mailto(gnu-music-discuss@gnu.org) COMMENT(-*-text-*-) redef(var)(1)(whenlatex(latexcommand({\normalfont\scshape )ARG1+latexcommand(}))\ whenhtml(sc(ARG1))) COMMENT( This document contains Mudela fragments. You need at least Yodl-1.30.18 to convert this to tex or html. TODO pipethrough(date) sucks. paragraphs have too much space. ) COMMENT( Mainly written by Han-Wen Nienhuys, with help of (among others) * Jan Nieuwenhuizen * Lambert Meertens, * Adrian Mariano * Mats Bengtsson ) htmlbodyopt(bgcolor)(white) htmlcommand() latexlayoutcmds( \topmargin -0.25in \textheight 53\baselineskip \advance\textheight by \topskip \marginparwidth 1 in % Width of marginal notes. \oddsidemargin 0.25 in % Note that \oddsidemargin = \evensidemargin \evensidemargin 0.25 in \marginparwidth 0.75 in \textwidth 5.875 in % Width of text line. \input mudela-book ) whenlatex(notableofcontents()) whentexinfo(notableofcontents()) article(Mudela -- Using LilyPond to typeset music) (Han-Wen Nienhuys and Jan Nieuwenhuizen) (nop()PIPETHROUGH(date "+%B %d, %Y")()()nop()) latexcommand(\def\interexample{}) latexcommand(\def\preexample{\par}) latexcommand(\def\postexample{\par\medskip}) latexcommand(\def\file#1{{code(#1)}}) whenhtml( includefile(html-disclaimer.yo-urg) ) sect(Introduction) label(tutorial:introduction) latexcommand(\parindent2pc) LilyPond is a program that can print music from a specification that you, the user, supply. Using LilyPond may be a bit quaint in the beginning, because you have to give that specification using a em(language). This document is a gentle introduction to that language, which is called Mudela, an abbreviation for Music Definition Language. We will demonstrate the working of Mudela by presenting examples of input alongside with the resulting output. We will comment on these examples using English terms for notation, so if you are not familiar with these terms, you should consult the glossary that is distributed with LilyPond: it contains a list of musical terms along with explanations and translations in some other languages. sect(The first tune) label(sec:firsttune) To demonstrate what LilyPond input looks like, we start off with a full fledged, yet simple, example. It is a convoluted version of one of the menuets in bind(J.)bind(S.)Bach's em(Clavierbuchlein). mudela(verbatim)( % lines preceded by a percent are comments. \include "paper16.ly" \score { \notes \relative c'' { \key g; \time 3/4; \repeat "semi" 2 { d4 g,8 a b c d4 g, g | e'4 c8 d e fis g4 g, g | c4 d8( )c b a( )b4 c8 b a g | a4 b8 a g fis g2. | } b'4 g8 a b g a4 d,8 e fis d | g4 e8 fis g d cis4 b8 cis a4 | a8-. b-. cis-. d-. e-. fis-. g4 fis e | fis a, r8 cis8 d2.-\fermata \bar "|."; } \paper { linewidth = 14.0 \cm; % standard settings are too wide for a book } }) Before we will discuss the contents of the above, it would be best if you would try to enter and save this text with a text editor, compile it with LilyPond and view the output. Details of this procedure may vary from system to system. On a Unix system, you should enter the input in a file ending in file(.ly), such as file(menuet.ly). To create the output, one would issue code(ly2dvi menuet). file(ly2dvi) is a little program that does the job of calling the LilyPond and TeX() and adjusting page margins. If all goes well, this will create the output file file(menuet.dvi). To view this output, issue the command code(xdvi menuet). Now that we are familiar with the procedure to view the output, we will analyse the input itself, line by line. verb(% lines preceded by a percent are comments.)COMMENT( )The percent sign, `code(%)', introduces a line comment. If you want to make larger comments, you can use block comments. These are delimited by `code(%{)' and `code(%})'COMMENT( )verb(\input "paper16.ly")COMMENT( )By default, LilyPond will use definitions for a staff of 20 nop(point)footnote(A point is the standard measure of length for printing. One point is 1/72.27 inch.) high. If you want smaller output (e.g., 16 point), you have to import the settings for that size. You can do this by including a file. code(\include "file") is replaced by the contents of code(file). LilyPond will inspect the standard search path to look for the requested file.COMMENT( )verb(\score { ) COMMENT( ) A mudela file combines music with directions for outputting that music. The music is combined with the output directions by putting them into a code(\score) block. verb( \notes ) COMMENT( )This makes LilyPond ready for accepting notes. verb( \relative c'' )COMMENT( ) As we will see, pitches are combinations of octave, note name and chromatic alteration. In this scheme, the octave is indicated by using raised quotes (`code(')') and ``lowered'' quotes (commas: `code(,)'). The central C is denoted by code(c'). The C one octave higher is code(c''). One and two octaves below central C is denoted by code(c) and code(c,) respectively. If you have to indicate the pitches in a long piece that is written in either a high or very low octave, you would have to type very many quotes. To remedy this, LilyPond has a so-called ``relative'' octave entry mode. In this mode, notes without quotes are chosen in such an octave that they are the closest to the preceding note. If you add a high-quote an extra octave is added. The lowered quote will substract an extra octave. Because the first note obviously has no predecessor, you have to give the (absolute) pitch of the note to start with. COMMENT( )verb( { % sequential music follows )COMMENT( ) The brace indicates that what follows is sequential music, i.e., notes that are to be played and printed after each other. This is in contrast with simultaneous music: notes that are to be played like a chord. You should be careful not to confuse this brace with the one coming after code(\score).COMMENT( )verb( \time 3/4; % set the time signature. ) COMMENT( ) This command changes the time signature of the current piece: this prints a 3/4 sign. The 3/4 value is also used to generate bar lines in the right spots. verb( \key g; ) COMMENT( ) This command changes the current key to G-major. Although this command comes after the code(\time) command, in the output, the key comes before the time signature: LilyPond knows about music typesetting conventions. verb( \repeat "semi" 2 { ) COMMENT( ) This command tells LilyPond that the enclosed piece of music must be played twice. verb( d4 ) COMMENT( ) This is a code(d) note. The relative music was started with a code(c''), the real pitch of this note is code(d''). The 4 designates the duration of the note (it is a quarter note). COMMENT( )verb( a b )COMMENT( )These are notes with pitch code(a') and code(b'). Because their duration is the same as the code(g), there is no need to enter the duration (It is not illegal to enter it anyway. You would then enter code(a4 b4)) COMMENT( )verb( d4 g, g | ) COMMENT( ) Three more notes: The code(|) is a ``barcheck''. When processing the music, LilyPond will check that barchecks are found at the start of a measure. This can help you track down notes you forgot to enter. verb( e'4 c8 d e fis ) COMMENT( ) So far, no notes were chromatically altered. Here is the first one that is: code(fis). Mudela by default uses Dutch note names, and ``Fis'' is the Dutch note name for ``F sharp''. However, there is no sharp sign in the output. The program keeps track of key signatures, and will only print accidentals if they are needed. verb( c4 d8( )c b a( )b4 c8 b a g | ) COMMENT( ) The next line shows how to make a slur: the beginning and ending note of the slur is marked with an opening and closing parenthesis respectively. In the line shown above this is done for two slurs. Note that parentheses (slur markers) are between the notes. COMMENT(As you can see, parentheses do not have to nest.) verb( a4 b8 a g fis g2. | ) COMMENT( ) A duration that is to be augmented with a duration dot, is notated with a duration number followed by periods, as many as you want augmentation dots. verb( } ) COMMENT( ) The end of the repeated music. LilyPond will typset a repeat bar. verb( cis'4 b8 cis a4 | ) COMMENT( ) This line shows that Lily will print an accidental if that is needed: the first C sharp will be printed with an accidental, the second one without. COMMENT( )verb( a8-. b-. cis-. d-. e-. fis-. )COMMENT( )There is more to music than pitches and rhythms. An important aspect is articulation. You can enter articulation signs either in a verbose in abbreviated for. Here we demonstrate the abbreviated form: it is formed by a dash and the the character for the articulation to use, e.g. code(-.) for staccato as shown above. COMMENT( )verb( fis a, r8 cis8 ) COMMENT( ) Rests are denoted by the special notename code(r). You can also make an invisible rest by using the special notename code(s). verb( d2.-\fermata ) COMMENT( ) All articulations have a verbose form, like code(\fermata). The ``command'' COMMENT(Hi Adrian :-) code(\fermata) is not part of the core of the language (most of the other discussed elements are), but it is an abbreviation of a more complicated description of a fermata. code(\fermata) names that description and is therefore called an em(identifier). verb( } ) COMMENT( ) This ends the sequential music. verb(\paper { linewidth = 14.0\cm; }) This specifies a conversion from music to notation output. Most of the details of this conversions (font sizes, dimensions, etc.) have been taken care of, but to fit the output in this document, it has to be smaller. We do this by setting the line width to 10 centimeters (approximately 4 inches). COMMENT( )verb( } )COMMENT( )The last brace ends the code(\score) block. There are a couple of things to note here. The input format tries to capture the meaning of em(music), and not notation. Therefore the format contains musical concepts like pitches and durations, instead of symbols and positions. Second, the format tries to be em(context-free): a note will sound the same regardless of the current time signature, the key nop(etc.) The purpose of LilyPond informally is explained by the term `music typesetter'. As you may have figured out by now, this is not a really adequate name: not only does the program print musical symbols, it also tries to make esthetic decisions, and it also em(generates) both the symbols and the decisions from a high-level musical description. In other words, the function of LilyPond would be best described by `music compiler' or `music to notation compiler'. As you can see, the most interesting part of the input is music itself, in this case the sequence of notes. We will therefore focus on entering music for now. Consequently, when we mean verb(\score { \notes { XXXX } \paper { } })COMMENT( ) we will leave out the the repetitive details for now and only print code(XXXX). sect(When you know the notes to nop(print)ellipsis()) The basic building block of music is the note. We lightly touched notes in the previous example. Here comes the full explanation A note is made of a pitch and a duration. The pitch of the central C is written as code(c'). This is in line with musicological notation; there this pitch is transcribed as nop(c)sups(1) or c'. A quarter-note duration is written as code(4). So, to print a quarter note whose pitch is central C, you enter the following code(c'4). subsect(Duration) The duration of a note is specified as a number: a whole note is denoted by 1, a half note by 2, a quarter by 4, and so on. If you want to augment a duration with a dot, simply affix a period to the number. You can also print notes longer than a whole. You do this by using identifiers (code(\breve) and code(\longa)): Here are some random notes to show how it works. verb( c'\longa c'\breve c'1 c'2 c'4 c'8 c'16 c'32 c'64 c'64 c'2. c'8. c'16 ) COMMENT( \score { \notes { c'\longa c'\breve c'1 c'2 c'4 c'8 c'16 c'32 c'64 c'64 c'2. c'8. c'16 } \paper { linewidth = -1.0; \translator { \type "Score_engraver"; \name "Score"; \consists "Note_heads_engraver"; \consists "Stem_engraver"; \consists "Rhythmic_column_engraver"; }}} ) subsect(Basic pitches) The pitch code(c') consists of two parts: one part for the note name, and one for the octave. The letter specifies which note name to use: note names simply are the letters code(a) to code(g). The number of apostrophes specifies the octave to use: the central C is denoted by code(c').footnote(By convention, the A above central C at concert pitch is the tone that is used to tune instruments. Its frequency is about 440 Hz.) The C which is an eighth higher (the C in the ``two-line octave'') is denoted by code(c''): every octave adds a quote. A note name without quotes designates the pitch below code(c') (the C in the ``small octave''). If you want to go down even further, commas (sunken apostrophes) should be added, e.g., the C in the ``contra octave'' is expressed as code(c,,). This example demonstrates pitches mudela(fragment,verbatim,center)( c,,4 c, c c' c'' c''' d'4 e'4 f'4 g'4 ) subsect(Alterations) We have so far ignored chromatically altered pitches. The names `a' to `g' for entering pitches are convenient: they are short, pronounceable and they resemble the words for pitches in normal musical vocabulary. Enter flats and sharps. In English there is no standard terse word for C sharp or C flat. For this reason, mudela uses a different, non-English convention for entering altered pitches: a note is made sharp by adding the suffix `--is' to its name, and flat by adding the suffix `--es'. For a double sharp another `--is' suffix is added, for flats another `--es' nop(suffix.) footnote(Variations on this convention are used in a number of germanic languages, notably Dutch, German, Swedish, and Norwegian.) The names for the alterations of C are given in bind(Table)ref(notename-tab). latexcommand(\begin{table}[h]) center( table(2)(ll)( row(cell(English)cell(LilyPond)) rowline() row(cell(c double flat)cell(ceses)) row(cell(c flat)cell(ces)) row(cell(c natural)cell(c)) row(cell(c sharp)cell(cis)) row(cell(c double sharp)cell(cisis)) ) ) latexcommand(\caption{Default note names}) label(notename-tab) latexcommand(\end{table}) Throughout this document we will continue to use these names.footnote( Mudela defaults to Dutch notenames. To make (Dutch) pronunciation easier, the a-flat and e-flat are contracted to code(as) and code(es). Similarly, the a double flat and e double flat are contracted to code(ases) and code(eses). For consistency, the dutch names also include code(aes), code(aeses), code(ees) and code(eeses)) If you are not comfortable with these names, you can make your own. Note names for different languages are included with the example initialisation files, amongst others English (C sharp is abbreviated to code(cs)), Italian, Swedish and Norwegian. If you want to use these names, issue code(\include "LANGUAGE.ly") where you could substitute code(italiano), code(deutsch) etc. for LANGUAGE. You should include these files at toplevel, i.e., before opening a code(\score) block. sect(Chords) The previous examples all notes that were to be played sequentially, one note following the other. You can also use LilyPond to typeset chords. You do this by expressing in mudela simultaneous music, i.e., notes that are to be played concurrently. subsect(Where the chords have no names) In Mudela you can form simultaneous music by enclosing notes in pointed parentheses, bind(i.e.)bind(langle())bind(and)rangle(). ASCII doesn't really have these delimiters, so Mudela uses the larger-than (code(>)) and smaller-than (code(<)) signs instead. For example, a D-major chord is expressed as mudela(fragment,verbatim,center)( ) Chords can be entered in the music in the same places that notes can. As an example we give a snippet of ``Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'' in chords. The chords may seem slightly unconventional, but they only serve to show how chords work. We've aligned the chords in the input on their starting beat to help you reading it. This layout does not influence the typesetting result in any way. mudela(verbatim, fragment)( \relative c' { \time 2/4; c4 c } ) There is one thing to note, in sequences of chords, the (relative) pitch of a is taken with reference to the first note of the previous chord. You can nest simultaneous and sequential music in any way you want, e.g., COMMENT( )mudela(verbatim,fragment,center)( < { g''4 g''4 } { c'8 c' } > )COMMENT( ) As you can see, LilyPond has difficulty typesetting this elegantly. To adequately solve this, you have to persuade LilyPond to make separate stems for both sequential music lists. This is a topic that is covered in bind(Section)ref(sec:polyphonic). [Chords and relative mode] subsect(Chords with names) In the previous section we have been talking more about `stacked notes' rather than `chords'. If you need to enter a lot of chords that have proper names, you can use the code(\chords) mode as an alternative: COMMENT( )mudela(verbatim,fragment,center)( \chords\transpose c''{ c1 d e } ) COMMENT( URG? \chords\relative c''{ c1 d e } ) subsect(Names with chords) A more common problem is the typesetting of chord names. LilyPond has a special kind of staff for this, the code(ChordNames) staff. The code(ChordNames) staff accepts music like a normal staff, but typesets only the name of each chord: COMMENT( )mudela(verbatim,center)( \score{ \context ChordNames { \chords { c1 d-min e-maj5+.9 } \notes\relative c { } } \paper{ linewidth=-1.0; } } ) Because the ChordNames staff accepts normal music, it can be transposed, and you may enter it any way you like, either as chords or as notes. sect(Adding nuances: articulation and dynamics) Music can have articulation, dynamics (louder and softer), etc. These aspecs have notation, so LilyPond can print those. We'll start out by explaining how to obtain the smallest grains of nuance: the articulation of a single note. Articulation is entered by writing a dash and the name of the desired articulation mark. You have to add a backslash in front of the name to distinguish it from the name of a note. COMMENT( )mudela(fragment,verbatim)( c''4-\staccato c''4-\tenuto )COMMENT( ) Typing a lot of staccato notes in this syntax will get tedious very quickly. Therefore, Mudela has handy abbreviations for articulation marks such as staccato and tenuto. They are shown in the following example: COMMENT( )mudela()( \score{ < \property Score.textstyle = typewriter \context Staff \notes { c''4-. c''4-- c''4-+ c''4-| c''4-> c''4-^ } \context Lyrics\lyrics { "."4 "-" "+" "|" ">" "\^{ }" } > \paper { linewidth = -1.\cm; } })COMMENT( )Text and digits for fingering can be entered in the same manner: add a dash and the text or digit to be printed: COMMENT( )mudela(fragment,verbatim)(c''4-1 g''4-5 c''-"Sul tasto" ) COMMENT(Currently, the meaning of the syntax `note-dash-digit/articulation/text' is ``add a superscript to this note.'' This is not in line with our goal to em (define) music with Mudela. We hope that this will be fixed in a future version of the language. In the meantime you can abuse this: the super- and subscripts can be forced into up or down position respectively by entering an a caret (code(^)) or an underscore, code (_) instead of the dash: mudela (fragment,verbatim,center) ( c'4-^ c'4^^ c'''4-^ c'''4_^ )) Dynamic markings are another way to add a nuance to a note. They are entered by adding the name for the dynamic sign after the note. You should not enter a dash between the name and the note.footnote(This is inconsistent. We hope that this will be fixed in a later version of the language.)COMMENT( )mudela(verbatim,fragment)( c4 \ff c4 \fp c4 c4 \ppp c4 c4 \sfz )COMMENT( UGH ) sect(Bridging the notes: beams, slurs and ties) Music typesetting does not use fixed symbols only. A lot of symbols are variable: they run from one note to another. In LilyPond terminology, such a symbol is called a em(spanner). To print a spanner, you have to attach a marker to the note that begins it and to the one that ends it. These are the spanners that are entered like this: description( dit(Slur) The slur has the opening parenthesis as start marker is. The stopping marker is the closing parenthesis. For example: mudela(fragment,center,verbatim)( c'4( )c'4 ) The slur is flexible: you can nest nop(slurs,)footnote(This is inconsistent when compared to the syntax for articulation hints. This will be fixed some time, we hope.) and you can connect a note with a slur on both the left and the right side: mudela(fragment,verbatim,center)( c'4(( )c''4 )c'4( )g'4 ) dit(Beam) The starting marker for the beam is the opening bracket, the ending marker is the closing bracket. The brackets have to be em(around) the beamed notes. footnote(Strictly speaking, a beam is not a musical concept: beaming doesn't change the meaning of music, it only clarifies the rhythmic structure. One might argue that beams should not be present in a music representation language. Unfortunately, LilyPond is not smart enough to insert beams into music on its own. LilyPond does have code that guesses what the pattern should look like, so that you don't have to specify the beaming for complicated patterns. Alas, the algorithm used is not foolproof yet: code([c8. c32 c32]) will produce incorrect results.) mudela(fragment,verbatim)( [c'8 c'] [c'16 c' c' c'] [c'16. c'32 c' c'16.] ) The brackets themselves have no duration, so they are grammatically equivalent to the barcheck. dit(Tie) LilyPond's tie is entered as a tilde, `code(~)', in analogy with TeX()'s tie (which ties together words with a space), The tie is similar to the slur: it looks like a slur, but a slur connects whole chords, whereas the tie connects note heads. The following example demonstrates the use of ties: mudela(fragment,verbatim,center)( c''1 ~ c''4 ~ ) Since the tie is thought to be inbetween the notes, it has no duration, and is grammatically equivalent to the barcheck. dit(Hairpins) Crescendi and decrescendi can be printed in hairpin style. The starting marker for the crescendo is code(\<), and for the decrescendo code(\>). Both have code(\!) as the ending marker. mudela(fragment, verbatim)( \relative c'' { c4 \< \! c4 \> \! c2 < c1 { s4 \< \! s4 \> \! s2 } > } ) This example shows a trick: by attaching the markings to space rests that run parallel to the whole note, you can have dynamic markings within a note. ) It is your job to make sure that each spanner that you start, also ends. If it doesn't, then Bad Things are likely to happen. If you end spanners that are not started, LilyPond will warn you about illegal ending markers. sect(Commands) label(sec:commands) Music notation constructs with no duration, like clefs and key signatures, can be entered by inserting various commands between the music. The general form of these commands is COMMENT( )center(code(\keyword argument argument ... ;))COMMENT( )These are the commands that are currently supported in alfabetic order: description( dit(code(\bar) var(bartype)) This command makes LilyPond print special bar lines and repeat symbols. You can also use it to allow line breaks when entering cadenzas. The argument var(bartype) is a string that describes what kind of bar line to print. COMMENT( )mudela(fragment,verbatim)( \bar "|:"; c'4 \bar ":|:"; c'4 \bar ":|"; c'4 \bar "||"; c'4 \bar "empty"; c'4 \bar "|."; )COMMENT( )The command `code(\bar "empty")' does not create any visible bar line, but it tells LilyPond to allow a linebreak at that position. The `code(\bar)' command prints the specified symbol where you enter it. If you give a `code(\bar)' command at the end of a measure then the specified symbol replaces the automatic bar line. The code(\bar) command does not affect metric structure. dit(code(\cadenza) var(togglevalue)) This command toggles the automatic printing of barlines. `code(\cadenza 1)' turns off the automatically generated bar lines. They are switched on again with `code(\cadenza 0)'. Then a bar line is printed, and LilyPond will act as if you are again at the start of a measure. This is useful when typesetting music without a meter (such as an ad libitum cadenza). dit(code(\clef) var(clefname)) This command sets the current clef for notation, i.e., a clef symbol is printed and the notes following this command are shifted vertically. The argument is a string, the name of the new clef. The default clef is the treble clef. mudela(fragment,verbatim)( \clef "bass"; c'4 \clef "treble"; c'4 \clef "alto"; c'4 ) dit(code(\key) var(pitch) var(type)) This command changes the current key signature. The key signature is printed at the start of every line. The var(type) argument is an integer. Useful values are available as the predefined identifiers code(\major) and code(\minor). Omitting the second argument gives major keys. The key of C-minor can thus be specified as `code(\key es)' or `code(\key c \minor)'. dit(code(\keysignature) var(pitchlist)) This command changes the current key signature. Unlike the `code(\key)' command, this command can produce arbitrary key signatures, which can be useful for unconventional keys or modes. The key signature is given in the form of a list of notes. The notes will be printed in the key signature in the order that they appear on the list. For example, the key of C-minor can be specified as `code(\keysignature bes es as)'. The command `code(\keysignature fis es bis)' provides a more exotic example. dit(code(\time) var(numerator)code(/)var(denominator)) This command changes the current time signature. The default value for this time signature is common time (4/4). dit(code(\partial) var(duration)) This command allows you to make upsteps at the start of a piece. The var(duration) argument has the same form as the duration of a note. The `code(\partial)' command cannot be used to generate partial measures in the middle of the music. Example: mudela(fragment,verbatim)( \time 4/4; \partial 4; [d'8 dis'] e' c''4 e'8 c''4 ) ) The commands described above do not give music that you could hear, but within the language, they are "Music": they are grammatically equivalent to notes, so they can appear in the same places as notes. sect(Notation context) In bind(Section)ref(tutorial:more-staffs) it was explained that there are more ways to notate a simple chord: as a single voice on a single staff or in multiple staffs (and we'll soon see, that you can typeset it as multiple voices on a staff). Obviously the concept of staff is not really something musical. But what is it then? The most simplistic explanation is: a staff is a graphic peculiarity of the notation system. In other words, a staff is a picture of five lines on which one can print note heads. We will call this view on the concept of staff `staff symbol' from now on. But there is more to a staff than the symbol. A staff contains---besides a staff symbol--- more components: COMMENT( )itemize( it()A staff can have a key signature (printed at the left) it()A staff can have a time signature (printed at the left) it()A staff has bar lines it()A staff has a clef (printed at the left) ) COMMENT( ) To explain what a staff really is, we'll try to print music without these components. Without those, it is still possible to print music: mudela()(\score{ \notes \relative c' { \time 2/4; g'4 c,4 a'4 f4 e c d2 } \paper { linewidth = -1.; \translator { \StaffContext \remove "Time_signature_engraver"; \remove "Bar_engraver"; \remove "Staff_symbol_engraver"; \remove "Clef_engraver"; \remove "Key_engraver"; } } })COMMENT( ) As you can see, you can still make out the general form of the melody and the rhythm that is to be played, but the notation is difficult to read. Moreover, the musical information is not complete. The stress pattern in the notes can't be deduced from this output. For this, we need a time signature: mudela()( \score { \notes \relative c' { \time 2/4; g'4 c,4 a'4 f4 e c d2 } \paper{ linewidth = -1.; \translator{ \StaffContext \remove "Bar_engraver"; \remove "Staff_symbol_engraver"; \remove "Clef_engraver"; \remove "Key_engraver"; }} }) COMMENT( )Technically speaking you can find out where the strong and weak beats are, but it is difficult to find them quickly. Bar lines help you in finding the location of the notes within the measure: mudela()( \score { \notes \relative c' { \time 2/4; g'4 c,4 a'4 f4 e c d2 } \paper{ linewidth = -1.; \translator{ \StaffContext \remove "Staff_symbol_engraver"; \remove "Clef_engraver"; \remove "Key_engraver";} } } ) We can remedy part of the difficulties with reading pitches by adding a staff symbol: mudela()(\score{ \notes\relative c' { \time 2/4; g'4 c,4 a'4 f4 e c d2 } \paper { linewidth = -1.; \translator { \StaffContext \remove "Clef_engraver"; \remove "Key_engraver"; } } })COMMENT( ) This makes the output decidedly easier to read, but you still don't know what the pitches of the notes above are. So this is still not enough. But suppose you see the following notation: mudela()(\score { \notes \relative c' {\clef alto; \time 2/4; g'4 c,4 a'4 f4 e c d2 } \paper { linewidth = -1.; } })COMMENT( ) Now you know the pitch of the notes: you look at the start of the line and see a clef, and with this clef, you can determine the notated pitches. You have found the em(context) in which the notation is to be interpreted! So the context determines the relationship between a piece of music and its notation: you, the reader, use context to deduce music from notation. Because LilyPond writes notation, context works the other way around for LilyPond: with context a piece of music can be converted to notation. We see that a staff forms context, and that context is needed to convert between notation and music. In LilyPond we turn around this reasoning: LilyPond has a notion of notation context, and the staff is an example of a notation context. In fact, the arguments of the code(\context) command (Staff, GrandStaff) were all names of different contexts. A notation context is a conversion between music and notation. We make one final observation before listing the standard notation contexts: a score can contain many staffs and a staff can contain many voices. This suggests that notation contexts are objects that can contain other notation contexts. The following is a list in alfabetic order of the contexts that are supported by LilyPond. Each notation context is characterised by its name, the notation elements it creates, and the contexts that it can contain. description( dit(GrandStaff) A code(GrandStaff) context contains code(Staff) contexts, and it adds a brace to the output at the nop(left.)footnote(The GrandStaff is limited, LilyPond can not do cross staff beaming and slurring.) A code(GrandStaff) context can contain code(Staff)s. Typically, it will contain two code(Staff)s, one treble staff, and one bass staff. The bar lines of the contained staffs are connected vertically. dit(Lyrics) As its name suggests, The code(Lyrics) context deals with typesetting lyrics. This topic will be covered in bind(Section)ref(tutorial:lyrics). dit(Score) The code(Score) context is the toplevel context: no context can contain a code(Score) context. The code(Score) context handles the administration of time signatures. It also makes sure that items such as clefs, time signatures, and key-signatures are aligned in columns across staffs. The code(Score) can contain code(Staff), code(StaffGroup), code(Lyrics), code(GrandStaff) and code(RhythmicStaff) contexts. dit(RhythmicStaff) The code(RhythmicStaff) context is like the staff, but much simpler: the notes are printed on one line, and pitches are ignored. code(RhythmicStaff) can contain code(Voice) contexts. dit(Staff) The code(Staff) context handles clefs, bar lines, keys, accidentals. A code(Staff) context can contain code(Voice) contexts. dit(StaffGroup) A code(StaffGroup) context contains code(Staff) or code(Lyrics) contexts, and prints a bracket at the left. The bar lines in the participating staffs are connected. dit(Voice) The code(Voice) context is a context that corresponds to a voice on a staff. This context handles the conversion of noteheads, dynamic signs, stems, beams, super- and subscripts, slurs, ties and rests COMMENT(do ChoireStaff) ) If you are familiar with structured documents, you might see the analogy of a context with a stylesheet: a stylesheet is neither presentation nor information, but rather a recipe em(how) a specific piece of information should be presented. The big difference with stylesheets is that in music notation the elements provided by context are essential to understanding what is notated. The notions of ``current clef'' and ``current position within the measure'' are all properties of notation contexts. Commands like code(\clef) and code(\cadenza) change these properties, and this explains why they are fundamentally different from musical expressions like notes and rests. A notation context is not a primitive element of LilyPond: in bind(Section)ref(tutorial:engravers) it will be explained how you can form your own notation contexts. sect(Nested music: multiple staffs) label(tutorial:more-staffs) Now we explain how to typeset music that runs in multiple staffs. Consider the following---unrealistic---example: mudela(fragment)( \context GrandStaff ) In this example the music consists of two notes. The above would sound the same if it were written as a single chord on a single staff, i.e., COMMENT( )mudela(fragment)( )COMMENT( ) The Mudela construct for multiple staffs reflects the similarity between the two examples: to get multiple staffs in Mudela you enter a chord, with an additional instruction to tell LilyPond that the chord does not represent notes stacked together, but staffs stacked together. If a piece of music is to be interpreted as a staff, then this can be expressed with the code(\context) construct. The following input says ``the quarter note with pitch e should be put on a staff.'' verb( \context Staff e'4 )COMMENT( ) The same can be done for the other note, i.e., verb( \context Staff g4 ) COMMENT( ) If you want to stack these staffs, you must create a chord of both: verb( < \context Staff e'4 \context Staff g4 > ) This looks reasonable, but the effect of this input is not what you might expect: mudela(fragment)( < \context Staff e'4 \context Staff g4 > )COMMENT( ) Since there are no names specified for the desired staffs, LilyPond thinks your wishes are fullfilled by putting the code(g) on the same staff as the code(e). The correct solution is to label both staffs with different names, for example code(trebleStaff) and code(bassStaff). This makes LilyPond distinguish between them, and create two staffs: mudela(verbatim,fragment)( < \context Staff = trebleStaff e'4 \context Staff = bassStaff g4 > )COMMENT( ) The names that you choose do not matter as long as they are different. This is almost right, except for the brace at the left and the clef of the second staff. If you want a brace, then you have to tell LilyPond that the chord you formed is to be interpreted as a so-called grand staff. This is also done with the code(\context) command. The bass clef is made with a clef command: COMMENT( ) mudela(verbatim,fragment)( \context GrandStaff < \context Staff = treblestaff e'4 \context Staff = bassstaff { \clef "bass"; g4 } >)COMMENT( ) sect(Polyphonic music (or: Notation context properties)) label(sec:polyphonic) In the section on notation contexts we explained that a notation context can have properties that influence the conversion from music to notation. A simple example of such a property is the clef: the type of a clef helps determines the vertical position of note heads in a staff. Some of these properties can be modified by commands such as code(\clef) and code(\time). But notation contexts can have other properties, that are settable in a generic fashion. We will demonstrate this feature by printing multiple voices on a staff. Printing more than one voice on a staff is like printing multiple staffs stacked together. This suggests that the template to follow is this:COMMENT( )verb( \context Staff < \context Voice = one ... \context Voice = two ... > ) COMMENT( ) On the ellipsis there should be music going from left to right, in other words, notes enclosed in braces. Let us try the following counterpoint:COMMENT( )mudela(fragment,verbatim)( \context "Staff" < \context "Voice" = "one" { r4 as'4 () as'4 g'4 } \context "Voice" = "two" { g'2 f'4 e'4 } >) As you can see the result is not perfect. The notes on the last two beats look like plain chords and not like separate voices. What really happened was that the stems of the upper and lower voices were printed on top of each other. To remedy this, engravers traditionally make the stems of the lower voice point down, and the stems of the upper up, as shown in bind(Figure)ref(tutorial:multi-voice-fig). Surely the direction of a single stem is a property of the stem as a graphical object. But the fact that all of the stems in a voice point in the same direction is not directly graphical. Since this is a property shared by all the stems in the voice, this property is a property of the context code(Voice). The context code(Voice) has an attribute whose value is the direction to use for stems. You can change it to `up' by issuing the following phrase: verb( \property "Voice"."verticalDirection" = "1" ) This command should be read as ``change the property called code(verticalDirection) within the current code(Voice) context to the value code(-1).'' For the property code(verticalDirection) the value code(1) means `up', and code(-1) means `down'. So, the proper way to code the polyphonic example is given in bind(Figure)ref(tutorial:multi-voice-fig). latexcommand(\begin{figure}[h]) mudela(fragment,verbatim,center)( \context "Staff" < \context "Voice" = "one" { \property Voice.verticalDirection = "1" r4 as'4 () as'4 g'4 } \context "Voice" = "two" { \property Voice.verticalDirection = "-1" g'2 f'4 e'4 } > ) latexcommand(\caption{Multiple voices}) label(tutorial:multi-voice-fig) latexcommand(\end{figure}) As you can see, this property also controls the directions of slurs. Other properties can also be set, and they can be within different contexts. In general, you can set a property by specifying code(\property) var(contexttype)code(.)var(propertyname) code(=) var(value). Both var(contexttype), var(propertyname) and var(value) should be strings. The effect of a property is pretty much hardwired into the implementation (and thus subject to change), so we will not deal with all the possible properties in detail. Among other characteristics that can be set are the layout of slurs and beams. The initialisation file file(property.ly) and the reference manual contain explanations of all properties. sect(Lyrics) label(tutorial:lyrics) Since a lyrics can have durations like notes, we consider them to be music too. Entering lyrics in mudela has two aspects. First, you have to enter the text, i.e., the syllables along with their durations. After this, you have to specify how to convert these to graphics. Lyrics consist of syllables, which are strings together with durations. For entering lyrics we have to instruct LilyPond that what we enter are not note names but strings. This instruction is the keyword code(\lyrics). After entering this keyword you can enter a musical construct---sequential music, simultaneous music, code(\context) entries, etc.--- but with syllables instead of pitches. For example: COMMENT( )verb(\lyrics { 'got8 me on my knees4, Le-8 lie! })COMMENT( ) Next comes the conversion to notation. LilyPond can't (yet) figure out that lyrics need different treatment than notes. As a result, the default conversion will try to put the text you entered as note heads onto a staff, and this will fail. This default must be overridden with a code(\context) keyword. Printing syllables of text in a line is done by a context called code(Lyrics). You can select this context with the code(\context) keyword. Here is a simple example with output: COMMENT( )mudela(fragment,verbatim)( \context Lyrics \lyrics { 'got8 me on my knees,4 Le-8 lie! })COMMENT( )The result is technically correct, but it needs a melody to make it perfor0mable: COMMENT( )mudela(fragment,verbatim)( < \context Staff { \property Voice.beamAuto = "0" % no beams in melody c''8. c''16 bes'8. a'16 g'4 f'8 g'4. } \context Lyrics \lyrics { 'got8. me16 on8. my16 knees,4 Le-8 lie!4. } > ) COMMENT( ) The strings that makes up each syllable in the lyrics block are passed along to TeX() verbatim, so if you are proficient with TeX() you can do various nifty things. Keep in mind that a syllable either starts with a letter (a character in the range `code(a)' to `code(z)' or `code(A)' to `code(Z)'), or it is a string enclosed double quotes. It ends with either a number for the duration, or a space. These tricks are demonstrated in the following example: COMMENT( urg \context Lyrics \lyrics { 'got8 m\textbf{e}8 on8. m$\cal_Y$16 knees,4 Le-8 lie!4.} \context Lyrics \lyrics { 'got8 m{\bf e}4 on8. m$\cal_Y$16 knees,4 Le-8 lie!4.} )COMMENT( )mudela(fragment,verbatim)(< \context Staff { \property Voice.beamAuto = "0" % no beams in melody c''8. c''16 bes'8. a'16 g'4 f'8 g'4. } \context Lyrics \lyrics { 'got8 me8 on8. m$\cal_Y$16 "3s,"4 Le-8 lie!4.} > )COMMENT( ) COMMENT(Groen is de kleur van geluk. Dat geldt zeker voor Bj"ork) sect(Toplevel Mudela) Back in bind(Section)ref(sec:firsttune) we said we would ignore toplevel constructions (e.g., code(\score)) until a later moment. Now we will look at these constructions. Mudela allows you to name constructs of the language. This is done by using an em(identifier). Generally you can define an identifier by entering code(identifierName = ... ) where there can be a variety of things on the ellipsis. COMMENT( Here is a (partial) list of what you can abbreviate with identifiers at top-level. itemize( it()The code(\score) block it()The code(\paper) block it()The code(\midi) block (to be explained in bind(Section)ref(tutorial:sound)) it()Music (sequential music, simultaneous music etc.) it()Durations it()Strings it()Translators (to be explained in bind(Section)ref(tutorial:engravers)) it()Integers it()Reals ) ) When you refer to the abbreviated entity, you must precede code(identifierName) with a backslash, i.e., code(\identifierName). For example: mudela(verbatim)( czerny = \notes { [c16 g e g] } \score { \notes \context GrandStaff < { c''2 g''2 } { \clef bass; \czerny \czerny \czerny \czerny} > \paper { linewidth = -1.0; } } ) You can also see identifiers in action within the code(\paper) block: the value code(-1.0) is assigned to code(linewidth). Within the code(\paper) block, identifiers are not used as abbreviation only: assigning to some identifiers can influence the output: in this case, the music line is printed at natural width. Recall the properties of a context, that could be set with code(\property). It is a very general mechanism to tune the output of the music, that is neatly separated from the real music. Unfortunately, it is not convenient to type or read, and the precise effect of a setting property isn't always apparent from its definition. To remedy this, we can use an identifier to capture the meaning of a code(\property). mudela(verbatim)( stemup = \property Voice.verticalDirection = "1" stemdown = \property Voice.verticalDirection = "-1" shift = \property Voice.hshift = "1" \score { \context "Staff" \notes < \context "Voice" = "one" { \stemup r4 as'4 () as'4 g'4 } \context "Voice" = "two" { \stemup \shift g'2 f'4 e'4 } \context "Voice" = "three" { \stemdown [d'8 dis'] [d' cis'] [c' b] c'4 } > \paper{ linewidth = -1.0\pt; } }) Several abbreviations like code(\stemup) are defined in the standard initialisation file file(property.ly). Setting or changing context properties can have a similar effect as the commands that were discussed in bind(Section)ref(sec:commands). Don't be fooled by the similarity in appearance between a declared property-setting entry and a real command like code(\clef) or code(\bar). Real commands are hardcoded into the language and they have to be terminated by semicolons. sect(Sound output) label(tutorial:sound) You get output by combining music with definition a conversion to output. LilyPond currently supports one other conversion besides notation: the conversion from abstract music to sound. You can have LilyPond play the music that you entered. The format that is used for this output is MIDI. The result is not very pretty, but it is useful for prooflistening your files: typing errors stand out when you listen, especially if they involve accidentals. The only information that you need to enter is the tempo (Unfortunately, at this time, this the only thing that can be tuned.). The syntax for the tempo is code(\tempo )var(duration) = var(beatsperminute);, for example: COMMENT( )verb( \score { ...music... \midi { \tempo 4 = 76; } }) COMMENT( ) sect(Contexts revisited: engravers) label(tutorial:engravers) As was promised, we will now take a dive into the more wizardrous parts of LilyPond: redefining (notation) contexts. We previously explained that a context itemize( it()has a name it()is a conversion from music to notation, it()can contain other contexts it()handles specific notation constructs ) This characterization almost automatically explains what the definition of a context should look like: itemize( it() It should define a name it()It should be part of the ``notation output definition,'' i.e., the code(\paper) block it() It should contain a specification of what other contexts may be contained in the context we're defining. it() It should contain a list of the notation constructs to be handled. ) LilyPond can create notation for a large number of symbols. This code is split up into basic building blocks. Each building block is called an em(engraver), and an engraver generally handles only one notation construct: the code(Clef_engraver) takes care of the clefs, the code(Time_signature_engraver) takes care of printing time signatures, etc. A notation context is formed by a group of engravers. A special class in LilyPond---the code(Engraver_group_engraver)---allows engravers to cooperate in a group, thus forming a notation context. A variant of this grouping object is the code(Line_group_engraver_group), which puts the output of all the engravers (clefs, bars, etc) into a compound object, so that these symbols can be treated as a whole. The following definition shows a simplified Staff context: COMMENT( )verb( \translator { \context "Line_group_engraver_group"; \name Staff ; \consists "Bar_engraver"; \consists "Clef_engraver"; \consists "Key_engraver"; \consists "Local_key_engraver"; \consists "Time_signature_engraver"; \consists "Staff_symbol_engraver"; defaultClef = treble; \accepts "Voice"; }) COMMENT( ) This context, named Staff, puts its graphic objects into a compound object (a so-called ``Line group''). At Staff level, bars, clefs, keys, accidentals, time signatures and the staff symbol are handled. A staff can contain a Voice context. You can also preset properties of contexts: for instance, the clef that is printed upon starting a Staff, is the treble clef. As a practical example, we will show how to typeset polymetric music, i.e., music where the meter can differ for each staff. The solution is not very complicated: normally all timing information (time signature, rhythmic grouping) is synchronised across each staff. This is done by having only one administration for timing information: in the default configuration there is only one code(Timing_engraver), in the code(Score) context. All staffs use the information in the code(Timing_engraver) for generating bar lines and time signatures. So, we can have different timing for every staff, by moving the code(Timing_engraver) into the Staff context. You can also declare contexts, and reference them. This is useful in combination with code(\remove "..."): code(\remove) does the opposite of code(\consists). mudela(verbatim)( \score { \notes < \context Staff = one { \time 2/4; c'4 c'4 c'4 c'4 c'4 c'4 } \context Staff = two { \time 3/4; c'4 c'4 c'4 c'4 c'4 c'4 } > \paper { linewidth = -1.; \translator { \ScoreContext \remove "Timing_engraver"; } \translator { \StaffContext \consists "Timing_engraver"; } } } ) The context definitions provided as a default are in the standard initialisation file file(engraver.ly). sect(Urtexts and context selection) label(tutorial:urtext) In bind(Section)ref(tutorial:more-staffs), we have shown you how to make multiple staffs, and explained that you have to label every staff (or more precisely: different contexts), to make sure that new ones are created when you need them. In this section, the real power of this mechanism will be unveiled. By naming other contexts that you create, you can reference other contexts than the current context from within the music. For example, from within the music that you enter for staff code(One), one could enter a small piece of music, and send it to staff code(Two), e.g., COMMENT( ) mudela(fragment,verbatim)( < \context Staff = one { c''4 \context Staff = two { c4 c4 } c''4 } \context Staff = two { \clef bass; g,4 g,4 g,4 g,4 } > ) The mechanism of context selection can be used to fabricate an nop(Urtext)footnote(em(Urtext) is the German word for `original text'. The Urtext edition of a piece of music, is an edition that reflects the original writing of the composer. Such editions are useful for musicologists, and performers that want to perform authentic interpretations. However, for mere mortals, the Urtext can be hard to read. It might not contain fingering and beaming, and typically it is full of footnotes. Moreover, common interpretations may have emerged---after the composer died. For this reason, the music that can be had as Urtext usually is also available in enhanced and edited editions. ) and an edited edition from em(one source). We will use the first few bars of bind(J.)bind(S.)Bach's first Cello suite to demonstrate this. The example makes heavy use of space rests; here they are used as a placeholder to attach articulation marks to. mudela(verbatim)( bach = \notes \relative c { g16 d' b' a b d, b' d, } bachBeams = \notes { [s4] [s4] } staffStuff = \notes { \clef bass; \time 4/4; s1 \bar "|."; } slursOne = \notes { s16( s s s s16 s s )s } slursTwo = \notes { s16-. s s() s s16() s s ()s } \score{ { < \context Voice = celloVoice { \bach \bach} \context Voice = celloVoice < { \slursOne \slursOne } { \bachBeams \bachBeams } > \staffStuff > < \context Voice = celloVoice { \bach \bach } \context Voice = celloVoice < { \slursTwo \slursTwo } { \bachBeams \bachBeams } > \staffStuff > } \paper { linewidth = -1.;} } ) The slurs that you define should be put on the music that is defined by the code(\bach) identifier. By labeling a code(Voice) context, and directing both the articulation and the notes to that same code(Voice) context, the articulation is put over the right notes. sect(Transposing) label(tutorial:more-grammar) One of the things that you can do with music is em(transposing) it. If you want to transpose a piece of music, then you should prefix it with the keyword code(\transpose) along with the pitch (relative to the central C, i.e., code(c')) for the transposition.footnote(the code(\context Staff) is to make sure that no separate staffs are created for the code(\scale) and code(\transpose cis' \scale) part.) mudela(verbatim)( scale = \notes \relative c' { [c8 d e f] } \score { \notes { \context Staff { \scale \transpose cis' \scale } } \paper { linewidth = -1.0; } }) sect(Staff switching) We have seen that contexts can be nested. This means that they form a tree. It is possible to edit this tree: for example, a code(Voice) context can be taken out of a code(Staff) context, and put into another. This has the effect of the voice switching staffs (something that often happens in keyboard music). The syntax for this operation with these particular contexts is code(\translator Staff = newStaffName). The effect is analogous to the first example in section ref(tutorial:urtext), but with the code(\translator) construction it is possible to split the real music and the commands that determine in which staff the music is printed. For example: mudela(verbatim)( % real music aVoice = \context Voice = voiceA \notes { c''4 c4 c4 c''4 } bVoice = \context Voice = voiceB \notes { g,4 g,4 g,4 g,4 } % staff switching stuff switch = \context Voice = voiceA \notes { s4 \translator Staff = staffB s4 s4 \translator Staff = staffA s4 } \score { < \context Staff = staffA < \aVoice \switch > \context Staff = staffB < \bVoice \clef bass; > > \paper { linewidth = -1.; } } ) If you want to switch staffs you are in the middle of a slur or a beam, the staffs should have a fixed distance. You do this by using the PianoStaff context. mudela(verbatim,center)( \score{ \context PianoStaff < \context Staff=one \notes{ s2 } \context Staff=two \notes\relative c{ \time 4/8; \clef "bass"; \stemup [c8( e \translator Staff=one \stemup g )c] } > \paper { linewidth=-1.0; } } ) sect(Tuplets) The notes in a triplet take 2/3 of their notated duration. The syntax for triplet in LilyPond reflects this. To make a triplet, you enter COMMENT( )mudela(verbatim,fragment,center)( \context Voice \times 2/3 { c''4 c''4 c''4 } )COMMENT( )Since tuplet brackets are printed by the Voice context, a Voice context must exist before code(\times) is interpreted. To ensure this, a context is instantiated explicitly with code(\context Voice). You don't need this, if a Voice context is already instantiated, like in the following example: COMMENT( )mudela(fragment,verbatim,center)( c''4 \times 2/3 { c''4 c''4 c''4 } c''4 )COMMENT( ) Of course, you can also use different ratios, and use beamed notes or rests: COMMENT( )mudela(fragment)( \context Voice \times 4/5 { [c''8 c''16 c''16] r8 [g'8 g'8] } ) If you make a tuplet of beamed notes, where the beam is as wide as the bracket, the bracket is omitted. sect(Repeats) A repeated piece of music can consist of two parts: one part to be repeated, and optionally, a list of alternative endings: COMMENT( )mudela(verbatim,fragment,center)( \relative c'{ \time 2/4; g' a \repeat "semi" 2 { b c } \alternative { { d c } { d e } } f g } ) The number code(repeat-count) defines how many times the piece should be played. You may leave out the code(\alternative) part. There must not be more alternative endings than the code(repeat-count). A less intuitive form may be needed for lyrics, when there are a couple alternatives, but nothing is repeated. The code(\repeat) command must be present, but it may specify an empty music list: COMMENT( )mudela(verbatim,fragment,center)( \context Lyrics \lyrics { \repeat "folded" 2 { } \alternative { { Let's not sing this twice } { Rather sing this in- stead } } } ) sect(Grace notes) sect(\rhythm)