1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
7 @unnumbered New features in 2.3 since 2.2
11 @item The mode changing commands (@code{\chords}, @code{\lyrics}, etc.)
12 have been renamed to @code{\chordmode}, @code{\lyricmode}, etc. The
13 command @code{\chords} is an abbreviation for
16 \new ChordNames \chordmode ...
20 @code{\drums}, @code{\lyrics}, @code{\chords}, @code{\figures}
23 @item The types of events quoted with @code{\quote} can now be tuned
24 with @code{quotedEventTypes}. By default, only notes and rests end up
27 @item LilyPond will try to keep
28 staves at the same distances across a page, but it will stretch
29 distances to prevent collisions. This results in a more even
30 appearance of the page.
32 @item Key signature cancellations are now printed before the bar line,
33 and their appearance has been improved.
35 @item Different voices that all use @code{\quote} can now refer to
39 @item The automatic staff changer, which is invoked with
40 @code{\autochange}, now creates the @code{up} and @code{down} staff
41 automatically, and uses bass clef for the bottom staff.
43 @item There is now support for putting two slurs on chords, both above
44 and below. This is switched on with the @code{doubleSlurs} property.
46 @item Running trills now have their own spanner and event,
49 c1\startTrillSpan c4\stopTrillSpan
52 @item There is a new markup command @code{\postscript} that takes a
53 string that is dumped as verbatim PostScript in the output.
55 @item The melody for a @code{\lyricsto} text can be changed during a
56 melody by setting the @code{associatedVoice} property.
58 @item The @code{\lyricsto} keyword now automatically switches on
61 @item The LilyPond binary now supports output options
62 @code{--dvi} @code{--png} @code{--ps} @code{--pdf} and
63 @code{--preview}. The old wrapper script for La@TeX{} has been
64 renamed to @code{lilypond-latex}.
66 @item Support for ambitus has been rewritten. The Ambitus object is now
67 a grouping object, composed of @code{AmbitusLine},
68 @code{AmbitusAccidental} and @code{AmbitusNoteHead}. These objects may
69 be tuned similar to accidentals and note heads.
71 @item Ledger lines are now shortened when the spacing is tight. This
72 prevents ledger lines from colliding with each other.
74 @item Slur formatting has been rewritten. The new slur code
75 works similar to the Beam formatter: scores are assigned for all
76 esthetic components of a slur. A large number of combinations for
77 begin and end points is then tried out. Slurs will now also take into
78 account collisions with staff lines, scripts (like staccato and
79 accent) and accidentals.
82 @item In the LilyPond emacs mode, entering @code{|} will display the
83 current beat within the measure.
85 @item Colliding notes are now correctly aligned relative to notes in other staves.
87 @item An experimental GNOME output backend is available for developers.
88 It depends on several unreleased packages such as gnome-guile TLA and
89 Pango CVS. The output interface coverage is sparse, but it already
90 does support point-and-click on the GNOME Canvas. See also
91 @file{scm/output-gnome.scm}.
93 @item Context definitions are now stored in identifiers that match the
94 context name, in other words, to modify a @code{Staff} context, the
95 following code may be used.
104 @item A new block, @code{\bookpaper} has been introduced to
105 hold settings for paper size and output scaling. Further options
106 include @code{raggedbottom} (if set, systems are not vertically filled
107 to reach the bottom of the page), and @code{raggedlastbottom}.
111 @item Support for fret diagrams has been contributed by Carl
112 D. Sorensen. @file{input/test/fret-diagram.ly} contains an example.
114 @item The @code{--safe-mode} has been revisited: GUILE evaluation
115 is done in the R5RS safe module, with only the basic @code{ly:}
116 interface available and malicious @TeX{} code is stopped. However, to
117 be reasonably safe, you are advised to use the PostScript backend
118 rather than the @TeX{} backend anyway; and if possible use an UML
119 sandbox to run gs or latex.
121 @item Music syntax can now be extended seamlessly. As an example,
122 here is the new implementation @code{\applymusic},
125 applymusic = #(ly:make-music-function
126 (list procedure? ly:music?) ; signature
127 (lambda (where func music) ; the function
131 @item @code{\apply} has been renamed to @code{\applymusic}.
133 @item Music can be used as a markup.
134 When inserting a @code{score} block as part of a @code{\markup}, it
135 produces a rendered markup of the music. An example is in
136 @file{input/test/markup-score.ly}.
138 @item LilyPond expressions can be embedded into Scheme. The syntax for
139 this is @code{#@{ ... #@}}. Within such a block, Scheme forms can be
140 introduced using a @code{$} character (@code{$$} results in a single
141 `$' character). These forms are then inserted in the pattern.
144 #(define (textoffset dx dy)
146 #@{ \override Voice.TextScript #'extra-offset = #(cons $dx $dy) #@}))
150 %% The following embedded scheme call is the same as
151 %% \override Voice.TextScript #'extra-offset = #(cons 2 -3)
153 c'^"text with offset"
157 @item A music list at toplevel is interpreted as implicit @code{\score}
158 a @code{\score} block at toplevel is interpreted as an implicit
159 @code{\book} and @code{\notes} mode is the default lexer mode. The
163 \header @{ title = "The Title" @}
170 \header @{ title = "The Title" @}
178 This is handled by the function defined in
179 @code{toplevel-music-handler}. Similarly, @code{\score} and
180 @code{\book} are handled by @code{toplevel-score-handler} and a
181 @code{toplevel-book-handler}. By changing these variables, different
182 results can be obtained.
184 @item Mode changing commands,
185 such as @code{\chords} and @code{\figures} must now be directly
186 followed by delimiters. The following example demonstrates the new
190 \figures \context Figures { .. } % wrong
191 \context Figures \figures { .. } % right
195 @item The starting pitch for @code{relative} music is optional for music lists.
196 The default value is middle C.
198 @c update-me? formal definition of newaddlyrics, once it works
199 @item Combining lyrics with music can be done with @code{\addlyrics}
204 d2 d c4 bes a2 \break
207 My first Li -- ly song,
210 Not much can go wrong!
214 Syntactically, @code{\addlyrics} acts like an infix operator.
216 @item The parser is encapsulated in a Scheme function
217 @code{ly:parse-file}, so the following fragment processes two files
220 #(ly:parse-file "another.ly")
221 \score { \notes { c4 }}
224 @item The @code{font-encoding} property can now be used to select
225 differently encoded fonts. The previous default setting
226 @code{TeX-text} has been replaced by latin1. LilyPond requires the
227 @uref{http://www.lilypond.org/download/fonts/,ec-fonts-mftraced}
228 package installed to function properly.
230 @item The encoding of a file can be switched with
231 @code{\encoding}. The strings for markup texts are translated
234 @item The toplevel block @code{\book} introduces page layout.
235 A @code{\book} groups @code{\score} blocks into one page layout
236 entity. For example, two scores are combined in one book with
247 Titling and page breaks are handled by LilyPond. Page breaks may be
248 inserted manually with
254 The @code{lilypond} program does not generate La@TeX{} titles or page
255 layout. If you need La@TeX{} titles, you can use the
256 @code{lilypond-book} program.
258 @item There is now less of a noticeable ``hook'' at the end of a long slur.
260 @item The meaning of the @code{|} in the input can be redefined, by
261 assigning a music expression to @code{pipeSymbol}.
265 @unnumbered New features in 2.2 since 2.0
269 @item Setting @code{raggedlast = ##t} in the @code{\paper} block
270 causes the last line to be set flush-left instead of justified.
272 @item The @code{Timing_engraver} now sets the @code{Timing} alias on
273 its containing context automatically.
275 @item The code for font selection has been rewritten. In addition to
276 existing font selection properties, the property @code{font-encoding}
277 has been added, which makes the switch between normal @code{text} and
278 other encodings like @code{braces}, @code{music} and @code{math}.
280 @item The pmx2ly script has been removed from the distribution.
282 @item Pedal brackets will now run to the last bar of a piece if they are not
285 @item Context definitions now use the word @code{\context} instead of @code{\translator}.
287 @item Property functions may be used as an argument to @code{set!},
291 (set! (ly:grob-property grob 'beam) ... )
294 @item In anticipation of Emacs 21.4 or 22.1, the info documentation contains
297 @item Cue notes can be quoted directly from the parts that
298 contain them. This will take into account transposition of source and target
299 instrument. For example,
302 \addquote clarinet \notes\relative c' {
308 \notes \relative c'' {
309 c8 d8 \quote 2 oboe es8 gis
314 @item The transposition of an instrument can be specified using the
315 @code{\transposition} command. An
316 E-flat alto saxophone is specified as
322 @item The naming of exported Scheme functions now follows Scheme conventions.
323 Changes be applied to Scheme files with
326 convert-ly -e -n --from=2.1.24 --to=2.1.26 *.scm
330 @item Notes can be excluded from auto-beaming, by marking them with
337 will print two separate eighth notes, and two beamed notes.
339 @item Translators and contexts have been split. The result of this
340 internal cleanup is that @code{Score} no longer is the top context;
341 @code{Score} is contained in the @code{Global} context. Consequently,
342 it is possible to tweak @code{Score} as follows:
345 \context Score \with @{
350 @item The number of staff lines in Tablature notation is now
351 automatically deduced from the @code{stringTunings} property.
353 @item The program reference has been cleaned up and revised.
355 @item The syntax for setting properties has been simplified:
356 the following table lists the differences:
361 \property A.B = #C \set A.B = #C
362 \property A.B \unset \unset A.B
363 \property A.B \set #C = #D \override A.B #C = #D
364 \property A.B \override #C = #D (removed)
365 \property A.B \revert #C \revert A.B #C
368 Furthermore, if @code{A} is left out, the bottommost context is used
369 by default. In other words, it is no longer necessary to explicitly
370 mention @code{Voice}, @code{Lyrics} or @code{ChordNames}.
375 \property Voice.autoBeaming = ##f
376 \property Staff.TimeSignature \set #'style = #'C
382 \set autoBeaming = ##f
383 \override Staff.TimeSignature #'style = #'C
387 @item Tweaks made with @code{\override} and @code{\revert} no longer
388 hide tweaks at higher context levels.
390 @item Melismata in lyrics are also properly handled in the MIDI output.
392 @item The lilypond-book script has been rewritten.
393 It is shorter, cleaner and faster. The special construct
394 @code{mbinclude} has been removed, plain @code{@@include} or
395 @code{\input} can be used now.
397 It now supports running convert-ly on the lilypond snippets,
399 lilypond-book --filter='convert-ly --from=2.0.0' my-book.tely
402 @item The @code{LyricsVoice} context has been removed. Lyrics should only
403 be constructed in @code{Lyrics}.
405 @item The @code{Thread} context has been removed. Note heads and rests
406 are now constructed at @code{Voice} level.
408 @item Harmonic notes can now be entered as
414 @item Drum notation is now supported as a regular feature:
415 percussion may be entered in @code{\drums} mode, and printed or
416 performed in a @code{DrumStaff} context:
420 \drums \new DrumStaff @{ hihat4 cowbell8 @}
424 @item The automatic staff changer was internally rewritten. As a
425 result, the syntax has been simplified as well:
428 \autochange @var{the-music}
431 @item The ergonomic syntax of @code{\markup} now has an equivalent in
432 Scheme. The @code{markup*} macro creates such objects; the following
433 two markup commands are equivalent:
435 f4^#(markup* #:raise 0.2 #:bold "hi")
436 f4^\markup @{ \raise #0.2 \bold hi @}
439 @item Voice names, for vocal lines, have been added. They are similar
440 to instrument names. They can be set by defining @code{vocalName}
443 @item Safe mode has been reinstated for lilypond.
444 When lilypond is invoked with @code{--safe-mode}, @TeX{} and
445 PostScript file output is disallowed, and lilypond-bin is invoked with
446 @code{--safe-mode}, the user's Guile expressions are evaluated in a
447 safe environment and file inclusion is not allowed.
449 Warning: this does not protect against denial-of-service attacks using
450 Guile, @TeX{} or PostScript.
452 (This feature is still experimental.)
454 @item There is now a Scheme macro for defining markup
455 commands. Special mark-up commands can be defined in user-files too.
457 @item Many fixes for dimension scaling have been made,
458 resulting in correct results for scores that mix staves in different
461 @item Improved robustness when layout properties are accidentally removed.
463 @item A more cleanly constructed part combiner has been installed.
464 It is more robust and less buggy. The part-combiner can be used with
466 \partcombine @var{mus1} @var{mus2}
470 See @file{input/regression/new-part-combine.ly} for an example.
472 @item Formatting of rehearsal marks has been improved. The @code{\mark}
473 command now only does automatic incrementing for marks specified as
474 integer. For example, @code{\mark #1} will print an A in the default
475 style. See @file{input/regression/rehearsal-mark-letter.ly},
476 @file{input/regression/rehearsal-mark-number.ly}.
478 @item Formatting of ottava brackets has been much improved.
480 @item Objects in the output can now be documented: the following fragment
481 boxes the note head, and adds the text ``heads or tails?'' three
482 spaces below the box.
485 \context Voice \applyoutput #(add-balloon-text
486 'NoteHead "heads, or tails?"
494 @item Default staff sizes are now scalable. There are two new mechanisms for
495 setting staff sizes. Both are demonstrated in this fragment:
498 #(set-global-staff-size 15)
500 #(paper-set-staff-size (* 15 pt))
506 Both have the same effect on the global layout of a piece. Similarly,
507 the paper size may be changed as follows
510 #(set-default-paper-size "a4")
512 #(set-paper-size "a4")
517 @item Warnings for bar check errors are more cleverly printed. This
518 makes @code{barCheckSynchronize} superfluous, so it is now switched
521 Warning: this will cause problems in scores that use bar checks to
524 @item The black note head was made a little rounder, which causes a less
525 frantic graphic impression.
528 A more concise syntax for checking octaves was introduced. A note may
529 be followed by @code{=}@var{quotes} which indicates what its absolute
530 octave should be. In the following example,
533 \relative c'' @{ c='' b=' d,='' @}
537 the d will generate a warning, because a d'' is
538 expected, but a d' is found.
539 @c @code adds ` ', very confusing.
541 @item There is a new mechanism for putting lyrics to melodies.
542 With this mechanism, @code{Lyrics} lines can be put melodies
543 individually, allowing for different melismatic sections in every
544 @code{Lyrics}. See @file{input/regression/lyric-combine-new.ly}.
546 @item Bar lines may now be dotted.
549 @item The documentation now has links to a wiki, where everyone can
550 add personal comments to the manual.
552 @item Contexts may now be changed locally for an isolated music
553 expression. For example,
557 \consists "Pitch_squash_engraver"
563 @item The syntax for changing staffs has changed. The keyword
564 @code{\change} should now be used, e.g.
570 @item Features of spanner contexts, like @code{Staff}, can now be changed
571 using @code{\set}, eg.
575 \override Staff.StaffSymbol #'line-count = #4
581 puts a quarter note C on a staff with 4 lines.
584 @item Multi measure rests are now truly centered between the
585 clefs/barlines of the staff, their position is independent of symbols
588 @item Collision resolution for dots in chords has been improved greatly.
591 Spacing following barlines was improved for widely stretched lines.
594 Lyric hyphens and extenders now conform to standard typesetting
598 Lyrics are now aligned under note heads conforming to engraving
599 standards. The responsible code has been rewritten, and is drastically
600 simpler from the previous version. To aid this rewrite, the syntactic
601 function of the extender line ( __ ) has been changed: it is now
602 attached to the lyric syllable.
605 When redefining a context, the associated identifier is also
606 updated. For example, after reading
616 the definition of @code{ScoreContext} is updated to include the changed
621 The weight of the stafflines is now heavier at smaller staff sizes.
622 The font has been modified to match this look: at smaller sizes, the
623 font is heavier and the note heads are more rounded.
625 @item Processing scores is now done while parsing the file. New
626 Scheme functions give more flexibility: for example, it is now possible
627 interpret a score, collecting synchronized musical events in a list, and
628 manipulate that information using inline Scheme. For an example, see
629 @file{input/no-notation/recording.ly}.
631 @item Font sizes can now truly be scaled continuously: the @code{font-size}
632 is similar to the old @code{font-relative-size}, but may be set to
633 fractional values; the closest design size will be scaled to achieve
634 the desired size. As a side-effect, there are now no longer
635 limitations in using smaller fonts (eg. grace notes) at small staff
638 @item Stem tips are now also engraved with rounded corners.
641 The placement of accidentals on chords and ledgered notes is improved.
646 @unnumbered New features in 2.0 since 1.8
651 Crescendos can now be drawn dotted or dashed.
654 Quarter tones are now supported. They are entered by suffixing
655 @code{ih} for a half-sharp and @code{eh} for a half-flat. Hence, the
656 following is an ascending list of pitches:
659 ceses ceseh ces ceh c cih cis cisih cisis
663 The following constructs have been removed from the syntax:
666 \duration #SCHEME-DURATION
668 \outputproperty @var{func} @var{symbol} = @var{value}
671 For @code{\outputproperty}, the following may be substituted:
674 \applyoutput #(outputproperty-compatibility @var{func}
675 @var{symbol} @var{value})
679 Clefs may now be transposed arbitrarily, for example
689 The syntax for chords and simultaneous music have changed.
690 Chords are entered as
696 while simultaneous music is entered as
699 <<@var{..music list..}>>
702 In effect, the meanings of both have been swapped relative to their 1.8
703 definition. The syntax for lists in @code{\markup} has changed
704 alongside, but figured bass mode was not changed, i.e.:
707 \markup @{ \center <@var{..list of markups..}> @}
708 \figure @{ <@var{figures}> @}
711 As chords the more often used than simultaneous music, this change will
715 Each music expression can now be tagged, to make different printed
716 versions from the same music expression. In the following example,
717 we see two versions of a piece of music, one for the full score, and
718 one with cue notes for the instrumental part:
722 @{ c4 f2 g4 @} % in the part, we have cue-notes
724 \tag #'score R1 % in the score: only a rest
728 The same can be applied to articulations, texts, etc.: they are
732 -\tag #@var{your-tags}
735 to an articulation, for example,
738 c4-\tag #'with-fingerings -4 -\tag #'with-strings \6
741 This defines a note, which has a conditional fingering and a
742 string-number indication.
745 The settings for chord-fingering are more flexible. You can specify a
746 list where fingerings may be placed, eg.
749 \property Voice.fingeringOrientations = #'(left down)
752 This will put the fingering for the lowest note below the chord, and the
756 The script previously known as @code{ly2dvi} has been renamed to
757 @code{lilypond}. The binary itself is now installed as
761 Markup text (ie. general text formatting) may now be used for lyrics too.
764 Two new commands for grace notes have been added, @code{\acciaccatura}
765 and @code{\appoggiatura},
772 Both reflect the traditional meanings of acciaccatura and appogiatura,
773 and both insert insert a slur from the first grace note to the main
777 Layout options for grace notes are now stored in a context property,
778 and may now be set separately from musical content.
781 The @code{\new} command will create a context with a unique
782 name automatically. Hence, for multi-staff scores, it is no longer
783 necessary to invent arbitrary context names. For example, a two-staff
784 score may be created by
788 \new Staff @{ @var{notes for 1st staff} @}
789 \new Staff @{ @var{notes for 2nd staff} @}
796 Octave checks make octave errors easier to correct.
803 This checks that @var{pitch} (without octave) yields @var{pitch} (with
804 octave) in \relative mode. If not, a warning is printed, and the
808 All articulations must now be entered postfix. For example,
815 is a pair of beamed slurred eighth notes.
818 The definition of @code{\relative} has been simplified. Octaves are
819 now always propagated in the order that music is entered. In the
824 \repeat "unfold" 3 BODY \alternative @{ ALT1 ALT2 @}
829 the octave of BODY is based on PRE, the starting octave of ALT1 on
830 BODY, the starting octave of ALT2 on ALT1, and the starting octave of
833 The same mechanism is used for all other music expressions, except the
834 chord. Backwards compatibility is retained through a special program option,
838 #(ly:set-option 'old-relative)
842 Windows users can double click a @code{.ly} file to process and view
843 it automagically through the new @code{lily-wins} frontend.
850 @unnumbered New features in 1.8 since 1.6
855 The chord entry code has been completely rewritten. It is now
856 cleaner and more flexible.
859 A new syntax has been added for text entry. This syntax is more
860 friendly than the old mechanism, and it is implemented in a more
861 robust and modular way. For more information, refer to the section on
862 "Text markup" in the notation manual.
865 The integration of the input language and Scheme has been made deeper:
866 you can now use LilyPond identifiers in Scheme, and use Scheme
867 expressions instead of LilyPond identifiers.
870 The internal representation of music has been cleaned up completely
871 and converted to Scheme data structures. The representation may be
875 A new uniform postfix syntax for articulation has been introduced.
876 A beamed slurred pair of eighth notes can be entered as
882 In version 2.0, postfix syntax will be the only syntax
883 available, and the dashes will become optional.
885 This will simplify the language: all articulations can be entered as
886 postfix, in any order.
889 A new syntax has been added for chords:
896 It is not necessary to update files to this syntax, but it will be for
897 using LilyPond version 2.0. In version 2.0, this syntax will be
907 \simultaneous @{ .. @}
910 for simultaneous music.
912 To convert your files from <PITCHES> to <<PITCHES>>, use the script
913 included in @file{buildscripts/convert-new-chords.py}.
915 This change was introduced for the following reasons
919 It solves the "start score with chord" problem, where you have to
920 state \context Voice explicitly when a chord was the start of a
923 With the new syntax, it is possible to distinguish between
924 articulations (or fingerings) which are for a single chord note,
925 and which are for the entire chord. This allows for per-note
926 fingerings, and is more logical on the whole.
930 User code may now be executed during interpreting. The syntax for
934 \applycontext #SCHEME-FUNCTION
938 User code may now be executed on arbitrary grobs during interpreting.
939 The syntax for this feature is
942 \applyoutput #SCHEME-FUNCTION
946 SCHEME-FUNCTION takes a single argument, and is called for every grob
947 that is created in the current context.
950 New algorithms for chord-name formatting have been installed. They
951 can be tuned and have ergonomic syntax for entering exceptions.
954 Texts may now be put on multimeasure rests, e.g.
957 R1*20^\markup @{ "GP" @}
961 Ancient notation now prints ligatures in Gregorian square neumes
962 notation, roughly following the typographical style of the Liber
963 hymnarius of Solesmes, published in 1983. Ligatures are still printed
964 without the proper line breaking and horizontal spacing.
967 Glissandi can now be printed using the zigzag style.
970 LilyPond can now print clusters. The syntax is
973 \apply #notes-to-clusters @{ NOTE NOTE .. @}
977 For irregular meters, beat grouping marks can be printed. The
981 #(set-time-signature 7 8 '(3 2 2))
986 Nested horizontal brackets for music analysis can now be printed:
995 @item Ottava brackets are now fully supported as a feature. The syntax
1003 @item Metronome markings are printed when a \tempo command is processed.
1007 @item Fingerings can be put on chords horizontally.
1011 @item The appearance of various glyphs has been fine-tuned.
1015 @item Different types of percent style repeats may now be nested.
1019 @item The emacs support has been extended.
1023 The manual has been completely revised and extended.
1027 @unnumbered New features in 1.6 since 1.4
1033 Support for figured bass and tablature.
1036 Completely rewritten beam formatting: provides much better output
1041 Completely revised and improved music font.
1045 Completely rewritten MIDI import support.
1048 Completely rewritten grace note support. Practically speaking this
1049 means that grace notes can be slurred to normal normal notes.
1053 Improved accidental handling and formatting: styles for producing
1054 cautionaries may vary, and complex collisions between accidentals of a
1055 chord are handled much better.
1058 Better spacing: both globally and locally. This includes subtle
1059 details like optical stem spacing.
1062 More support for ancient notation: mensural ligatures, ambitus
1063 (pitch range) of voices, more shapes, etc.
1066 More support for piano notation: bracket pedals, directed arpeggios,
1070 Easier music polyphonic music entry.
1073 More extensibility, many speedups and bugfixes
1076 The manual has been thoroughly revised.
1079 Development is now hosted at http://savannah.gnu.org, and sources
1080 can be downloaded through anonymous CVS.
1083 Support for windows: LilyPond is part of the cygwin distribution,
1084 which comes with a user-friendly installer.