1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
3 @settitle FAQ - GNU LilyPond FAQs
5 @node Top, , Windows32, (dir)
8 * FAQ - GNU LilyPond FAQs:: FAQ - GNU LilyPond FAQs
13 @node FAQ - GNU LilyPond FAQs, Miscellaneous, , Top
15 * Miscellaneous:: Miscellaneous
16 * Installing:: Installing
17 * Documentation:: Documentation
18 * Language- mudela:: Language- mudela
19 * Do you support -:: Do you support -
20 * How do I -:: How do I -
21 * Development:: Development
23 * Copyright:: Copyright
24 * Windows32:: Windows32
26 @chapter FAQ - GNU LilyPond FAQs
29 @node Miscellaneous, Installing, FAQ - GNU LilyPond FAQs, FAQ - GNU LilyPond FAQs
30 @section Miscellaneous
32 @subsubsection HELP! I'm stuck!
34 Please read this document carefully. If you are still at loss, send
35 your questions to the @strong{mailing list}, and not to authors
38 Note: relative paths are meant to be relative to the source directory
40 @node Installing, Documentation, Miscellaneous, FAQ - GNU LilyPond FAQs
44 @subsubsection If I install the .exe file on my DOS/windows 3.11 machine, it doesn't work
46 The NT port is done with the Cygnus GNU/Windows32 port of the GNU utils.
47 It does @emph{not} work with windows 3.x; you need Windows-NT (95/98?).
49 @subsubsection Where is guile-config
51 Old RedHat RPMS don't include guile-config. You need guile-config as it
52 was produced during the RPM build run. Build the RPM from source
53 (@file{.src.rpm}), and use the guile-config that is in
54 @file{/usr/src/redhat/BUILD/guile-1.3/guile-config/}.
56 @subsubsection I get all kinds of errors while compiling @file{parser.cc}
58 LilyPond uses features of bison version 1.25. Please confirm that
59 you are using a version 1.25 or better, that is @strong{GNU} bison
60 @strong{1.25}. Don't forget to do "make clean" after installing it. Don't
61 forget to remove the stale @file{bison.simple} as well.
63 If the problem persists, then please send a bug report to the mailing list.
65 @subsubsection I upgraded by applying a patch, and now my configure/build breaks.
67 Patches don't include automatically generated files, i.e.
68 @file{configure} and files generated by @file{configure}. Regenerate them
78 @subsubsection Is there an emacs mode?
80 Yes. It is included with the source archive as @file{lilypond-mode.el}.
81 If you have an RPM it is in @file{/usr/doc/lilypond-X/}. You have to
84 @subsubsection How do I create the @file{.tfm} files?
86 You don't. The @file{.tfm} files should be generated automatically by
87 Metafont when you run TeX. Check your TeX installation, or ask
88 your local TeX guru. The supplied @file{.afm} files are intended to
89 be used by LilyPond, not by any other programs.
91 @node Documentation, Language- mudela, Installing, FAQ - GNU LilyPond FAQs
92 @section Documentation
94 @subsubsection What a sober website/manual you have there!
96 LilyPond development is moving quite fast, documentation will often lag
97 a bit behind. But don't hesitate to point out inaccuracies. Whip up
98 your mail reader and write to the mailing list.
100 @subsubsection Please take me off your mailing list, I get so much mail!
102 Don't ask Han-wen, don't ask David. Instead, read about
103 @uref{../../index.html#mailing-lists, the mailing lists} here.
105 @node Language- mudela, Do you support -, Documentation, FAQ - GNU LilyPond FAQs
106 @section Language: mudela
108 @subsubsection Why do I have to type the accidentals to the note if I
109 specified them in the keysignature?
118 Independently of how it was written and what the current key was, you
119 would say that you are playing and reading "two C-sharp" notes, so you
120 have to enter C-sharp twice.
122 @subsubsection What is @code{cis} anyway
124 @code{cis} is the dutch naming for C-sharp. The notes are named
125 a, b,.., g. The suffix -is means sharp, and -es flat. This system is
126 common in a number of languages (such as swedish, dutch, german.)
127 Certain other languages (such as English, French and Italian) just add
128 the word for "sharp" to the notename.
130 We chose the Dutch system, because we're dutch. You are free to chose
131 whatever names you like; they are user definable.
133 @subsubsection Why are [] around the notes, and () inbetween?
135 [] designate beams, a note can only be in one beam at the same
136 time. () is a slur, which connects notes. You need to be able to
144 @subsubsection I want to insert some TeX commands.
146 You shouldn't: it's against LilyPond philosophy to have typesetting
147 commands in the mudela source. Moreover, this would be difficult.
148 LilyPond uses TeX like a glorified output engine: the output consists
149 of (x,y) positions and symbols. You can only sensibly do TeX stuff in
150 the symbol string. You can access the symbol string easily for some
151 symbols (notably lyrics and @code{^"text"} commands).
153 @node Do you support -, How do I -, Language- mudela, FAQ - GNU LilyPond FAQs
154 @section Do you support ...
156 @subsubsection Do you support pop songs (chords, single staff, lyrics)?
158 Yes, see the @file{twinkle-pop} example.
160 @subsubsection Do you support guitar chord diagrams?
162 No. We ourselves don't play guitar, and don't know the fine points of
163 this notation. We would welcome anyone who could give this a try.
165 @subsubsection Do you support TAB notation?
167 No. The same as for the previous question goes.
170 @subsubsection Do you support multiple staff-sizes?
172 Yes. At this time you can choose between 11, 13, 16, 19, 20, 23 and 20
173 pt staff-size. Use the @code{staffSpace} property for setting the
174 size of the staff, and @code{fontSize} for setting the size of the
177 @subsubsection Do you support Gregorian chant notation?
182 @subsubsection Do you support grace notes?
184 Yes. See @file{input/test/grace.ly}.
186 @node How do I -, Development, Do you support -, FAQ - GNU LilyPond FAQs
187 @section How do I ....
189 @subsubsection How do I change the TeX layout?
191 See @file{lilyponddefs.tex}, it has some comments. Or use @file{ly2dvi}.
193 @subsubsection How do I place lyrics under @emph{each} of the staves in a score, as choral music. I can work out how to put lyrics for each line all under the top line, or at the bottom but not between!
195 You change the order lyrics and staves. You have to name all
196 staves (lyric and melodic), otherwise they will end up in the same
200 < \melodic \type Staff = "treble" \trebleMelody
201 \lyric \type Lyrics = "tlyrics" \trebtext
202 \type Staff = "bass" \melodic \bassMelody
203 \lyric \type Lyrics = "blyrics" \basstext
210 @subsubsection How do I put more than one marking on a note.
219 or use spacing-notes to put markings at different horizontal positions
223 @{ s4\ff s4^"text" s4-\marcato s4 @}
228 This also works for crescendi, eg,
237 @subsubsection How do I combine multiple pieces into one document
239 There are several solutions:
249 produces one combined @file{foo.dvi}
250 @item make a toplevel @file{.ly} file that contains al pieces:
260 @item make a hybrid TeX/LilyPond @file{.doc} document (see the
261 @file{Documentation/tex} directory).
264 For the first two solutions, you will need to move @code{\header} info
265 in each individual piece from toplevel into the @code{\paper} block.
267 There are several examples in the @file{mutopia} directory.
269 @subsubsection How do I get bar numbers?
271 See @file{input/test/bar-scripts.ly}.
273 @subsubsection How do I change the tagline 'Lily was here'?
275 In the @code{\header} field, add a @code{tagline} entry, e.g.
278 tagline="Typeset by GNU LilyPond"
282 @subsubsection Can I make blank manuscript paper with LilyPond?
284 Theoretically, yes but it is easier to do with (La)TeX. This LaTeX file
285 will do the trick for you:
289 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
291 % Mats Bengtsson, 18/5 2000
292 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
293 \documentclass[a4paper]@{article@}
295 \usepackage@{ifthen@}
296 \usepackage[noheadfoot,hmargin=15mm,vmargin=20mm]@{geometry@}
300 \newcounter@{staffnumber@}
301 \newlength@{\interstaffline@}
303 \newcommand@{\drawline@}@{\hbox@{\rule@{\textwidth@}@{0.5pt@}@}
304 \nointerlineskip\vskip\interstaffline\nointerlineskip@}
306 \newcommand@{\printstaff@}@{\vfill
307 \vbox@{\drawline\drawline\drawline\drawline\drawline@}
311 \typeout@{@}\typeout@{@}
312 \typein[\staffsize]@{Type in the staff size (20pt is a common value):@}
313 \setlength@{\interstaffline@}@{\staffsize@}
314 \setlength@{\interstaffline@}@{.25\interstaffline@}
316 \typein[\num]@{Type in the number of staffs:@}
317 \setcounter@{staffnumber@}@{\num@}
319 \mbox@{@} % To get a starting point for the \vfill
320 \whiledo@{\value@{staffnumber@}>0@}@{%
321 \printstaff \addtocounter@{staffnumber@}@{-1@}@}
327 @node Development, Running, How do I -, FAQ - GNU LilyPond FAQs
330 @subsubsection Could you implement feature XXXX? It is really easy, just extend the syntax to allow YYYY!
332 In general finding a cute syntax (such as YYYY) isn't very hard. The
333 complicated issue how to adapt the internals to do XXXX. The parser is
334 really a simple front end to the complicated internals.
336 @subsubsection Can I join in on LilyPond development? How do I do this?
338 Yes, we do frequent releases, you are welcome to send in a patch or do
339 suggestions. Join the list @email{gnu-music-discuss@@gnu.org} to
343 @subsubsection Is there a GUI frontend? Should I start building one?
345 LilyPond currently has no graphical interface. We (LilyPond authors)
346 don't feel the need to write a GUI, but several others do:
348 Matthew Hiller has extended Midiscore and Koobase to handle mudela.
349 Check out @uref{http://zoo.cs.yale.edu/~meh25/}. He is now working on
350 `Denemo', a GTK based notation program (which is still being developed).
352 Federico Mena-Quintero and Elliot Lee of RedHat Advanced Development
353 labs have plans to write a GNOME based Music notation program. However,
354 there is no code, only plans.
356 Chris Cannam is working a rewrite of Rosegarden. The new design should
357 be more modular, and could conceivably be used to output
358 mudela. However, the not much seems to have happened the past year. See
359 @uref{http://www.all-day-breakfast.com/rosegarden/development.html}.
362 @subsubsection I want to implement XXXX! How should I do this?
364 Your best bet of getting us to include code, is to present it as a
365 "fait accompli", i.e., to send a patch to the mailing list.
367 Please use the diff command to generate a patch, and don't send complete
368 files, even if the diff is larger than the whole file.
370 Don't forget to put your name and e-mail address in the file
371 @file{Documentation/topdocs/AUTHORS.texi}, or you won't get credits
375 @subsubsection Your make system does not adhere to GNU coding standards, could you please fix it?
377 No. We have evaluated the standard GNU combination for compiling
378 programs (autoconf, automake, libtool) and found to be inadequate for
381 @subsubsection How do I inspect @code{String}s and @code{SCM} values in GDB?
383 Use the following command definitions, which can be put in
388 print $arg0->strh_.data->data_byte_p_
392 call gh_display($arg0)
397 @subsubsection GDB crashes when I debug!
399 Upgrade/downgrade to 4.17.
401 @node Running, Copyright, Development, FAQ - GNU LilyPond FAQs
404 @subsubsection I use dvilj4, and there are lots of warning messages for the printing
406 You should use dvips and ghostscript to print the @code{dvi} output: the
407 slurs and beams are PS @code{\special} commands.
410 @subsubsection My symbols are all messed up after I upgraded, I get the wrong symbols and dvi-checksum errors!
412 We obviously mucked with the fonts in the upgrade. Remove @emph{all}
413 previous fonts, including the @file{.pk} and @file{.tfm} fonts in
414 @file{/var/lib/texmf}. A script automating this has been included, see
415 @file{buildscripts/clean-fonts.sh}.
417 @subsubsection all the pk and tfm fonts are created in the directory where the mudela file is, not in "/var/spool/texmf" where I think they should be.
419 Mats Bengtsson <mats.bengtsson@@s3.kth.se> writes:
421 The simple solution used by Anthony Fok in the Debian distribution of
422 Lilypond is to link the mf/ directory to
423 /usr/lib/texmf/fonts/source/public/lilypond Depending on what
424 distribution of teTeX and Linux you have installed, there might also
425 be other places like /usr/local/lib/texmf/fonts/source/public/lilypond
426 or /var/spool/texmf//fonts/source/public/lilypond
428 Wherever you put it, don't forget to run mktexlsr (or texhash for
429 older installations) afterwards, so that TeX will find the files.
430 Also, don't forget to remove all old .tfm and .*pk files when the font
431 is updated (as it will be in version 1.1.40, for example).
433 @subsubsection Are there scalable versions of the font?
435 Yes, they are type-3 fonts. In the @file{mf/}
442 in the mf/ subdirectory. This will also make @file{mfplain} for metapost.
443 The @file{pfa}s will be in the subdirectory @file{out/}.
445 @subsubsection How does PS output work?
449 Generate the PostScript Type-3 fonts.
451 Run lilypond with option @code{-f ps}:
458 @item To view the @file{.ps} output with GhostView, set GS_FONTPATH to the
459 directory containing the @file{pfa}s. In the source tree, this is @file{mf/out/}.
461 i.e. do something like:
464 export GS_FONTPATH=$HOME/usr/src/lilypond/mf/out
471 Direct PS output is still experimental. For creating nice looking ps
472 output, use TeX and @code{dvips}.
475 @subsubsection The beams and slurs are gone when using the XDvi magnifying glass!?
477 Various dynamic symbols, such as beams, crescendi, slurs are done in
478 PostScript. XDvi doesn't show PostScript in the magnifying glass.
479 Complain to the XDvi maintainers.
482 @subsubsection Beams, slurs and crescendi are not displayed at all!
484 See previous answer. XDvi uses GhostScript for displaying PostScript,
485 check that you have GhostScript installed. If you use a different
486 DVI viewer, check if it will display embedded PostScript. Don't worry,
487 the symbols should appear on the printout.
489 @subsubsection A lot of musical stuff doesn't make it to the MIDI file, eg. dynamics, articulation, etc.
491 The MIDI output was originally put in as a proof that MIDI could be
492 done, and as a method of proof"reading" the input. The MIDI support
493 is by no means finished. Patches appreciated.
495 @node Copyright, Windows32, Running, FAQ - GNU LilyPond FAQs
498 @subsubsection What is Urtext? Critical Edition?
502 It may be translated best as `that what the composer intended to tell
505 Peter Chubb <peterc@@aurema.com> writes:
507 An Urtext is a reconstruction of the earliest form of a text,
508 including mistakes the original author wrote. Where there is no
509 available facsimile of the original, creating this can involve some
510 inspired detective work (in comparing various later editions and
511 trying to deduce what the original form was). As far as copyright
512 goes, my guess is that, for works that are otherwise out of copyright,
513 an Urtext is copyright to the person who reconstructed it, as a
514 derived work from the editions s/he consulted. If the edition is
515 created directly from a facsimile, as would be the case for most
516 Urtext editions of music, then the amount of new (copyright) material
519 A critical edition is an edition that is designed for critical
520 study of a text. It'll usually have lots of footnotes, alternative
521 readings, possible realisations of bass parts and harmonies, etc. It
522 aims to elucidate the author's original intentions, as opposed to
523 reproduce exactly what was written. The critical apparatus will be
524 copyright to its author.
526 A playing edition is one that has been edited for modern usage.
527 It'll have fewer or no alternative readings, it'll be in modern
528 notation, it may have additional editorial marks (phrase marks, slurs,
529 etc.) will often have a fully realised basso continuo part (if oone
530 was present in the original) and may have had key changes, time
531 signature changes, time compression (original in 4/1, playing edition
532 in 4/4, for example, with all semibreves replaced with crotchets)
533 Copyright is in the arranger/editor.
535 @subsubsection How does copyright for sheet music work? Can I enter and spread my newly bought Bach urtext?
537 Silas S. Brown <ssb22@@hermes.cam.ac.uk>:
541 There are several aspects to sheet music copyright:
543 1. The music itself - copyright for the composer's life plus 70 years (so
544 not applicable to Bach).
546 2. If the music is an arrangement, then the arranger holds copyright on
547 that arrangement. However, you can produce your own arrangement using
548 that arrangement as a reference point. Obviously your arrangement must be
549 sufficently different to be called your own arrangement - you need to do
550 more than change one note!
552 3. In some countries, the same applies for editions. This could be
553 relevant to the Bach example. If a modern person has edited the music,
554 then they hold the copyright on the edition. This does not stop you from
555 removing the editorial features - remove all editorial slurs, phrasemarks,
556 ornaments etc and only leave those that you know to be original. You can
557 then add some of your own if you want to be your own editor.
559 4. If there are lyrics, then the lyricist also holds copyright. This
560 does not stop you from using the music without the lyrics if it is
561 otherwise out of copyright.
563 5. The copyright of the printed page is held by the publisher for 30
564 years after printing (25 in some countries). This stops you from
565 photocopying (unless it's "fair use" eg. you're partially sighted and need
566 to enlarge the music) or otherwise reproducing the typesetting that is
567 used on it. But the copyright is only held over the typesetting work, not
568 the music itself. Since Mudela specifies the notes, independently of any
569 typesetting work that went into your reference copy, you are not
570 duplicating any of the publisher's work.
572 6. If you want to violate copyright, there are two main cases where you
573 may do so: fair use, and with permission. The former is rather fuzzily
574 defined, but it includes such things as including small extracts of a
575 score in a critique, and making a large print or Braille copy for a blind
576 or partially-sighted performer (many people argue that in this case it
577 should always be kept with the original copy and/or destroyed after it is
578 no longer needed). The latter is obvious: You can always write to the
579 composer, arranger, editor, lyricist or publisher in subsubsection and ask if
580 you can do whatever it is you're trying to do. Some will respond more
581 readily than others, but anything that they say will override any copying
582 restrictions imposed on you.
584 References - best one I know is the UK-based Performing Right Society,
585 @uref{http://www.prs.co.uk/} (especially "membership") and their links to other
586 international equivalents.
589 Werner Lemberg @email{wl@@gnu.org} writes:
593 Typesetting [at least in Austria or Germany, but not in France] [..]
594 isn't copyrighted -- typesetting is a handcraft, not an
597 What's copyrighted in an Urtext edition is the editor's comment or
598 the revision remarks, cadenzas added by the editor, etc.
600 Urtext editions per se are @emph{not} copyrighted -- if you print
601 exactly what the composer has written, how can there some copyright be
602 added? Copyrighted are usually only the `Critical notes', the foreword,
603 and the cadenzas some editors have added.
605 This means that the `Photocopying forbidden' sign in many scores is not
606 always correct for e.g. J.S. Bach -- you are allowed to copy the pages
607 which don't contain editorial stuff which is probably copyrighted.
609 A very unfortunate situation for the publishers.
614 Glen Prideaux, @email{glenprideaux@@MailAndNews.com}:
617 One has to be careful. In Australia typesetting IS covered by copyright, but
618 only for 25 years (as opposed to 50 years from the death of the
619 author/composer/artist for virtually any other copyright). If the
620 typesetting originates in a country that does not protect typesetting then
621 there may indeed be no copyright protection available to control the use of
625 Juergen Reuter @email{reuterj@@ira.uka.de}
627 [More information can be had at: ]
629 @uref{http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/}
632 @uref{http://fairuse.stanford.edu/}
633 (meta site about copyright with many links to other resources)
635 @uref{http://host.mpa.org/crc.html}
636 (copyright from the viewpoint of the USA music publishers' association)
638 @uref{http://www.wipo.int}
639 (World Intellectual Property Organization (a UNO agency); with
640 information about international copyright)
644 See @uref{http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/Studio/1714/harpsichord.html}
645 for a summary of copyright relative to old music, also for the
646 expert forum for such subsubsections.
649 @node Windows32, Top, Copyright, FAQ - GNU LilyPond FAQs
652 @subsubsection I downloaded the windows32 port, and it doesn't match the website!
654 The website is usually made from the latest snapshots. Binary releases,
655 in particular the windows32 binaries, are only made every once in a while.
656 They may lag several versions behind the latest version.
658 @subsubsection But i want a native DOS/Windows-NT/95 port
660 Reconsider. Try Linux. It's fun!