X-Git-Url: https://git.donarmstrong.com/lilypond.git?a=blobdiff_plain;f=Documentation%2Fgnu-music.pod;h=c209f2a31a78955d94b6b3495a5b749c8c9356f4;hb=6a62932652940f4ac2931f75d48796887fbc5fdc;hp=fbb2d7402f864afa1bf939ec33bf3704cfaee9e0;hpb=a19cd9c5efcc258ac73e34eac5223879393b6b50;p=lilypond.git diff --git a/Documentation/gnu-music.pod b/Documentation/gnu-music.pod index fbb2d7402f..c209f2a31a 100644 --- a/Documentation/gnu-music.pod +++ b/Documentation/gnu-music.pod @@ -6,27 +6,61 @@ GNU Music project - manifesto Random ranting about the GNU Music project. -=head2 Note +=head2 History of the GNU Music Project -The GNU Music project was started by a few people (among others Robert Strandh, -Robert.Strandh@labri.u-bordeaux.fr), who wanted to create free software -for music printing and composing. After its initiation, its -development efforts slowed down. +Please note that this all happened when I wasn't around yet. If you +think that I am a biased, unfair, predisposed hypocrite, then don't +bother flaming me; I already know that. -Independently, I started LilyPond. When I showed it to +The GNU Music project is a project which aims to create free software +for music printing and composing. It was started in november '92 by a +core team of four members (Bryan Ford , David Linn +, Francois Pinard , +Neil Jerram and in January '93 Robert Strandh + joined. + +After serious disputes with Robert Strandh + and the FSF staff in '94, the +project core team got divided. The development efforts of GMP stopped. + +Independently, I (HWN) started LilyPond. When I showed it to RMS, he was very enthousiastic about having LilyPond in the GNU project. I subsequently learned about the GNU Music project, and -contacted them. We (the GNU Music project people and us, LilyPond -people) agreed that cooperation would be desirable. Although merging -of both efforts is technically infeasible at this point, we did decide -that LilyPond should also be part of the GNU Music project (when it is -really released). - -In summary, LilyPond is part of the GNU project, and part of the (yet -to be created) GNU Music project. LilyPond 's existence does not mean -that other efforts for free music tools have come to a halt. In -particular, the following document is entirely mine, and is not meant -to reflect anyone else's opinion. +contacted them. + +What was left of the GMP (Robert Strandh) and us, LilyPond people, +agreed that cooperation would be desirable. Although merging of both +efforts was and is technically infeasible, we did decide that LilyPond +should also be part of the GNU Music project. + +Only later did I discover the previous quarrels about the GMP-"take +1". To show that I am aware of the history, and to make sure nobody +gets me wrong or is angry at me because I stole a project or a +project's name, I wrote this note. + +In summary, LilyPond is now the only substantial embodiment of the GNU Music +Project, and it is part of the GNU project. + +For completeness' sake, I will mention the other efforts here: + +=over 4 + +=item G Sharp, http://dept-info.labri.u-bordeaux.fr/~strandh/Gsharp + +An alpha version notation editor for X in Scheme. Source available on +request. + +=item GNU music, + +An alpha version of a music editing system with Musictex +output. Pretest versions of GNU Music (v0.3) can still be obtained from +Francois Pinard. + +=back + +This history note is probably biased in some way, because I wrote it. +The rest of this document is also entirely mine, and is not meant to +reflect anyone else's opinion. =head1 GOAL @@ -70,25 +104,12 @@ performing =back -Music publishers make lots of money out of selling sheet music which -is in the public domain (the composers died a long time ago). It is -usually prohibited to xerox the sheet music. Publishers have two -arguments to justify this policy: the high prices are there to guarantee -diversity (keeping lots of stock is expensive), and to encourage new -work being composed. - -LilyPond addresses the first issue: storing mudelas takes up almost no -space at all. Other systems should address the other issue: -encouraging laymen to take up composing, in the same way that GNU -tools have created a whole new generation of programmers. - -The public deserves to get public domain music for free (zero cents). +These systems should encourage laymen to take up composing, in the +same way that GNU tools have created a whole new generation of +programmers. The public deserves free tools for composing and printing. -In general, the same arguments as for software hold for music. See -Stallmans articles on free software. - =head1 REQUIREMENTS @@ -146,8 +167,7 @@ but it is not (yet) suited to interactive typesetting which can display clear notewriting in (say) an X-window -G-Sharp is there, but far from finished. Ideally the system should -cooperate with the typesetting engine +Ideally the system should cooperate with the typesetting engine =item An ASCII language @@ -180,11 +200,6 @@ simplifies creating a collection of music (difficult) A system to generate accompaniments, figured bass, automatic accompaniment, etc. -=item An internet archive of free music - -The complete works by Bach, Beethoven, and any other ancient composer -should be electronically retrievable. This might be a separate -project: the Free Music Project. =back