---
name: "musicxml2ly"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "lilypond"
version: "1:2.26.0-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/musicxml2ly"
---

# musicxml2ly(1)

manual page for musicxml2ly (LilyPond) 2.26.0

## NAME

musicxml2ly - manual page for musicxml2ly (LilyPond) 2.26.0

## SYNOPSIS

**musicxml2ly** \[*OPTION*\]... *FILE*

## DESCRIPTION

Convert FILE with MusicXML data to a LilyPond input file.

By default, the output file is called 'FILE.ly' for input file 'FILE.xml'. If FILE is '-', read from standard input (and write to standard output).

If FILE cannot be found, 'FILE.xml', 'FILE.musicxml', and 'FILE.mxl' are also tried as input files.

## OPTIONS

- **-h**, **--help**

  show this help and exit

- **--version**

  show version number and exit

- **-v**, **--verbose**

  be verbose

- **--lxml**

  obsolete

- **-z**, **--compressed**

  input file is a compressed MusicXML file (by default, activate if file extension is .mxl)

- **-r**, **--relative**

  convert pitches in relative mode (default)

- **-a**, **--absolute**

  convert pitches in absolute mode

- **-l**, **--language**=*LANG*

  use LANG for pitch names, e.g., 'deutsch' for note names in German

- **--loglevel**=*LOGLEVEL*

  Print log messages according to LOGLEVEL (NONE, ERROR, WARN, PROGRESS (default), DEBUG)

- **--oe**, **--ottavas-end-early**=*t\[rue\]*/f\[alse\]

  expect \<octave-shift\> end elements before the associated \<note\> (as in Finale). Default is f\[alse\]

- **--nd**, **--no-articulation-directions**

  do not convert directions (^, \_ or -) for articulations, dynamics, etc.

- **--nrp**, **--no-rest-positions**

  do not convert exact vertical positions of rests

- **--nsb**, **--no-system-breaks**

  ignore system breaks

- **--npb**, **--no-page-breaks**

  ignore page breaks

- **--npm**, **--no-page-margins**

  ignore page margins

- **--npl**, **--no-page-layout**

  do not convert the exact page layout and breaks (shortcut for "--nsb **--npb** **--npm**" options)

- **--nsd**, **--no-stem-directions**

  ignore stem directions from MusicXML, use lilypond's automatic stemming instead

- **--ds**, **--dynamics-scale**=*FACTOR*

  scale \<dynamics\> elements by a non-negative FACTOR; value 0 means to use lilypond's standard size for dynamics

- **--afs**, **--absolute-font-sizes**

  use absolute font sizes in markup (default is to use font sizes based on score size)

- **--nb**, **--no-beaming**

  do not convert beaming information, use lilypond's automatic beaming instead

- **-o**, **--output**=*FILE*

  set output filename to FILE, stdout if -

- **-m**, **--midi**

  activate midi-block in .ly file

- **--cp**, **--credit-page**=*N*

  use \<credit\> information from page N to fill the fields of the \\header block. Default is value 1

- **--transpose**=*TOPITCH*

  set pitch to transpose by the interval between pitch 'c' and TOPITCH

- **--sd**, **--shift-durations**=*VALUE*

  shift durations and time signatures by VALUE; for example, value **-1** doubles all durations, and value 1 halves them

- **--sm**, **--shift-meter**=*BEATS*/BEATTYPE

  ignored; use \`--shift-duration\` instead

- **--tc**, **--tab-clef**=*TABCLEFNAME*

  switch between two versions of tab clefs ("tab" and "moderntab")

- **--sn**, **--string-numbers**=*t\[rue\]*/f\[alse\]

  control output of string numbers; value f\[alse\] disables them. Default is t\[rue\]

- **--fb**, **--fretboards**

  convert '\<frame\>' events to a separate FretBoards voice instead of markups

- **--book**

  put top-level score into '\\book'

- **--nt**, **--no-tagline**

  don't emit a LilyPond tagline

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs via bug-lilypond@gnu.org

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2005--2026 by

-

  Han-Wen Nienhuys \<hanwen@xs4all.nl\>, Jan Nieuwenhuizen \<janneke@gnu.org\>, Reinhold Kainhofer \<reinhold@kainhofer.com\>, Patrick L. Schmidt \<pls@philomelos.net\>, and Werner Lemberg \<wl@gnu.org\>

This program is free software.  It is covered by the GNU General Public License and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under certain conditions.  Invoke as \`lilypond **--warranty**' for more information.

## SEE ALSO

The full documentation for **musicxml2ly** is maintained as a Texinfo manual.  If the **info** and **musicxml2ly** programs are properly installed at your site, the command

-

  **info musicxml2ly**

should give you access to the complete manual.