[lilypond.git] / Documentation / general / introduction.itexi

@c -*- coding: utf-8; mode: texinfo; -*-
@ignore
    Translation of GIT committish: FILL-IN-HEAD-COMMITTISH

    When revising a translation, copy the HEAD committish of the
    version that you are working on.  See TRANSLATION for details.
@end ignore

@node Introduction
@unnumbered Introduction

@divClass{column-center-top}
@subheading Our Goal

@imageFloat{flat-design.png,right}

The inspiration for LilyPond came when two musicians became
annoyed with the bland and boring look of computer-printed
sheet music.  All musicians prefer reading beautiful music, so why
couldn't programmers write software to produce better printed
parts?

This software just does that: it prints music in the best
traditions of classical engraving with minimum fuss.  Don't waste
time on tuning spacing, moving around symbols, or shaping slurs.
Impress friends and colleagues with sharp sheet music!
@divEnd

@divClass{column-left-top}
@subheading Why use LilyPond?

@itemize

@item
@ref{Features}: What can LilyPond do?

@item
@ref{Examples}: I want to see some music!

@item
@ref{Freedom}: LilyPond is Free Software.

@end itemize
@divEnd

@divClass{column-right-top}
@subheading Who uses it?

@itemize

@item
@ref{Productions}: Real-life use of LilyPond.

@item
@ref{Testimonials}: What do people say?

@end itemize
@divEnd

@divClass{column-center-bottom}
@subheading Why not use LilyPond?

@itemize

@item
@ref{Text input}: You write music as @emph{text}?!

@end itemize
@divEnd



@divClass{hide}
@menu
* Features::                    What can LilyPond do?
* Examples::                    I want to see some music!
* Freedom::                     Freedom and the GPL.
* Productions::                 Real-life use of LilyPond.
* Testimonials::                What do people say about it?
* Text input::                  You write music as text?!
@end menu
@divEnd



@node Features
@unnumberedsec Features

@help{hoping to delegate this.  Desired: an enthusiastic
attempt to sway people towards trying lilypond.  The warnings
about writing music as text come in Crash Course, not here.  Maybe
draw inspiration from
http://lilypond.org/web/about/features
and
http://lilypond.org/web/switch/tour
and
http://lilypond.org/web/switch/advantages
}

@subheading Why switch to LilyPond?


@subsubheading Excellent classical engraving

@imageFloat{flat-design.png,right}

The point of using LilyPond is to produce elegant sheet music that
is easy to read.  LilyPond's developer community has spent
thousands of hours developing powerful music engraving software
that results in beautifully engraved music.  All of LilyPond's
style settings, font designs and algorithms have been inspired by
the finest hand-engraved music.  LilyPond output has the same
strong, balanced and elegant look as the best-engraved classical
scores


@subsubheading No fiddling

Don't waste time with tweaking the output; LilyPond gets the
formatting correct right from the start.  It determines spacing by
itself, and breaks lines and pages to provide a tight and uniform
layout.  Clashes between lyrics, notes, and chords are resolved
and slurs and beams are sloped, automatically!


@subsubheading Text-based input

LilyPond takes ASCII input, which you can produce in your favorite
text editor, quickly and comfortably.  No more futzing with the
mouse.  The input contains all the information, so there is no
need to remember complex command sequences.  Simply save an input
for later reference.


@subsubheading Mix music and text

@imageFloat{lilypond-book.png,right}

Put fragments of music into texts without cutting and pasting
pictures. Integrate music into LaTeX or HTML seamlessly, or add
music to OpenOffice.org with ooolilypond.



@subsubheading Free software

LilyPond can be downloaded free of charge! Yep - It's free.  Get
it from the download page.

It's also free (as in @qq{speech}) software. It comes with source
code, and permission to change and copy it. So, are you irritated
by a bug, or yearning for a feature? Simply add it yourself, or
pay someone else to do it.


@subsubheading Extensible design

All settings can be changed to suit your personal
typographical taste. If that still is not enough, there is always
the built-in scripting language, a dialect of the powerful
language LISP. Settings, variables and functions are all
documented in the comprehensive program reference manual.


@subsubheading Excellent support

LilyPond runs on all popular platforms: Linux, MacOS X, and
Windows.  LilyPond comes with extensive documetation and hundreds
of example files.  There is an active user community answering
questions on the Lilypond user mailing list, while the development
team makes sure that problems are solved quickly.



@divClass{column-center-bottom}
@subheading Where now?

Still not convinced?  Look at some neat @ref{Examples}.  If you've
already decided to try LilyPond, first read about our
@ref{Text input}.
@divEnd



@node Examples
@unnumberedsec Examples

Lilypond is a powerful and flexible tool for engraving tasks of
all kinds. Please browse our gallery of examples and be inspired!

@ignore
Here is a passage from Franz Liszt's solo piano transcription
of the Overture to Wagner's @emph{Tannhäuser}. The spacing
in this example was all performed by Lilypond's formatting
algorithms, without tweaks of any kind. It
handles cross-staff beaming gracefully and puts the system brace
perfectly around all three staves.

@imageClickable{examples/liszt-wagner-small.png, (click to enlarge), examples/liszt-wagner.png, center}
@end ignore

@newsItem
@subsubheading Classical Music
This organ work by J.S. Bach is a fairly typical engraving project
in Lilypond.

@imageClickable{examples/bach-bwv610-small.png, (click to enlarge), examples/bach-bwv610.png, center}
@newsEnd

@newsItem
@subsubheading Complex Notation

This example from @emph{Goyescas} by Enrique Granados shows some
of the more advanced features of typesetting, including kneed
beams, cross-staff stems, and voice-follow lines.

@imageClickable{examples/granados-small.png, (click to enlarge), examples/granados.png, center}
@newsEnd

@newsItem
@subsubheading Early Music
Lilypond also supports various types of ancient notation, such
as this passage of Gregorian chant.

@imageClickable{examples/ancient-headword-small.png, (click to enlarge), examples/ancient-headword.png, center}
@newsEnd

@newsItem
@subsubheading Modern Music
Contemporary composers find Lilypond well-suited to displaying
unusual notation. Here is an excerpt from Trevor Bača's
@emph{Čáry}, for unaccompanied bass flute.

@imageClickable{examples/cary-small.png, (click to enlarge), examples/cary.png, center}
@newsEnd


@newsItem
@subsubheading Efficient, flexible creation of performance materials
Various performance materials can be created from the same source
code. This is an excerpt of @uref{http://nicolas.sceaux.free.fr/,
Nicolas Sceaux's} engraving of Handel's @emph{Giulio Cesare}, in
full score, piano-vocal reduction, and a violin part.

@imageClickable{examples/sesto-small.png, (click to enlarge), examples/sesto.png, center}

@imageClickable{examples/sesto-1-small.png, (click to enlarge), examples/sesto-1.png, center}

@imageClickable{examples/sesto-2-small.png, (click to enlarge), examples/sesto-2.png, center}

@newsEnd

@help NEED BETTER TABLATURE EXAMPLE!!

@newsItem
@subsubheading Tablature
Lilypond supports tablature notation, which can be customized to
suit any instrument that reads from tablature. Here is a passage
from a Bach Lute Suite, with tablature generated automatically
from the notes entered for the traditional staff.

@imageClickable{examples/bach-tab-example-small.png, (click to enlarge), examples/bach-tab-example.png, center}
@newsEnd

@newsItem
@subsubheading Schenker Graphs
Standard output can be modified heavily. Here someone has created
an impressive Schenkerian analysis.

@imageClickable{examples/bach-schenker-small.png, (click to enlarge), examples/bach-schenker.png, center}
@newsEnd

@newsItem
@subsubheading Vocal Music
Lilypond is excellent for vocal music of all kinds, from sacred
hymns to opera. Here is a medieval motet with slightly unusual
requirements. The tenor voice is written in a different meter
than the others, but must line up as if it were in the same meter.
Lilypond handles this most elegantly. Note also the incipits with
Vaticana style clefs, the slashed stems indicating plicated notes,
and the ligature braces above certain groups of notes.

@imageClickable{examples/aucun-snippet-small.png, (click to enlarge), examples/aucun-snippet.png, center}
@newsEnd

@newsItem
@subsubheading Educational Applications
Lilypond is perfectly suited for educational purposes as well.
Here is an example of a simple counterpoint exercise.

@imageClickable{examples/theory-small.png, (click to enlarge), examples/theory.png, center}
@newsEnd

@help NEED BETTER POP EXAMPLE!! Also a better theory example would be nice.

@newsItem
@subsubheading Popular Music
It is simple to create pop lead sheets with melody, lyrics,
chord names, and fretboards. In this example you see some of the
predefined fretboard diagrams, but these can be heavily customized
to suit nearly any situation.

@imageClickable{examples/chart-small.png, (click to enlarge), examples/chart.png, center}
@newsEnd

@help NEED DIFFERENT ORCHESTRAL OR OPERA EXAMPLE?!

@newsItem
@subsubheading Large Projects
Lilypond is excellent for large projects like operas or works for
full symphony orchestra, as well. Score, parts, piano reductions,
and conductors' scores can be produced from the same source files.

@imageClickable{examples/orchestral-small.png, (click to enlarge), examples/orchestral.png, center}
@newsEnd


@divClass{column-center-bottom}
@subheading Where now?

Still not convinced?  LilyPond is Free software, granting you
@ref{Freedom}.  If you've already decided to try LilyPond, first
read about our @ref{Text input}.
@divEnd


@node Freedom
@unnumberedsec Freedom

@divClass{column-center-top}
@subheading Free Software

@uref{http://www.gnu.org/, GNU} LilyPond is written and maintained
by a community of enthusiasts.  It is published under the
@ref{GPL, GNU General Public License} and the @ref{FDL, GNU Free
Documentation License}, giving everybody the freedom to fix,
modify, and extend the program.  Creating beautiful music should
not require hundreds of dollars of software!
@divEnd


@c @divClass{column-left-top}
@divClass{color2}
@divClass{keep-bullets}
@subheading What are the benefits to users?

@itemize

@item
No cost: download and try it out!  What do you have to lose?

@item
Sharing: if you like the program, give a copy to your friends,
teachers, students, and colleagues!

@item
Source available: if you are curious about how LilyPond creates
some notation, you can see exactly how it is done.

@item
Extendible: you can add features, fix bugs, and change the
functionality.  If you are not a programmer, you can hire somebody
to do those tasks.

This may not seem appealing to casual musicians, but the ability
to extend software can be highly valuable to serious composers,
companies, and academics.

@item
Future safety: if a commercial company goes bankrupt, what happens
to any electronic music which depends on their products?  This is
not a concern with LilyPond; even if the entire development team
quits (extremely unlikely), the program will still be legally
available for copying, modifications, and distribution.


@end itemize

@divEnd
@divEnd


@c @divClass{column-right-top}
@divClass{color3}
@divClass{keep-bullets}
@subheading Why do LilyPond developers @qq{give away} their work for free?

Most of us view LilyPond development as a hobby or volunteer work.
So this question is really asking @qq{why do people volunteer}?

@itemize

@item
Fun: working towards a goal can be enjoyable, especially when you
work as a team!

@item
Shared goals: we all want beautiful sheet music, but few people
have the expertise (and nobody has the time!), to create a program
which can handle all situations.  By working together -- one
person improves the automatic beaming code, another person
improves the shape of slurs, and a third person writes
documentation explaining how to use these features -- we can
achieve our goal with only a fraction of the individual effort.

@item
@qq{Gift culture}: the Free Software (or @qq{Open Source})
movement has created many great software projects, such as
@uref{http://kernel.org/, GNU/Linux},
@uref{http://www.getfirefox.com/, Mozilla Firefox}, and
@uref{http://www.wesnoth.org/, Battle for Wesnoth}.  Having
benefitted from these projects, some developers want to @qq{give
back} to the community.

@item
Work experience: contributing to open-source projects is a great
way to practice programming, documentation writing, or design.
This experience has helped some developers gain job offers or
scholarships.


@end itemize

@divEnd
@divEnd


@divClass{column-center-bottom}
@subheading Where now?

Still not convinced?  Read about some of our users'
@ref{Productions} and sheet music.  If you've already decided to
try LilyPond, first read about our @ref{Text input}.
@divEnd


@node Productions
@unnumberedsec Productions

@help{more references to publishers who use lilypond}

@divClass{column-left-top}
@subheading Concerts

Lilypond engravings have been used for performances around the world.
Some highlights:

@divClass{keep-bullets}
@itemize

@item
@emph{Affaire Étrangère}, an opera by Valentin Villenave, with
libretto by Lewis Trondheim, premiered February 1, 2009, by
@uref{http://www.orchestre-montpellier.com/, L'Opéra Montpellier}.

@item
@uref{http://www.mercurybaroque.org/02/02109.aspx, Mercury Baroque}'s
performance of Lully's @emph{Armide}, May 15-16, 2009, in Houston,
Texas (engraving by @uref{http://nicolas.sceaux.free.fr/,
Nicolas Sceaux}).

@item
Instrumental excerpts from Rameau's @emph{Hippolyte et Aricie} at
St. James's Church in Manhattan, May 8, 2009, by Frederick Renz
and his ensemble @uref{http://www.earlymusicny.org/, Early Music
New York} (engraving by Nicolas Sceaux).

@end itemize
@divEnd

@divEnd


@divClass{column-right-top}
@subheading Published sheet music

@divClass{keep-bullets}
@itemize

@item
@uref{http://www.adoromusicpub.com/, Adoro Music Publishing},
high-quality scores of sacred music, available for immediate
download or in traditional paper format.
@end itemize
@divEnd

@divEnd


@divClass{column-center-bottom}
@subheading Where now?

Still not convinced?  Read some of our users' @ref{Testimonials}.
If you've already decided to try LilyPond, first read about our
@ref{Text input}.
@divEnd


@node Testimonials
@unnumberedsec Testimonials

@divClass{testimonial-item}
@imageFloat{carter-brey.jpg, right}
@subsubheading @uref{http://nyphil.org/meet/orchestra/index.cfm?page=profile&personNum=7, Carter Brey}, Principal Cellist, New York Philharmonic

@qq{... I've written a couple of encore pieces for solo cello
which I've printed with LilyPond and which I'm going to submit to
Schirmer for publication. I'll bet their engraved version wouldn't
look half as sharp as mine!}
@divEnd


@divClass{testimonial-item}
@imageFloat{orm-finnendahl.jpg, left}
@subsubheading @uref{http://icem-www.folkwang-hochschule.de/~finnendahl/, Orm Finnendahl}, professor of Composition, Musikhochschule Freiburg

@qq{Although I don't know [LilyPond] very well yet, I'm *very*
impressed. I used the program to input a motet of Josquin Desprez
in mensural notation and there's no doubt that lilypond outscores
all other notation programs easily concerning speed, ease of use
and look!}
@divEnd


@divClass{testimonial-item}
@imageFloat{darius-blasband.jpg, right}
@subsubheading Darius Blasband, composer (Brussels, Belgium)

@qq{[..after the first orchestra rehearsal] I got numerous
compliments about the quality of the scores. Even more
importantly, while Lilypond provides numerous hacks to improve the
way its scores look, what the orchestra got from me is basically
the raw, untouched output.}

@divEnd


@divClass{testimonial-item}
@subsubheading Kieren MacMillan, composer (Toronto, Canada)

@qq{thanks and kudos to the development team for their incredible
work. I've never seen anything approaching the output that I get
from Lilypond -- I'm totally confident that my music publishing
needs will be fulfilled beyond my expectations using this great
application. [..] basically untweaked Lilypond output [..] looks
better than most recent "professional" publications I've compared
it to (q.v., just about any Warner Bros. score, and even many of
the most recent by "the old houses"). [..]}

@qq{Beat that, Finale/Sibelius/Igor/whatever!!!}
@divEnd


@divClass{testimonial-item}
@subsubheading Chris Cannam, lead programmer of the @uref{http://www.rosegardenmusic.com/, RoseGarden} project.

@qq{Lilypond is obviously the zillion-ton gorilla [of great music
typesetting].}
@divEnd


@divClass{testimonial-item}
@subsubheading Chris Snyder, @uref{http://www.adoromusicpub.com/, Adoro Music Publishing}

@qq{The way that music is entered for LilyPond causes me to think in a
more musical way -- there have been times when I've been stumped as
to how to tell Lily to engrave something, only to realize that
even if I did get it exactly as the composer wanted, the music
would be confusing to read.  LilyPond makes it much easier for me
to work in my dual editor+engraver role.}

@qq{I've been using LilyPond exclusively for my fledgling music
publishing business. Virtually without exception, every composer
has been blown away by the quality of the engraving when presented
with the proofs of their music about to be published. I deserve
some of the credit for this -- I spend a lot of time tweaking
output, especially ties (mainly in chords) -- but LilyPond gives
me an excellent starting point, a very intuitive interface, and
the ability to modify absolutely anything if I want to take the
time. I'm convinced that no commercial product can come close.}
@divEnd


@divClass{testimonial-item}
@subsubheading David Bobroff, Bass Trombone, Iceland Symphony Orchestra

@qq{I think Lilypond is great [..] The more I learn about LilyPond
the more I like it!}
@divEnd


@divClass{testimonial-item}
@subsubheading Vaylor Trucks, Electric guitar player (Yes, @uref{http://www.allmanbrothersband.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=userpage&file=content&page_id=12, related to})

@qq{I am super impressed with LilyPond [..]}

@qq{THIS IS THE BEST PROGRAM EVER!!!}

@qq{Thank you all SO MUCH for your hard work and dedication!}
@divEnd


@divClass{testimonial-item}
@subsubheading @uref{http://nicolas.sceaux.free.fr/, Nicolas Sceaux}, @uref{http://www.mutopiaproject.org/, Mutopia} contributor

@qq{I had a kind of hate-passion relationship with it. Passion
because the first score I saw was so amazing! The description of
LilyPond lies about its beautifulness, it is too modest! [..] as
LilyPond is getting always better, and as I look closer how things
are done in scheme, I have less and less frustrations. Anyway,
what I mean is: thank you for providing LilyPond, it is really
good.}
@divEnd


@divClass{testimonial-item}
@subsubheading @uref{http://www.troff.org/whoswho.html#werner, Werner Lemberg}, Conductor at the Theatre in Koblenz, Germany and distinguished GNU Hacker.

@qq{Anyway, LilyPond does an amazingly good job!}
@divEnd


@divClass{testimonial-item}
@subsubheading Paul Davis, developer of @uref{http://jackaudio.org/, JACK} and @uref{http://www.ardour.org/, Ardour}.

@qq{I think [LilyPond is] an incredible program, and it produces
wonderful, wonderful output. when i read an interview about it
last year, i was raving to several friends of mine about its
potential.}
@divEnd


@divClass{column-center-bottom}
@subheading Where now?

Read about our @ref{Text input}.
@divEnd



@node Text input
@unnumberedsec Text input

@c TRANSLATORS: so far it's mostly from
@c http://lilypond.org/web/switch/howto

@subheading @qq{Compiling} Music

@imageClickable{examples/nereid-shot-small.png, (click to enlarge), examples/nereid-shot.png, right}

LilyPond is a @emph{compiled} system: it is run on a text file
containing the notes.  The resulting output is viewed on-screen or
printed.  In some ways, LilyPond is more similar to a programming
language than graphical score editing software.

You do not write music by dragging notes from a graphical toolbar
and placing them on a dynamically refreshing score; you write
music by typing text.  This text is interpreted (or @qq{compiled})
by LilyPond, which produces beautifully engraved sheet music.

People accustomed to graphical user interfaces might need to learn
a new way of working, but the results are definitely worth it!

@warning{We present a quick overview of our text input -- it's not
as complicated as it sounds!  Don't worry about understanding
every detail in these examples; our beginner documentation covers
everything at a much more gradual pace.}


@subsubheading It's as simple as A B C

Notes are encoded with letters and numbers.  Special commands are
entered with backslashes.

@imageFloat{text-input-1-annotate.png,center}
@imageFloat{text-input-1-output.png,center}

Alterations are made with different names: add @code{-is} for
sharp, and @code{-es} for flat (these are Dutch note names, other
languages are available).  LilyPond figures out where to put
accidentals.

@imageFloat{text-input-2-annotate.png,center}
@imageFloat{text-input-2-output.png,center}


@subsubheading Pop music

Put chords and lyrics together to get a lead sheet:

@help{change the lyrics.  svg available}

@imageFloat{text-input-pop-annotate.png,center}
@imageFloat{text-input-pop-output.png,center}



@subsubheading Orchestral parts

The input file contains the notes of piece.  Score and parts can
be made from a single input file.  So, changing a note always
affects both parts and score.  To share the notes, the music is
assigned to a variable:

@imageFloat{text-input-parts-both-annotate.png,center}


This variable is then used in a single part (here transposed, with
condensed multi rests):

@imageFloat{text-input-parts-single-annotate.png,center}
@imageFloat{text-input-parts-single-output.png,center}


The same variable is used in the full score (here in concert
pitch):

@imageFloat{text-input-score-annotate.png,center}
@imageFloat{text-input-score-output.png,center}


@subsubheading Beginner Documentation

We realize that many users find this way of entering music a bit
odd.  For this reason, we have written extensive documentation to
help new users, beginning with @ref{Learning}.

Please read the Learning Manual before complaining about bugs!
New users occasionally believe that LilyPond is not working
correctly, when in fact it is working precisely as designed.

@help{any suggestions for a picture here?}


@subsubheading Easier editing environments

LilyPond is primarily concerned with producing top-quality
engraved sheet music; creating a Graphical User Interface (GUI)
would distract us from this goal.  However, there are other
projects aimed at making it easier to create LilyPond input files.

Some editing environments include syntax highlighting, automatic
command completion, and pre-made templates.  Other programs
actually provide a GUI which allows direct manipulation of a
graphical score.  For more information, see our documentation
about @@ref@{FIXME alternate editing environments@}.


@divClass{column-center-bottom}
@subheading Where now?

You are now ready to @ref{Download, Download LilyPond}.

Still not convinced?  Many composers, musicians, and conductors
have learned how to write music in our input format.  Experienced
users even report that they can enter a full score in LilyPond
faster than with a piano keyboard or mouse+GUI!  Perhaps you would
like to review the @ref{Features}, @ref{Examples}, or
@ref{Freedom} that LilyPond provides, or read about users'
@ref{Productions} and @ref{Testimonials}.
@divEnd