef	`$g`	`$m`
Key Signature	`$n`	`$n`
Time Signature	`$o`	`$o`
Musical Notation	`$p`	`$p`

Single-Line Text

Plaine & Easie code can be represented in a single, continuous line of text. This line MUST start with a declaration of the clef, key signature, and time signature, and they MUST be in that order. Each of these components are preceded by a delimiter character: % for clef, $ for key signature, and @ for time signature. There MUST NOT be a space between the components. There MUST be a space between these declarations and the notation.

                %G-2@3/2$bB =3/2--''A/2.F4G2A/AGG/1A/

Multi-Line Text with Field Delimiters

This format puts each component on its own line, separated by a newline character \n, and with the component field preceded by a @ symbol and followed by a colon :. There are five such fields: @clef, @keysig, @timesig, @key, and @data.

                @clef:G-2
                @timesig:3/2
                @keysig:bB
                @data:=3/2--''A/2.F4G2A/AGG/1A/

JavaScript Object Notation (JSON)

JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) is a key-value format that is easy to process in web browsers. Some tools may support Plaine & Easie encoding using JSON. The same field names as the multi-line format are used, but the preceding @ is dropped. Fields are separated by a comma.

                {
                    "clef": "G-2",
                    "timesig": "3/2",
                    "keysig": "bB",
                    "data": "=3/2--''A/2.F4G2A/AGG/1A/"
                }