Music21 Analysis - Multi-Interface Music Server

Professional music analysis with 4 different interfaces - MCP server, HTTP API, CLI tools, and Python library. Built on the powerful music21 library with protocol-independent architecture for maximum reliability.

🎯 Why Multiple Interfaces?

Based on 2025 research showing MCP has 40-50% production success rate, this project provides multiple pathways to the same powerful music21 analysis functionality:

• 📡 MCP Server - For Claude Desktop integration (when it works)
• 🌐 HTTP API - For web applications (reliable backup)
• 💻 CLI Tools - For automation (always works)
• 🐍 Python Library - For direct programming access

🎵 Core Music Analysis Features

Analysis Tools (13 Available)

• Import & Export: MusicXML, MIDI, ABC, Lilypond, music21 corpus
• Key Analysis: Multiple algorithms (Krumhansl, Aarden, Bellman-Budge)
• Harmony Analysis: Roman numerals, chord progressions, cadence detection
• Voice Leading: Parallel motion detection, voice crossing analysis
• Pattern Recognition: Melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic patterns

Advanced Capabilities

• Harmonization: Bach chorale and jazz style harmonization
• Counterpoint: Species counterpoint generation (1-5)
• Style Imitation: Learn and generate music in composer styles
• Score Manipulation: Transposition, time stretching, orchestration

🚀 Quick Start

Installation

Install from PyPI (Recommended)

# Install the package
pip install music21-mcp-server

# Start the server
music21-mcp          # MCP server for Claude Desktop
music21-http         # REST API at localhost:8000
music21-cli          # Interactive CLI
music21-analysis mcp          # Unified launcher (positional arg)

Install from Source

# Clone repository
git clone https://github.com/brightlikethelight/music21-mcp-server.git
cd music21-mcp-server

# Install with UV (recommended)
curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh
uv sync

# Or with pip
pip install .

# Configure music21 corpus
python -m music21.configure

Usage - Pick Your Interface

🎯 Show All Available Interfaces

python -m music21_mcp.launcher

📡 MCP Server (for Claude Desktop)

# Start MCP server
python -m music21_mcp.launcher mcp

# Configure Claude Desktop with:
# ~/.config/claude-desktop/config.json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "music21-analysis": {
      "command": "python",
      "args": ["-m", "music21_mcp.server_minimal"],
      "env": {
        "PYTHONPATH": "/path/to/music21-mcp-server/src"
      }
    }
  }
}

🌐 HTTP API Server (for web apps)

# Start HTTP API server
python -m music21_mcp.launcher http
# Opens: http://localhost:8000
# API docs: http://localhost:8000/docs

# Example usage:
curl -X POST "http://localhost:8000/scores/import" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"score_id": "chorale", "source": "bach/bwv66.6", "source_type": "c

... [View full README on GitHub](https://github.com/brightlikethelight/music21-mcp-server#readme)