1 @c -*- coding: utf-8; mode: texinfo; -*-
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11 @unnumbered Introduction
13 @divClass{column-center-top}
16 @imageFloat{flat-design,png,right}
18 LilyPond came about when two musicians wanted to go beyond the
19 soulless look of computer-printed sheet music. Musicians prefer
20 reading beautiful music, so why couldn't programmers write
21 software to produce elegant printed parts?
23 The result is a system which frees musicians from the details of
24 layout, allowing them to focus on making music. LilyPond works
25 with them to create publication-quality parts, crafted in the best
26 traditions of classical music engraving.
30 @divClass{link-headings}
32 @divClass{column-left-top}
33 @subheading What LilyPond does
38 @ref{Features}: What can LilyPond do?
41 @ref{Examples}: I want to see some music!
44 @ref{Freedom}: LilyPond is Free Software.
47 @ref{Background}: Our computational aesthetics.
52 @divClass{column-right-top}
53 @subheading LilyPond in use
57 @ref{Productions}: Real-life use of LilyPond.
60 @ref{Reviews}: What do people say?
65 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
66 @subheading How LilyPond works
70 @ref{Text input}: You write music as @emph{text}?!
73 @ref{Easier editing}: Other ways of working with LilyPond.
80 @c TRANSLATORS, translations are not yet compiled in Info format, so
81 @c it's not worth translating the right column of the following
85 * Features:: What can LilyPond do?
86 * Examples:: I want to see some music!
87 * Freedom:: Freedom and the GPL.
88 * Background:: Computational aesthetics.
89 * Productions:: Real-life use of LilyPond.
90 * Reviews:: What do people say about it?
91 * Text input:: You write music as text?!
92 * Easier editing:: Other ways of working with LilyPond.
99 @unnumberedsec Features
100 @divClass{column-center-top}
104 @subsubheading Excellent classical engraving
106 @imageFloat{flat-design,png,right}
108 LilyPond allows musicians to produce elegant sheet music that is
109 easy to read. Its developer community has spent thousands of hours
110 developing powerful music engraving software that results in beautifully
111 engraved music. All of LilyPond's style settings, font designs and
112 algorithms have been inspired by the finest hand-engraved music.
113 LilyPond output has the same strong, balanced and elegant look as the
114 best-engraved classical scores. This is further explained in our
119 @subsubheading Effective layout choices
121 Spend less time with tweaking the output; LilyPond gets the
122 formatting correct right from the start. It determines spacing by
123 itself, and breaks lines and pages to provide a tight and uniform
124 layout. Clashes between lyrics, notes, and chords are resolved
125 and slurs and beams are sloped, automatically!
131 @subheading Ease of use
133 @imageFloat{lilypond-book,png,right}
135 @subsubheading Text-based input
137 LilyPond takes ASCII input, which you can produce in your favorite
138 text editor, quickly and comfortably. The input contains all the
139 information, so there is no need to remember complex command sequences:
140 simply save a file for later reference.
142 @subsubheading Mix music and text
144 Put fragments of music into texts without cutting and pasting
145 pictures. Integrate music into @LaTeX{} or HTML seamlessly, or add
146 music to OpenOffice.org with OOoLilyPond. Plugins are also available
147 to allow LilyPond code in various blogs and wikis, making online
148 collaboration possible.
151 @subsubheading Accessibility
153 Text-based input also makes score-writing possible for users with
154 severe physical disabilities. Dexterity-impaired users who are
155 unable to type or control a computer mouse can use
156 speech-recognition software to edit LilyPond files. Even users
157 who are totally blind can use screen-reading software to write
158 LilyPond files -- an impossible task in graphical-based
159 score-writing programs.
161 @subsubheading Extensible design
163 All settings can be changed to suit your personal typographical
164 taste. If that still is not enough, there is always the built-in
165 scripting language Scheme, a dialect of the powerful language
166 LISP. Settings, variables and functions are all documented in the
167 comprehensive program reference manual.
173 @subheading Environment
175 @imageFloat{frescobaldi-lilypond-editor-small,png,right}
177 @subsubheading Free software
179 LilyPond can be downloaded free of charge! Yep - It's free. Get
180 it from the download page.
182 It's also free (as in @qq{speech}) software. It comes with source
183 code, and permission to change and copy it. So, are you irritated
184 by a bug, or yearning for a feature? Simply add it yourself, or
185 pay someone else to do it.
188 @subsubheading Excellent support
190 LilyPond runs on all popular platforms: GNU/Linux, MacOS X, and
191 Windows. LilyPond comes with extensive documentation and hundreds
192 of example files. There is an active user community answering
193 questions on the lilypond-user mailing list, while the development
194 team makes sure that problems are solved quickly.
197 @subsubheading Enhanced editors
200 Several developers, themselves active LilyPond users, have also
201 written tools specifically aimed at making the process of editing
202 LilyPond files faster and more effective. For some examples, see
203 @ref{Easier editing}.
206 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
207 @subheading Where now?
209 Still not convinced? Look at some specific @ref{Examples}. If you've
210 already decided to try LilyPond, first read about our
217 @unnumberedsec Examples
219 LilyPond is a powerful and flexible tool for engraving tasks of
220 all kinds. Please browse our gallery of examples and be inspired!
224 @subsubheading Classical Music
226 This organ work by J.S. Bach is a fairly typical engraving project
229 @exampleImage{bach-bwv610}
233 @subsubheading Complex Notation
235 This example from @emph{Goyescas} by Enrique Granados shows some
236 of the more advanced features of typesetting, including kneed
237 beams, cross-staff stems, and voice-follow lines.
239 @exampleImage{granados}
243 @subsubheading Early Music
245 LilyPond also supports various types of ancient notation, such
246 as this passage of Gregorian chant.
248 @exampleImage{ancient-headword}
252 @subsubheading Modern Music
254 Contemporary composers find LilyPond well-suited to displaying
255 unusual notation. Here is an excerpt from Trevor Bača's
256 @emph{Čáry}, for unaccompanied bass flute.
263 @subsubheading Efficient, flexible creation of performance materials
265 Various performance materials can be created from the same source
266 code. This is an excerpt of @uref{http://nicolas.sceaux.free.fr/,
267 Nicolas Sceaux's} engraving of Handel's @emph{Giulio Cesare}, in
268 full score, piano-vocal reduction, and a violin part.
270 @exampleImage{sesto-full}
272 @exampleImage{sesto-piano}
274 @exampleImage{sesto-violin}
279 @subsubheading Tablature
281 LilyPond supports tablature notation, which can be customized to
282 suit any instrument that reads from tablature. The tablature
283 staff is generated automatically from notes entered for the 5-line
286 @exampleImage{tab-example}
290 @subsubheading Schenker Graphs
292 Standard output can be modified heavily. Here is an impressive
293 Schenkerian analysis, created by Kris Schaffer, for an article
294 in @uref{http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8364 , Linux Journal.}.
295 The colors have been added for better visibility.
297 @exampleImage{bach-schenker}
301 @subsubheading Vocal Music
303 LilyPond is excellent for vocal music of all kinds, from sacred
304 hymns to opera. Here is a medieval motet with slightly unusual
305 requirements. The tenor voice is written in a different meter
306 than the others, but must line up as if it were in the same meter.
307 LilyPond handles this most elegantly. Note also the incipits with
308 Vaticana style clefs, the slashed stems indicating plicated notes,
309 and the ligature braces above certain groups of notes.
311 @exampleImage{aucun-snippet}
315 @subsubheading Educational Applications
317 LilyPond is perfectly suited for educational purposes as well.
318 Here is an example of a simple counterpoint exercise.
320 @exampleImage{theory}
324 @subsubheading Popular Music
326 It is simple to create pop lead sheets with melody, lyrics,
327 chord names, and fretboards. In this example you see some of the
328 predefined fretboard diagrams, but these can be heavily customized
329 to suit nearly any situation.
335 @subsubheading Large Projects
337 LilyPond is excellent for large projects like operas or works for
338 full symphony orchestra, as well. In addition, the text-based
339 input provides greater accessibility -- this example was
340 contributed by Hu Haipeng, a blind composer.
342 @exampleImage{orchestra}
346 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
347 @subheading Where now?
349 Still not convinced? LilyPond is Free software, granting you
350 @ref{Freedom}. If you've already decided to try LilyPond, first
351 read about our @ref{Text input}.
356 @unnumberedsec Freedom
358 @divClass{column-center-top}
359 @subheading Free Software
361 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/, GNU} LilyPond is written and maintained
362 by a community of enthusiasts. It is published under the
363 @ref{GPL, GNU General Public License} and the @ref{FDL, GNU Free
364 Documentation License}, giving everybody the freedom to fix,
365 modify, and extend the program. Creating beautiful music should
366 not require hundreds of dollars of software!
370 @c @divClass{column-left-top}
372 @divClass{keep-bullets}
373 @subheading What are the benefits to users?
378 No cost: download and try it out! What do you have to lose?
381 Sharing: if you like the program, give a copy to your friends,
382 teachers, students, and colleagues!
385 Source available: if you are curious about how LilyPond creates
386 some notation, you can see exactly how it is done.
389 Extendible: you can add features, fix bugs, and change the
390 functionality. If you are not a programmer, you can hire somebody
393 This may not seem appealing to casual musicians, but the ability
394 to extend software can be highly valuable to serious composers,
395 companies, and academics.
398 Future safety: if a commercial company goes bankrupt, what happens
399 to any electronic music which depends on their products? This is
400 not a concern with LilyPond; even if the entire development team
401 quits (extremely unlikely), the program will still be legally
402 available for copying, modifications, and distribution.
411 @c @divClass{column-right-top}
413 @divClass{keep-bullets}
414 @subheading Why do LilyPond developers @qq{give away} their work for free?
416 Most of us view LilyPond development as a hobby or volunteer work.
417 So this question is really asking @qq{why do people volunteer}?
422 Fun: working towards a goal can be enjoyable, especially when you
426 Shared goals: we all want beautiful sheet music, but few people
427 have the expertise (and nobody has the time!), to create a program
428 which can handle all situations. By working together -- one
429 person improves the automatic beaming code, another person
430 improves the shape of slurs, and a third person writes
431 documentation explaining how to use these features -- we can
432 achieve our goal with only a fraction of the individual effort.
435 @qq{Gift culture}: the Free Software (or @qq{Open Source})
436 movement has created many great software projects, such as
437 @uref{http://kernel.org/, GNU/Linux},
438 @uref{http://www.getfirefox.com/, Mozilla Firefox}, and
439 @uref{http://www.wesnoth.org/, Battle for Wesnoth}. Having
440 benefitted from these projects, some developers want to @qq{give
441 back} to the community.
444 Work experience: contributing to open-source projects is a great way to
445 practice programming, documentation writing, documentation translation,
446 or design. This experience has helped some developers gain job offers
456 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
457 @subheading Where now?
459 Still not convinced? Read our extensive essay about our engraving
460 philosophy in @ref{Background}. If you've already decided to try
461 LilyPond, first read about our @ref{Text input}.
466 @unnumberedsec Background
468 @divClass{column-center-top}
469 @subheading Background essay
471 We have an extensive essay describing computational aesthetics:
472 the art of creating beauty with a computer.
474 If you just want a quick introduction to LilyPond, the essay might
475 be too much material to read. If you would like to read it now,
476 please progress to @ref{Essay}.
479 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
480 @subheading Where now?
482 Still not convinced? Read about some of our users'
483 @ref{Productions} and sheet music. If you've already decided to
484 try LilyPond, first read about our @ref{Text input}.
489 @unnumberedsec Productions
491 @divClass{column-left-top}
494 LilyPond engravings have been used for performances around the world.
497 @divClass{keep-bullets}
501 @emph{Affaire étrangère}, an opera by
502 @uref{http://valentin.villenave.net/,Valentin Villenave}
503 to a French libretto by
504 @uref{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Trondheim, Lewis
505 Trondheim}, premiered February 1, 2009 at
506 @uref{http://www.orchestre-montpellier.com/, L'Opéra National de
507 Montpellier}, France.
510 @uref{http://www.mercurybaroque.org/02/02109.aspx, Mercury Baroque}'s
511 performance of Lully's @emph{Armide}, May 15-16, 2009, in Houston,
512 Texas (engraving by @uref{http://nicolas.sceaux.free.fr/,
516 Instrumental excerpts from Rameau's @emph{Hippolyte et Aricie} at
517 St. James's Church in Manhattan, May 8, 2009, by Frederick Renz
518 and his ensemble @uref{http://www.earlymusicny.org/, Early Music
519 New York} (engraving by Nicolas Sceaux).
527 @divClass{column-right-top}
528 @subheading Published sheet music
530 @divClass{keep-bullets}
534 @uref{http://www.mutopiaproject.org/index.html, Mutopia Project},
535 over 1500 pieces of classical sheet music for free download, and
536 the main showcase of LilyPond scores.
538 @c don't make this "Mutopia" a link, since that looks silly.
540 @uref{http://etudeapp.com, Etude}, @qq{sheet music on steroids} is
541 an iPhone app which displays piano music engraved with LilyPond,
542 including many pieces from Mutopia. The app includes a virtual
543 piano keyboard showing which keys to press to help beginners learn
544 how to read sheet music.
547 @uref{http://www.adoromusicpub.com/, Adoro Music Publishing},
548 high-quality scores of sacred music, available for immediate
549 download or in traditional paper format.
552 @uref{http://www.shadylane.fr, The Shady Lane Publishing},
553 a @qq{micro musical publishing house} whose goal is to promote a
554 new form of musical economy closer to the musicians and music
563 @contactUsAbout{concerts or sheet music}
565 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
566 @subheading Where now?
568 Still not convinced? Read some of our users' @ref{Reviews}.
569 If you've already decided to try LilyPond, first read about our
573 @c TRANSLATORS, so far it's mostly from
574 @c http://lilypond.org/web/switch/testimonials
577 @unnumberedsec Reviews
579 @divClass{column-left-top}
580 @subheading Published articles
582 @divClass{keep-bullets}
588 Peter Kirn, on the Create Digital Music website, publishes a
589 @uref{http://createdigitalmusic.com/2010/05/14/lilypond-free-beautiful-music-notation-engraving-for-anyone/,LilyPond
590 review}. He takes a balanced view on usage, praises LilyPond's
591 high-quality notation and suggests to try it out.
596 The German LinuxUser magazine wrote an
597 @uref{http://www.linux-community.de/Internal/Artikel/Print-Artikel/LinuxUser/2009/10/Digitaler-Notenschluessel,
598 article about LilyPond}.
604 @uref{http://www.polyphonic.org/article.php?id=188, Polyphonic.org}
605 website, presents comments by two orchestra librarians who
606 talk about using software to maintain their libraries.
611 In an @uref{http://news.lilynet.net/Free-Music-Now, article}
612 published in the French @emph{National Conservatory Parent
613 Association}'s yearly magazine, French composer and LilyPond
614 contributor Valentin Villenave explains how Free licenses, and
615 specifically LilyPond-engraved scores, are instrumental in
616 making written music accessible to all.
621 In @uref{http://www.musicbyandrew.ca/finale-lilypond-1.html,
622 articles on his personal site}, Andrew Hawryluk compares Finale
623 and LilyPond in general terms, and evaluates engraving
624 capabilities of both pieces of software in detail. The second
625 article is an instructive analysis of engraving issues in
626 Rachmaninoff's Piano Prelude No. 6, including comparisons with a
627 hand-engraved reference edition.
632 @uref{http://distrowatch.com,DistroWatch} awards LilyPond and
633 @uref{http://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20060605,writes}
634 @qq{Ladies and Gentleman, we are pleased to announce that, based
635 on readers' requests, the DistroWatch May 2006 donation has been
636 awarded to LilyPond (@euro{}190.00) and Lua (US$250.00).}
641 @uref{http://linuxjournal.com,Linux Journal} publishes an article
642 titled @uref{http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8364, Make
643 Stunning Schenker Graphs with GNU LilyPond}. It is an in-depth
644 but hands-on feature article with crisp LilyPond graphics. Author
645 Kris Shaffer remarks @qq{GNU LilyPond generates beautiful graphics
646 that make commercial alternatives seem second-rate.}
651 The Belgian newspaper De Standaard investigates what drives Free
652 Software authors in an article titled
653 @uref{http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelId=G42H5GD6,
654 Delen van KENNIS zonder WINSTBEJAG} (Non-profit sharing of
655 knowlegde) in its @q{DS2 bijlage}. LilyPond is used as an example
656 and the article is interspersed with quotes from an email
657 interview with Jan Nieuwenhuizen. This marks LilyPond's first
658 appearance in mainstream printed press.
663 A French article on the LilyPond 2.6 release appeared on
664 @uref{http://linuxfr.org/2005/06/27/19210.html, linuxfr.org}.
669 The editors of Computer!Totaal, a Dutch computer magazine,
670 @uref{http://lilypond.org/web/images/computer-totaal.jpeg,
671 describe LilyPond} in the October 2004 issue as: @qq{Wonderful
672 free (open source) software [..] The sheet music produced by
673 LilyPond is exceptionally pretty [..] a very powerful system that
674 can do almost anything.}
679 Dave Phillips wrote an introductory article for
680 @uref{http://linuxjournal.com,Linux Journal}: At
681 the sounding edge: LilyPond, parts
682 @uref{http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/7657, one} and
683 @uref{http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/7719, two}.
689 @uref{http://www.all-day-breakfast.com/cannam/linux-musician/lilypond.html,interviewed}
690 Han-Wen Nienhuys and Jan Nieuwenhuizen on linuxmusician.com
691 (original site defunct). This interview was also reviewed in a
692 @uref{http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/03/13/2054227&tid=,
698 Jazz singer Gail Selkirk writes about
699 @uref{http://www.songbirdofswing.com/editorial_page/lilypond/,
700 Diving into LilyPond}. @qq{... you can make lead sheets or full
701 orchestral parts, and the results can be stunning.}
702 @uref{http://www.computermusic.co.uk/, Computer Music Special},
711 @divClass{column-right-top}
712 @subheading User testimonials
714 @divClass{testimonial-item}
715 @imageFloat{carter-brey,jpg, right}
716 @subsubheading @uref{http://nyphil.org/meet/orchestra/index.cfm?page=profile&personNum=7, Carter Brey}, Principal Cellist, New York Philharmonic
718 @qq{@dots{} I've written a couple of encore pieces for solo cello
719 which I've printed with LilyPond and which I'm going to submit to
720 Schirmer for publication. I'll bet their engraved version wouldn't
721 look half as sharp as mine!}
725 @divClass{testimonial-item}
726 @imageFloat{orm-finnendahl,jpg, left}
727 @subsubheading @uref{http://icem-www.folkwang-hochschule.de/~finnendahl/, Orm Finnendahl}, professor of Composition, Musikhochschule Freiburg
729 @qq{Although I don't know [LilyPond] very well yet, I'm
730 @strong{*very} impressed. I used the program to input a motet of
731 Josquin Desprez in mensural notation and there's no doubt that
732 lilypond outscores all other notation programs easily concerning
733 speed, ease of use and look!}
737 @divClass{testimonial-item}
738 @imageFloat{darius-blasband,jpg, right}
739 @subsubheading Darius Blasband, composer (Brussels, Belgium)
741 @qq{[..after the first orchestra rehearsal] I got numerous
742 compliments about the quality of the scores. Even more
743 importantly, while LilyPond provides numerous hacks to improve the
744 way its scores look, what the orchestra got from me is basically
745 the raw, untouched output.}
749 @divClass{testimonial-item}
750 @subsubheading Kieren MacMillan, composer (Toronto, Canada)
752 @qq{thanks and kudos to the development team for their incredible
753 work. I've never seen anything approaching the output that I get
754 from LilyPond -- I'm totally confident that my music publishing
755 needs will be fulfilled beyond my expectations using this great
756 application. [..] basically untweaked LilyPond output [..] looks
757 better than most recent @q{professional} publications I've compared
758 it to (q.v., just about any Warner Bros. score, and even many of
759 the most recent by @q{the old houses}). [..]}
761 @qq{Beat that, Finale/Sibelius/Igor/whatever!!!}
765 @divClass{testimonial-item}
766 @subsubheading Chris Cannam, lead programmer of the @uref{http://www.rosegardenmusic.com/, RoseGarden} project
768 @qq{LilyPond is obviously the zillion-ton gorilla [of great music
773 @divClass{testimonial-item}
774 @subsubheading Chris Snyder, @uref{http://www.adoromusicpub.com/, Adoro Music Publishing}
776 @qq{The way that music is entered for LilyPond causes me to think in a
777 more musical way -- there have been times when I've been stumped as
778 to how to tell Lily to engrave something, only to realize that
779 even if I did get it exactly as the composer wanted, the music
780 would be confusing to read. LilyPond makes it much easier for me
781 to work in my dual editor+engraver role.}
783 @qq{I've been using LilyPond exclusively for my fledgling music
784 publishing business. Virtually without exception, every composer
785 has been blown away by the quality of the engraving when presented
786 with the proofs of their music about to be published. I deserve
787 some of the credit for this -- I spend a lot of time tweaking
788 output, especially ties (mainly in chords) -- but LilyPond gives
789 me an excellent starting point, a very intuitive interface, and
790 the ability to modify absolutely anything if I want to take the
791 time. I'm convinced that no commercial product can come close.}
795 @divClass{testimonial-item}
796 @subsubheading David Bobroff, Bass Trombone, Iceland Symphony Orchestra
798 @qq{I think LilyPond is great [..] The more I learn about LilyPond
803 @divClass{testimonial-item}
804 @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})
806 @qq{I am super impressed with LilyPond [..]}
808 @qq{THIS IS THE BEST PROGRAM EVER!!!}
810 @qq{Thank you all SO MUCH for your hard work and dedication!}
814 @divClass{testimonial-item}
815 @subsubheading @uref{http://nicolas.sceaux.free.fr/, Nicolas Sceaux}, @uref{http://www.mutopiaproject.org/, Mutopia} contributor
817 @qq{I had a kind of hate-passion relationship with it. Passion
818 because the first score I saw was so amazing! The description of
819 LilyPond lies about its beautifulness, it is too modest! [..] as
820 LilyPond is getting always better, and as I look closer how things
821 are done in scheme, I have less and less frustrations. Anyway,
822 what I mean is: thank you for providing LilyPond, it is really
827 @divClass{testimonial-item}
828 @subsubheading @uref{http://www.troff.org/whoswho.html#werner, Werner Lemberg}, Conductor at the Theatre in Koblenz, Germany and distinguished GNU Hacker
830 @qq{Anyway, LilyPond does an amazingly good job!}
834 @divClass{testimonial-item}
835 @subsubheading Paul Davis, developer of @uref{http://jackaudio.org/, JACK} and @uref{http://www.ardour.org/, Ardour}
837 @qq{I think [LilyPond is] an incredible program, and it produces
838 wonderful, wonderful output. when i read an interview about it
839 last year, i was raving to several friends of mine about its
844 @divClass{testimonial-item}
845 @subsubheading @uref{http://webusers.siba.fi/~mkuuskan/, Dr. Mika Kuuskankare}, researcher at the @uref{http://siba.fi, Sibelius Academy Finland}, composer and author of Expressive Notation Package (ENP)
847 @qq{I have the deepest respect towards LilyPond and towards its creators
848 and maintainers as I know from personal experience how difficult this
849 kind of software can be.}
853 @divClass{testimonial-item}
854 @subsubheading @uref{http://camerondh.blogspot.com, David Cameron}, Musician, professional typesetter and long time SCORE user
856 @qq{My heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributes to this project. I
857 was a power SCORE user for big typesetting houses way back in the '90s,
858 but I feel LilyPond finally makes it possible for me to get exactly what
859 I want on the page, especially when it isn't "standard" practice.}
864 @contactUsAbout{news articles or testimonals}
866 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
867 @subheading Where now?
869 Read about our @ref{Text input}.
875 @unnumberedsec Text input
877 @c TRANSLATORS, so far it's mostly from
878 @c http://lilypond.org/web/switch/howto
880 @subheading @qq{Compiling} Music
882 @imageClickable{nereid-shot-small,png, (click to enlarge), nereid-shot,png, right}
884 LilyPond is a @emph{compiled} system: it is run on a text file
885 describing the music. The resulting output is viewed on-screen or
886 printed. In some ways, LilyPond is more similar to a programming
887 language than graphical score editing software.
889 You do not write music by dragging notes from a graphical toolbar
890 and placing them on a dynamically refreshing score; you write
891 music by typing text. This text is interpreted (or @qq{compiled})
892 by LilyPond, which produces beautifully engraved sheet music.
894 People accustomed to graphical user interfaces might need to learn
895 a new way of working, but the results are definitely worth it!
897 @warning{We present a quick overview of our text input -- it's not
898 as complicated as it sounds! Don't worry about understanding
899 every detail in these examples; our beginner documentation covers
900 everything at a much more gradual pace.}
903 @subsubheading It's as simple as A B C
905 Notes are encoded with letters and numbers. Special commands are
906 entered with backslashes.
908 @imageFloat{text-input-1-annotate,png,center}
909 @imageFloat{text-input-1-output,png,center}
911 Alterations are made with different names: add @code{-is} for
912 sharp, and @code{-es} for flat (these are Dutch note names, other
913 languages are available). LilyPond figures out where to put
916 @imageFloat{text-input-2-annotate,png,center}
917 @imageFloat{text-input-2-output,png,center}
920 @subsubheading Pop music
922 Put chords and lyrics together to get a lead sheet:
924 @imageFloat{text-input-pop-annotate,png,center}
925 @imageFloat{text-input-pop-output,png,center}
929 @subsubheading Orchestral parts
931 The input file contains the notes of piece of music. Score and
932 parts can be made from a single input file, so that changing a
933 note always affects the score and parts. To be able to include
934 the same music in multiple places, the music is assigned to a
935 @qq{variable} (a name).
937 @imageFloat{text-input-parts-both-annotate,png,center}
940 This variable is then used in a single part (here transposed, with
941 condensed rests spanning several measures):
943 @imageFloat{text-input-parts-single-annotate,png,center}
944 @imageFloat{text-input-parts-single-output,png,center}
947 The same variable is used in the full score (here in concert
950 @imageFloat{text-input-score-annotate,png,center}
951 @imageFloat{text-input-score-output,png,center}
954 @subsubheading Beginner Documentation
956 We realize that many users find this way of entering music a bit
957 odd. For this reason, we have written extensive documentation to
958 help new users, beginning with @ref{Learning}. The Learning
959 Manual is the best place to start, as many questions are answered
962 Please read the Learning Manual before complaining about bugs!
963 New users occasionally believe that LilyPond is not working
964 correctly, when in fact it is working precisely as designed.
966 More in-depth information is available in @ref{Manuals}.
969 @subsubheading Easier editing environments
971 @imageClickable{lilykde-screenshot-small,png,
972 (click to enlarge),lilykde-screenshot,png,right}
974 LilyPond is primarily concerned with producing top-quality
975 engraved sheet music; creating a Graphical User Interface (GUI)
976 would distract us from this goal. However, there are other
977 projects aimed at making it easier to create LilyPond input files.
979 Some editing environments include syntax highlighting, automatic
980 command completion, and pre-made templates. Other programs
981 actually provide a GUI which allows direct manipulation of a
982 graphical score. For more information, see @ref{Easier editing}.
986 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
987 @subheading Where now?
989 You are now ready to @ref{Download, Download LilyPond}. Still not
990 convinced? Read about @ref{Easier editing}.
996 @unnumberedsec Easier editing
999 @divClass{column-center-top}
1000 @subheading LilyPondTool
1002 @imageClickable{lilypondtool-2.12-screenshot-400wide,png,
1003 (click to enlarge),lilypondtool-2.12-screenshot,png,right}
1005 @sourceimage{logo-linux,,,}
1006 @sourceimage{logo-freebsd,,,}
1007 @sourceimage{logo-macosx,,,}
1008 @sourceimage{logo-windows,,,}
1010 @uref{http://lilypondtool.organum.hu}
1012 Created as a plugin for the
1013 @uref{http://www.jedit.org,jEdit} text editor,
1014 LilyPondTool is one of the most feature-rich text-based tools for
1015 editing LilyPond scores. Its features include a Document Wizard
1016 with lyrics support to set up documents easier, and embedded PDF
1017 viewer with advanced point-and-click support.
1021 @divClass{column-center-top}
1022 @subheading Frescobaldi
1024 @imageClickable{frescobaldi-lilypond-editor-small,png,
1025 (click to enlarge),frescobaldi-lilypond-editor,png,right}
1027 @sourceimage{logo-linux,,,}
1028 @sourceimage{logo-freebsd,,,}
1030 @uref{http://www.frescobaldi.org}
1032 Frescobaldi is a dedicated LilyPond music and text editor with a
1033 built-in PDF previewer, a powerful score wizard and many editing
1034 features. It is built on top of the KDE4 libraries and runs
1035 currently on all flavours of Linux and other UNIX-like operating
1040 @divClass{column-center-top}
1043 @imageClickable{screenshot-denemo-small,png,
1044 (click to enlarge),screenshot-denemo,png,right}
1046 @sourceimage{logo-linux,,,}
1047 @sourceimage{logo-windows,,,}
1049 @uref{http://denemo.org}
1051 Denemo is a graphical editor which generates LilyPond source code,
1052 and also allows audio playback. It allows users to view the
1053 LilyPond source code in parallel to the graphical view. Extra
1054 LilyPond tweaks can be attached to notes, chords etc. and are stored
1055 with the Denemo file, so that users can continue to edit graphically.
1057 Moving the cursor in the LilyPond text moves the cursor in the graphical
1058 view, and any syntax errors in your LilyPond tweaks are highlighted in
1059 the text view when printed from there.
1063 @divClass{column-center-top}
1064 @subheading Text editors
1066 @sourceimage{logo-linux,,,}
1067 @sourceimage{logo-freebsd,,,}
1068 @sourceimage{logo-macosx,,,}
1069 @sourceimage{logo-windows,,,}
1071 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/}
1073 Emacs is a text editor with language-sensitive capabilities for
1074 many different computer languages. Emacs is a highly extensible
1075 editor and can be used as an Integrated Development Environment.
1076 There is a @q{lilypond mode} which supplies the language
1077 definitions for working with LilyPond source files. As well, one of
1078 our developers has written
1079 @uref{http://nicolas.sceaux.free.fr/lilypond/lyqi.html,lyqi}, an
1082 @uref{http://www.vim.org}
1084 Vim is a minimal text editor and is an extension of the older Unix
1085 @command{vi} editor. It is also extensible and configurable.
1087 As a general rule, if you are not already familiar with Emacs or
1088 Vim, then you would probably prefer to use a different editor for
1089 writing LilyPond input files.
1091 More information on setting up Emacs and Vim can be found in
1092 @rprogram{Text editor support}.
1094 @sourceimage{logo-macosx,,,}
1095 @uref{http://www.uoregon.edu/~koch/texshop}
1097 The TexShop editor for MacOS@tie{}X can be extended to run LilyPond,
1098 @command{lilypond-book} and @command{convert-ly} from within the editor,
1099 using the extensions available at:
1102 @uref{http://users.dimi.uniud.it/~nicola.vitacolonna/home/content/lilypond-scripts}
1105 @sourceimage{logo-macosx,,,}
1106 There is a LilyPond bundle for TextMate, a commercial editor for MacOS.
1107 It may be installed by running:
1110 mkdir -p /Library/Application\ Support/TextMate/Bundles
1111 cd /Library/Application\ Support/TextMate/Bundles
1112 git clone http://github.com/textmate/lilypond.tmbundle.git
1118 @divClass{column-center-top}
1119 @subheading Programs that can export LilyPond code
1122 @subsubheading Score, tab and MIDI editors:
1126 @uref{http://www.rosegardenmusic.com,Rosegarden}, an audio and
1127 MIDI sequencer, which also has a score editor for single-staff
1131 @uref{http://vsr.informatik.tu-chemnitz.de/staff/jan/nted/nted.xhtml,NtEd},
1132 a score editor based on the
1133 @uref{http://www.cairographics.org,Cairo} library, has
1134 experimental support for exporting to LilyPond.
1137 @uref{http://www.tuxguitar.com.ar/,TuxGuitar}, a multitrack
1138 tablature editor and player, includes a score viewer and can
1142 @uref{http://www.musescore.org,MuseScore}, a score editor, has
1143 incomplete LilyPond export but is being actively developed.
1146 @uref{http://www.canorus.org,Canorus}, a score editor, can also
1147 export to LilyPond, but is still beta-software. Testers are
1151 @uref{http://www.volny.cz/smilauer/rumor/rumor.html,Rumor}, a
1152 realtime monophonic MIDI to LilyPond converter.
1155 @uref{http://www.holmessoft.co.uk/homepage/software/NWC2LY/index.htm,
1156 NW2LY} is a C# program which converts a
1157 @uref{http://www.noteworthysoftware.com/, NoteWorthy} song into
1162 @subsubheading Algorithmic code generators
1167 @uref{http://www.projectabjad.org/,Abjad}, a
1168 @uref{http://www.python.org/,Python} API for Formalized Score
1169 Control designed to help composers build up complex pieces of
1170 LilyPond notation in an iterative and incremental way.
1173 @uref{http://common-lisp.net/project/fomus/,FOMUS}, a LISP library
1174 to generate music notation from computer music software
1178 @uref{http://strasheela.sourceforge.net,Strasheela}, an
1179 environment built on top of the
1180 @uref{http://www.mozart-oz.org/, Mozart/Oz} constraint programming
1186 @divClass{column-center-top}
1188 @subheading Other programs not being actively developed
1193 @uref{http://lilykde.googlecode.com/,LilyKDE} has been replaced by
1194 @uref{http://www.frescobaldi.org/,Frescobaldi}, and exists as
1195 LilyKDE3 for KDE 3.5 and lilypond-KDE4 for KDE 4.1 only.
1198 @uref{http://noteedit.berlios.de,NoteEdit}, which imported
1199 @uref{http://www.musicxml.com/xml.html,MusicXML}, has been forked
1201 @uref{http://vsr.informatik.tu-chemnitz.de/staff/jan/nted/nted.xhtml,NtEd}
1202 and @uref{http://canorus.org,Canorus}.
1206 @uref{http://lilycomp.sourceforge.net, LilyComp} is a graphical
1207 note entry program, acting much like a number-pad which produces
1215 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
1216 @subheading Where now?
1218 You are now ready to @ref{Download, Download LilyPond}.
1220 Still not convinced? Many composers, musicians, and conductors
1221 have learned how to write music in our input format. Experienced
1222 users even report that they can enter a full score in LilyPond
1223 faster than with a piano keyboard or mouse+GUI! Perhaps you would
1224 like to review the @ref{Features}, @ref{Examples}, or the
1225 @ref{Freedom} that LilyPond provides, or read about users'
1226 @ref{Productions} and @ref{Reviews}. In addition, our
1227 approach to the computational aesthetics of classical engraving is
1228 explained in our @ref{Background}.
1231 @subheading Legalese
1234 All logos and product images are copyright and trademark