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{column-left-top}
31 @subheading What LilyPond does
36 @ref{Features}: What can LilyPond do?
39 @ref{Examples}: I want to see some music!
42 @ref{Freedom}: LilyPond is Free Software.
45 @ref{Background}: Our computational aesthetics.
50 @divClass{column-right-top}
51 @subheading LilyPond in use
55 @ref{Productions}: Real-life use of LilyPond.
58 @ref{Reviews}: What do people say?
63 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
64 @subheading How LilyPond works
68 @ref{Text input}: You write music as @emph{text}?!
71 @ref{Easier editing}: Other ways of working with LilyPond.
76 @c TRANSLATORS, translations are not yet compiled in Info format, so
77 @c it's not worth translating the right column of the following
81 * Features:: What can LilyPond do?
82 * Examples:: I want to see some music!
83 * Freedom:: Freedom and the GPL.
84 * Background:: Computational aesthetics.
85 * Productions:: Real-life use of LilyPond.
86 * Reviews:: What do people say about it?
87 * Text input:: You write music as text?!
88 * Easier editing:: Other ways of working with LilyPond.
95 @unnumberedsec Features
96 @divClass{column-center-top}
100 @subsubheading Excellent classical engraving
102 @imageFloat{flat-design,png,right}
104 LilyPond allows musicians to produce elegant sheet music that is
105 easy to read. Its developer community has spent thousands of hours
106 developing powerful music engraving software that results in beautifully
107 engraved music. All of LilyPond's style settings, font designs and
108 algorithms have been inspired by the finest hand-engraved music.
109 LilyPond output has the same strong, balanced and elegant look as the
110 best-engraved classical scores. This is further explained in our
115 @subsubheading Effective layout choices
117 Spend less time with tweaking the output; LilyPond gets the
118 formatting correct right from the start. It determines spacing by
119 itself, and breaks lines and pages to provide a tight and uniform
120 layout. Clashes between lyrics, notes, and chords are resolved
121 and slurs and beams are sloped, automatically!
127 @subheading Ease of use
129 @imageFloat{lilypond-book,png,right}
131 @subsubheading Text-based input
133 LilyPond takes ASCII input, which you can produce in your favorite
134 text editor, quickly and comfortably. The input contains all the
135 information, so there is no need to remember complex command sequences:
136 simply save a file for later reference.
138 @subsubheading Mix music and text
140 Put fragments of music into texts without cutting and pasting
141 pictures. Integrate music into @LaTeX{} or HTML seamlessly, or add
142 music to OpenOffice.org with OOoLilyPond. Plugins are also available
143 to allow LilyPond code in various blogs and wikis, making online
144 collaboration possible.
147 @subsubheading Accessibility
149 Text-based input also makes score-writing possible for users with
150 severe physical disabilities. Dexterity-impaired users who are
151 unable to type or control a computer mouse can use
152 speech-recognition software to edit LilyPond files. Even users
153 who are totally blind can use screen-reading software to write
154 LilyPond files -- an impossible task in graphical-based
155 score-writing programs.
157 @subsubheading Extensible design
159 All settings can be changed to suit your personal typographical
160 taste. If that still is not enough, there is always the built-in
161 scripting language Scheme, a dialect of the powerful language
162 LISP. Settings, variables and functions are all documented in the
163 comprehensive program reference manual.
169 @subheading Environment
171 @imageFloat{frescobaldi-lilypond-editor-small,png,right}
173 @subsubheading Free software
175 LilyPond can be downloaded free of charge! Yep - It's free. Get
176 it from the download page.
178 It's also free (as in @qq{speech}) software. It comes with source
179 code, and permission to change and copy it. So, are you irritated
180 by a bug, or yearning for a feature? Simply add it yourself, or
181 pay someone else to do it.
184 @subsubheading Excellent support
186 LilyPond runs on all popular platforms: GNU/Linux, MacOS X, and
187 Windows. LilyPond comes with extensive documentation and hundreds
188 of example files. There is an active user community answering
189 questions on the lilypond-user mailing list, while the development
190 team makes sure that problems are solved quickly.
193 @subsubheading Enhanced editors
196 Several developers, themselves active LilyPond users, have also
197 written tools specifically aimed at making the process of editing
198 LilyPond files faster and more effective. For some examples, see
199 @ref{Easier editing}.
202 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
203 @subheading Where now?
205 Still not convinced? Look at some specific @ref{Examples}. If you've
206 already decided to try LilyPond, first read about our
213 @unnumberedsec Examples
215 LilyPond is a powerful and flexible tool for engraving tasks of
216 all kinds. Please browse our gallery of examples and be inspired!
220 @subsubheading Classical Music
222 This organ work by J.S. Bach is a fairly typical engraving project
225 @exampleImage{bach-bwv610}
229 @subsubheading Complex Notation
231 This example from @emph{Goyescas} by Enrique Granados shows some
232 of the more advanced features of typesetting, including kneed
233 beams, cross-staff stems, and voice-follow lines.
235 @exampleImage{granados}
239 @subsubheading Early Music
241 LilyPond also supports various types of ancient notation, such
242 as this passage of Gregorian chant.
244 @exampleImage{ancient-headword}
248 @subsubheading Modern Music
250 Contemporary composers find LilyPond well-suited to displaying
251 unusual notation. Here is an excerpt from Trevor Bača's
252 @emph{Čáry}, for unaccompanied bass flute.
259 @subsubheading Efficient, flexible creation of performance materials
261 Various performance materials can be created from the same source
262 code. This is an excerpt of @uref{http://nicolas.sceaux.free.fr/,
263 Nicolas Sceaux's} engraving of Handel's @emph{Giulio Cesare}, in
264 full score, piano-vocal reduction, and a violin part.
266 @exampleImage{sesto-full}
268 @exampleImage{sesto-piano}
270 @exampleImage{sesto-violin}
275 @subsubheading Tablature
277 LilyPond supports tablature notation, which can be customized to
278 suit any instrument that reads from tablature. The tablature
279 staff is generated automatically from notes entered for the 5-line
282 @exampleImage{tab-example}
286 @subsubheading Schenker Graphs
288 Standard output can be modified heavily. Here is an impressive
289 Schenkerian analysis, created by Kris Schaffer, for an article
290 in @uref{http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8364 , Linux Journal.}.
291 The colors have been added for better visibility.
293 @exampleImage{bach-schenker}
297 @subsubheading Vocal Music
299 LilyPond is excellent for vocal music of all kinds, from sacred
300 hymns to opera. Here is a medieval motet with slightly unusual
301 requirements. The tenor voice is written in a different meter
302 than the others, but must line up as if it were in the same meter.
303 LilyPond handles this most elegantly. Note also the incipits with
304 Vaticana style clefs, the slashed stems indicating plicated notes,
305 and the ligature braces above certain groups of notes.
307 @exampleImage{aucun-snippet}
311 @subsubheading Educational Applications
313 LilyPond is perfectly suited for educational purposes as well.
314 Here is an example of a simple counterpoint exercise.
316 @exampleImage{theory}
320 @subsubheading Popular Music
322 It is simple to create pop lead sheets with melody, lyrics,
323 chord names, and fretboards. In this example you see some of the
324 predefined fretboard diagrams, but these can be heavily customized
325 to suit nearly any situation.
331 @subsubheading Large Projects
333 LilyPond is excellent for large projects like operas or works for
334 full symphony orchestra, as well. In addition, the text-based
335 input provides greater accessibility -- this example was
336 contributed by Hu Haipeng, a blind composer.
338 @exampleImage{orchestra}
342 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
343 @subheading Where now?
345 Still not convinced? LilyPond is Free software, granting you
346 @ref{Freedom}. If you've already decided to try LilyPond, first
347 read about our @ref{Text input}.
352 @unnumberedsec Freedom
354 @divClass{column-center-top}
355 @subheading Free Software
357 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/, GNU} LilyPond is written and maintained
358 by a community of enthusiasts. It is published under the
359 @ref{GPL, GNU General Public License} and the @ref{FDL, GNU Free
360 Documentation License}, giving everybody the freedom to fix,
361 modify, and extend the program. Creating beautiful music should
362 not require hundreds of dollars of software!
366 @c @divClass{column-left-top}
368 @divClass{keep-bullets}
369 @subheading What are the benefits to users?
374 No cost: download and try it out! What do you have to lose?
377 Sharing: if you like the program, give a copy to your friends,
378 teachers, students, and colleagues!
381 Source available: if you are curious about how LilyPond creates
382 some notation, you can see exactly how it is done.
385 Extendible: you can add features, fix bugs, and change the
386 functionality. If you are not a programmer, you can hire somebody
389 This may not seem appealing to casual musicians, but the ability
390 to extend software can be highly valuable to serious composers,
391 companies, and academics.
394 Future safety: if a commercial company goes bankrupt, what happens
395 to any electronic music which depends on their products? This is
396 not a concern with LilyPond; even if the entire development team
397 quits (extremely unlikely), the program will still be legally
398 available for copying, modifications, and distribution.
407 @c @divClass{column-right-top}
409 @divClass{keep-bullets}
410 @subheading Why do LilyPond developers @qq{give away} their work for free?
412 Most of us view LilyPond development as a hobby or volunteer work.
413 So this question is really asking @qq{why do people volunteer}?
418 Fun: working towards a goal can be enjoyable, especially when you
422 Shared goals: we all want beautiful sheet music, but few people
423 have the expertise (and nobody has the time!), to create a program
424 which can handle all situations. By working together -- one
425 person improves the automatic beaming code, another person
426 improves the shape of slurs, and a third person writes
427 documentation explaining how to use these features -- we can
428 achieve our goal with only a fraction of the individual effort.
431 @qq{Gift culture}: the Free Software (or @qq{Open Source})
432 movement has created many great software projects, such as
433 @uref{http://kernel.org/, GNU/Linux},
434 @uref{http://www.getfirefox.com/, Mozilla Firefox}, and
435 @uref{http://www.wesnoth.org/, Battle for Wesnoth}. Having
436 benefitted from these projects, some developers want to @qq{give
437 back} to the community.
440 Work experience: contributing to open-source projects is a great way to
441 practice programming, documentation writing, documentation translation,
442 or design. This experience has helped some developers gain job offers
452 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
453 @subheading Where now?
455 Still not convinced? Read our extensive essay about our engraving
456 philosophy in @ref{Background}. If you've already decided to try
457 LilyPond, first read about our @ref{Text input}.
462 @unnumberedsec Background
464 @divClass{column-center-top}
465 @subheading Background essay
467 We have an extensive essay describing computational aesthetics:
468 the art of creating beauty with a computer.
470 If you just want a quick introduction to LilyPond, the essay might
471 be too much material to read. If you would like to read it now,
472 please progress to @ref{Essay}.
475 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
476 @subheading Where now?
478 Still not convinced? Read about some of our users'
479 @ref{Productions} and sheet music. If you've already decided to
480 try LilyPond, first read about our @ref{Text input}.
485 @unnumberedsec Productions
487 @divClass{column-left-top}
490 LilyPond engravings have been used for performances around the world.
493 @divClass{keep-bullets}
497 @emph{Affaire étrangère}, an opera by
498 @uref{http://valentin.villenave.net/,Valentin Villenave}
499 to a French libretto by
500 @uref{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Trondheim, Lewis
501 Trondheim}, premiered February 1, 2009 at
502 @uref{http://www.orchestre-montpellier.com/, L'Opéra National de
503 Montpellier}, France.
506 @uref{http://www.mercurybaroque.org/02/02109.aspx, Mercury Baroque}'s
507 performance of Lully's @emph{Armide}, May 15-16, 2009, in Houston,
508 Texas (engraving by @uref{http://nicolas.sceaux.free.fr/,
512 Instrumental excerpts from Rameau's @emph{Hippolyte et Aricie} at
513 St. James's Church in Manhattan, May 8, 2009, by Frederick Renz
514 and his ensemble @uref{http://www.earlymusicny.org/, Early Music
515 New York} (engraving by Nicolas Sceaux).
523 @divClass{column-right-top}
524 @subheading Published sheet music
526 @divClass{keep-bullets}
530 @uref{http://www.mutopiaproject.org/index.html, Mutopia Project},
531 over 1500 pieces of classical sheet music for free download, and
532 the main showcase of LilyPond scores.
534 @c don't make this "Mutopia" a link, since that looks silly.
536 @uref{http://etudeapp.com, Etude}, @qq{sheet music on steroids} is
537 an iPhone app which displays piano music engraved with LilyPond,
538 including many pieces from Mutopia. The app includes a virtual
539 piano keyboard showing which keys to press to help beginners learn
540 how to read sheet music.
543 @uref{http://www.adoromusicpub.com/, Adoro Music Publishing},
544 high-quality scores of sacred music, available for immediate
545 download or in traditional paper format.
548 @uref{http://www.shadylane.fr, The Shady Lane Publishing},
549 a @qq{micro musical publishing house} whose goal is to promote a
550 new form of musical economy closer to the musicians and music
560 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
561 @subheading Where now?
563 Still not convinced? Read some of our users' @ref{Reviews}.
564 If you've already decided to try LilyPond, first read about our
568 @c TRANSLATORS, so far it's mostly from
569 @c http://lilypond.org/web/switch/testimonials
572 @unnumberedsec Reviews
574 @divClass{column-left-top}
575 @subheading Published articles
577 @divClass{keep-bullets}
583 The German LinuxUser magazine wrote an
584 @uref{http://www.linux-community.de/Internal/Artikel/Print-Artikel/LinuxUser/2009/10/Digitaler-Notenschluessel,
585 article about LilyPond}.
591 @uref{http://www.polyphonic.org/article.php?id=188, Polyphonic.org}
592 website, presents comments by two orchestra librarians who
593 talk about using software to maintain their libraries.
598 In @uref{http://www.musicbyandrew.ca/finale-lilypond-1.html,
599 articles on his personal site}, Andrew Hawryluk compares Finale
600 and LilyPond in general terms, and evaluates engraving
601 capabilities of both pieces of software in detail. The second
602 article is an instructive analysis of engraving issues in
603 Rachmaninoff's Piano Prelude No. 6, including comparisons with a
604 hand-engraved reference edition.
609 @uref{http://distrowatch.com,DistroWatch} awards LilyPond and
610 @uref{http://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20060605,writes}
611 @qq{Ladies and Gentleman, we are pleased to announce that, based
612 on readers' requests, the DistroWatch May 2006 donation has been
613 awarded to LilyPond (@euro{}190.00) and Lua (US$250.00).}
618 @uref{http://linuxjournal.com,Linux Journal} publishes an article
619 titled @uref{http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8364, Make
620 Stunning Schenker Graphs with GNU LilyPond}. It is an in-depth
621 but hands-on feature article with crisp LilyPond graphics. Author
622 Kris Shaffer remarks @qq{GNU LilyPond generates beautiful graphics
623 that make commercial alternatives seem second-rate.}
628 The Belgian newspaper De Standaard investigates what drives Free
629 Software authors in an article titled
630 @uref{http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelId=G42H5GD6,
631 Delen van KENNIS zonder WINSTBEJAG} (Non-profit sharing of
632 knowlegde) in its @q{DS2 bijlage}. LilyPond is used as an example
633 and the article is interspersed with quotes from an email
634 interview with Jan Nieuwenhuizen. This marks LilyPond's first
635 appearance in mainstream printed press.
640 A French article on the LilyPond 2.6 release appeared on
641 @uref{http://linuxfr.org/2005/06/27/19210.html, linuxfr.org}.
646 The editors of Computer!Totaal, a Dutch computer magazine,
647 @uref{http://lilypond.org/web/images/computer-totaal.jpeg,
648 describe LilyPond} in the October 2004 issue as: @qq{Wonderful
649 free (open source) software [..] The sheet music produced by
650 LilyPond is exceptionally pretty [..] a very powerful system that
651 can do almost anything.}
656 Dave Phillips wrote an introductory article for
657 @uref{http://linuxjournal.com,Linux Journal}: At
658 the sounding edge: LilyPond, parts
659 @uref{http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/7657, one} and
660 @uref{http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/7719, two}.
666 @uref{http://www.all-day-breakfast.com/cannam/linux-musician/lilypond.html,interviewed}
667 Han-Wen Nienhuys and Jan Nieuwenhuizen on linuxmusician.com
668 (original site defunct). This interview was also reviewed in a
669 @uref{http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/03/13/2054227&tid=,
675 Jazz singer Gail Selkirk writes about
676 @uref{http://www.songbirdofswing.com/editorial_page/lilypond/,
677 Diving into LilyPond}. @qq{... you can make lead sheets or full
678 orchestral parts, and the results can be stunning.}
679 @uref{http://www.computermusic.co.uk/, Computer Music Special},
688 @divClass{column-right-top}
689 @subheading User testimonials
691 @divClass{testimonial-item}
692 @imageFloat{carter-brey,jpg, right}
693 @subsubheading @uref{http://nyphil.org/meet/orchestra/index.cfm?page=profile&personNum=7, Carter Brey}, Principal Cellist, New York Philharmonic
695 @qq{@dots{} I've written a couple of encore pieces for solo cello
696 which I've printed with LilyPond and which I'm going to submit to
697 Schirmer for publication. I'll bet their engraved version wouldn't
698 look half as sharp as mine!}
702 @divClass{testimonial-item}
703 @imageFloat{orm-finnendahl,jpg, left}
704 @subsubheading @uref{http://icem-www.folkwang-hochschule.de/~finnendahl/, Orm Finnendahl}, professor of Composition, Musikhochschule Freiburg
706 @qq{Although I don't know [LilyPond] very well yet, I'm
707 @strong{*very} impressed. I used the program to input a motet of
708 Josquin Desprez in mensural notation and there's no doubt that
709 lilypond outscores all other notation programs easily concerning
710 speed, ease of use and look!}
714 @divClass{testimonial-item}
715 @imageFloat{darius-blasband,jpg, right}
716 @subsubheading Darius Blasband, composer (Brussels, Belgium)
718 @qq{[..after the first orchestra rehearsal] I got numerous
719 compliments about the quality of the scores. Even more
720 importantly, while LilyPond provides numerous hacks to improve the
721 way its scores look, what the orchestra got from me is basically
722 the raw, untouched output.}
726 @divClass{testimonial-item}
727 @subsubheading Kieren MacMillan, composer (Toronto, Canada)
729 @qq{thanks and kudos to the development team for their incredible
730 work. I've never seen anything approaching the output that I get
731 from LilyPond -- I'm totally confident that my music publishing
732 needs will be fulfilled beyond my expectations using this great
733 application. [..] basically untweaked LilyPond output [..] looks
734 better than most recent @q{professional} publications I've compared
735 it to (q.v., just about any Warner Bros. score, and even many of
736 the most recent by @q{the old houses}). [..]}
738 @qq{Beat that, Finale/Sibelius/Igor/whatever!!!}
742 @divClass{testimonial-item}
743 @subsubheading Chris Cannam, lead programmer of the @uref{http://www.rosegardenmusic.com/, RoseGarden} project
745 @qq{LilyPond is obviously the zillion-ton gorilla [of great music
750 @divClass{testimonial-item}
751 @subsubheading Chris Snyder, @uref{http://www.adoromusicpub.com/, Adoro Music Publishing}
753 @qq{The way that music is entered for LilyPond causes me to think in a
754 more musical way -- there have been times when I've been stumped as
755 to how to tell Lily to engrave something, only to realize that
756 even if I did get it exactly as the composer wanted, the music
757 would be confusing to read. LilyPond makes it much easier for me
758 to work in my dual editor+engraver role.}
760 @qq{I've been using LilyPond exclusively for my fledgling music
761 publishing business. Virtually without exception, every composer
762 has been blown away by the quality of the engraving when presented
763 with the proofs of their music about to be published. I deserve
764 some of the credit for this -- I spend a lot of time tweaking
765 output, especially ties (mainly in chords) -- but LilyPond gives
766 me an excellent starting point, a very intuitive interface, and
767 the ability to modify absolutely anything if I want to take the
768 time. I'm convinced that no commercial product can come close.}
772 @divClass{testimonial-item}
773 @subsubheading David Bobroff, Bass Trombone, Iceland Symphony Orchestra
775 @qq{I think LilyPond is great [..] The more I learn about LilyPond
780 @divClass{testimonial-item}
781 @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})
783 @qq{I am super impressed with LilyPond [..]}
785 @qq{THIS IS THE BEST PROGRAM EVER!!!}
787 @qq{Thank you all SO MUCH for your hard work and dedication!}
791 @divClass{testimonial-item}
792 @subsubheading @uref{http://nicolas.sceaux.free.fr/, Nicolas Sceaux}, @uref{http://www.mutopiaproject.org/, Mutopia} contributor
794 @qq{I had a kind of hate-passion relationship with it. Passion
795 because the first score I saw was so amazing! The description of
796 LilyPond lies about its beautifulness, it is too modest! [..] as
797 LilyPond is getting always better, and as I look closer how things
798 are done in scheme, I have less and less frustrations. Anyway,
799 what I mean is: thank you for providing LilyPond, it is really
804 @divClass{testimonial-item}
805 @subsubheading @uref{http://www.troff.org/whoswho.html#werner, Werner Lemberg}, Conductor at the Theatre in Koblenz, Germany and distinguished GNU Hacker
807 @qq{Anyway, LilyPond does an amazingly good job!}
811 @divClass{testimonial-item}
812 @subsubheading Paul Davis, developer of @uref{http://jackaudio.org/, JACK} and @uref{http://www.ardour.org/, Ardour}
814 @qq{I think [LilyPond is] an incredible program, and it produces
815 wonderful, wonderful output. when i read an interview about it
816 last year, i was raving to several friends of mine about its
822 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
823 @subheading Where now?
825 Read about our @ref{Text input}.
831 @unnumberedsec Text input
833 @c TRANSLATORS, so far it's mostly from
834 @c http://lilypond.org/web/switch/howto
836 @subheading @qq{Compiling} Music
838 @imageClickable{nereid-shot-small,png, (click to enlarge), nereid-shot,png, right}
840 LilyPond is a @emph{compiled} system: it is run on a text file
841 describing the music. The resulting output is viewed on-screen or
842 printed. In some ways, LilyPond is more similar to a programming
843 language than graphical score editing software.
845 You do not write music by dragging notes from a graphical toolbar
846 and placing them on a dynamically refreshing score; you write
847 music by typing text. This text is interpreted (or @qq{compiled})
848 by LilyPond, which produces beautifully engraved sheet music.
850 People accustomed to graphical user interfaces might need to learn
851 a new way of working, but the results are definitely worth it!
853 @warning{We present a quick overview of our text input -- it's not
854 as complicated as it sounds! Don't worry about understanding
855 every detail in these examples; our beginner documentation covers
856 everything at a much more gradual pace.}
859 @subsubheading It's as simple as A B C
861 Notes are encoded with letters and numbers. Special commands are
862 entered with backslashes.
864 @imageFloat{text-input-1-annotate,png,center}
865 @imageFloat{text-input-1-output,png,center}
867 Alterations are made with different names: add @code{-is} for
868 sharp, and @code{-es} for flat (these are Dutch note names, other
869 languages are available). LilyPond figures out where to put
872 @imageFloat{text-input-2-annotate,png,center}
873 @imageFloat{text-input-2-output,png,center}
876 @subsubheading Pop music
878 Put chords and lyrics together to get a lead sheet:
880 @imageFloat{text-input-pop-annotate,png,center}
881 @imageFloat{text-input-pop-output,png,center}
885 @subsubheading Orchestral parts
887 The input file contains the notes of piece of music. Score and
888 parts can be made from a single input file, so that changing a
889 note always affects the score and parts. To be able to include
890 the same music in multiple places, the music is assigned to a
891 @qq{variable} (a name).
893 @imageFloat{text-input-parts-both-annotate,png,center}
896 This variable is then used in a single part (here transposed, with
897 condensed rests spanning several measures):
899 @imageFloat{text-input-parts-single-annotate,png,center}
900 @imageFloat{text-input-parts-single-output,png,center}
903 The same variable is used in the full score (here in concert
906 @imageFloat{text-input-score-annotate,png,center}
907 @imageFloat{text-input-score-output,png,center}
910 @subsubheading Beginner Documentation
912 We realize that many users find this way of entering music a bit
913 odd. For this reason, we have written extensive documentation to
914 help new users, beginning with @ref{Learning}. The Learning
915 Manual is the best place to start, as many questions are answered
918 Please read the Learning Manual before complaining about bugs!
919 New users occasionally believe that LilyPond is not working
920 correctly, when in fact it is working precisely as designed.
922 More in-depth information is available in @ref{Manuals}.
925 @subsubheading Easier editing environments
927 @imageClickable{lilykde-screenshot-small,png,
928 (click to enlarge),lilykde-screenshot,png,right}
930 LilyPond is primarily concerned with producing top-quality
931 engraved sheet music; creating a Graphical User Interface (GUI)
932 would distract us from this goal. However, there are other
933 projects aimed at making it easier to create LilyPond input files.
935 Some editing environments include syntax highlighting, automatic
936 command completion, and pre-made templates. Other programs
937 actually provide a GUI which allows direct manipulation of a
938 graphical score. For more information, see @ref{Easier editing}.
942 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
943 @subheading Where now?
945 You are now ready to @ref{Download, Download LilyPond}. Still not
946 convinced? Read about @ref{Easier editing}.
952 @unnumberedsec Easier editing
955 @divClass{column-center-top}
956 @subheading LilyPondTool
958 @imageClickable{lilypondtool-2.12-screenshot-400wide,png,
959 (click to enlarge),lilypondtool-2.12-screenshot,png,right}
961 @sourceimage{logo-linux,,,}
962 @sourceimage{logo-freebsd,,,}
963 @sourceimage{logo-macosx,,,}
964 @sourceimage{logo-windows,,,}
966 @uref{http://lilypondtool.organum.hu}
968 Created as a plugin for the
969 @uref{http://www.jedit.org,jEdit} text editor,
970 LilyPondTool is one of the most feature-rich text-based tools for
971 editing LilyPond scores. Its features include a Document Wizard
972 with lyrics support to set up documents easier, and embedded PDF
973 viewer with advanced point-and-click support.
977 @divClass{column-center-top}
978 @subheading Frescobaldi
980 @imageClickable{frescobaldi-lilypond-editor-small,png,
981 (click to enlarge),frescobaldi-lilypond-editor,png,right}
983 @sourceimage{logo-linux,,,}
984 @sourceimage{logo-freebsd,,,}
986 @uref{http://www.frescobaldi.org}
988 Frescobaldi is a dedicated LilyPond music and text editor with a
989 built-in PDF previewer, a powerful score wizard and many editing
990 features. It is built on top of the KDE4 libraries and runs
991 currently on all flavours of Linux and other UNIX-like operating
996 @divClass{column-center-top}
999 @imageClickable{screenshot-denemo-small,png,
1000 (click to enlarge),screenshot-denemo,png,right}
1002 @sourceimage{logo-linux,,,}
1003 @sourceimage{logo-windows,,,}
1005 @uref{http://denemo.org}
1007 Denemo is a graphical editor which generates LilyPond source code,
1008 and also allows audio playback. It allows users to view the
1009 LilyPond source code in parallel to the graphical view. Extra
1010 LilyPond tweaks can be attached to notes, chords etc. and are stored
1011 with the Denemo file, so that users can continue to edit graphically.
1013 Moving the cursor in the LilyPond text moves the cursor in the graphical
1014 view, and any syntax errors in your LilyPond tweaks are highlighted in
1015 the text view when printed from there.
1017 @warning{Denemo officially supports an outdated Lilypond version 2.8.7,
1018 which lacks many of the features added since then. The Denemo developers
1019 are actively working to bring it up to our present stable version, 2.12.}
1022 @divClass{column-center-top}
1023 @subheading Text editors
1025 @sourceimage{logo-linux,,,}
1026 @sourceimage{logo-freebsd,,,}
1027 @sourceimage{logo-macosx,,,}
1028 @sourceimage{logo-windows,,,}
1030 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/}
1032 Emacs is a text editor with language-sensitive capabilities for
1033 many different computer languages. Emacs is a highly extensible
1034 editor and can be used as an Integrated Development Environment.
1035 There is a @q{lilypond mode} which supplies the language
1036 definitions for working with LilyPond source files. As well, one of
1037 our developers has written @uref{http://nicolas.sceaux.free.fr/
1038 lilypond/lyqi.html,lyqi}, an Emacs major mode.
1040 @uref{http://www.vim.org}
1042 Vim is a minimal text editor and is an extension of the older Unix
1043 @command{vi} editor. It is also extensible and configurable.
1045 As a general rule, if you are not already familiar with Emacs or
1046 Vim, then you would probably prefer to use a different editor for
1047 writing LilyPond input files.
1049 More information on setting up Emacs and Vim can be found in
1050 @rprogram{Text editor support}.
1052 @sourceimage{logo-macosx,,,}
1053 @uref{http://www.uoregon.edu/~koch/texshop}
1055 The TexShop editor for MacOS@tie{}X can be extended to run LilyPond,
1056 @command{lilypond-book} and @command{convert-ly} from within the editor,
1057 using the extensions available at:
1060 @uref{http://users.dimi.uniud.it/~nicola.vitacolonna/home/content/lilypond-scripts}
1063 @sourceimage{logo-macosx,,,}
1064 There is a LilyPond bundle for TextMate, a commercial editor for MacOS.
1065 It may be installed by running:
1068 mkdir -p /Library/Application\ Support/TextMate/Bundles
1069 cd /Library/Application\ Support/TextMate/Bundles
1070 git clone http://github.com/textmate/lilypond.tmbundle.git
1076 @divClass{column-center-top}
1077 @subheading Other programs can export LilyPond code
1080 @subsubheading Score, tab and MIDI editors:
1084 @uref{http://www.rosegardenmusic.com,Rosegarden}, an audio and
1085 MIDI sequencer, which also has a score editor for single-staff
1089 @uref{http://vsr.informatik.tu-chemnitz.de/staff/jan/nted/nted.xhtml,NtEd},
1090 is based on the @uref{http://cairographics.org, Cairo} library and
1091 has experimental export for LilyPond.
1094 @uref{http://www.tuxguitar.com.ar/,TuxGuitar}, a multitrack
1095 tablature editor and player, provides a score view as well as tab,
1096 and can export to LilyPond.
1099 @uref{http://musescore.org,MuseScore} has incomplete LilyPond
1100 export but is being actively developed.
1103 @uref{http://canorus.org,Canorus} can also export to LilyPond, but
1104 is still beta-software. Testers are welcome, though.
1107 @uref{http://www.volny.cz/smilauer/rumor/rumor.html,Rumor}, a realtime
1108 monophonic MIDI to LilyPond converter.
1112 @subsubheading Algorithmic code generators
1117 @uref{http://strasheela.sourceforge.net, Strasheela} is @qq{a
1118 highly expressive constraint-based music composition system}.
1121 @uref{http://common-lisp.net/project/fomus/,FOMUS}, a LISP library
1122 to generate music notation from computer music software environments.
1127 @divClass{column-center-top}
1129 @subheading Other programs not being actively developed
1134 @uref{http://lilykde.googlecode.com/,LilyKDE} has been replaced by
1135 @uref{http://www.frescobaldi.org/,Frescobaldi}, and exists as
1136 LilyKDE3 for KDE 3.5 and lilypond-KDE4 for KDE 4.1 only.
1139 @uref{http://noteedit.berlios.de,NoteEdit}, which imported
1140 @uref{http://www.musicxml.com/xml.html,MusicXML}, has been forked
1142 @uref{http://vsr.informatik.tu-chemnitz.de/staff/jan/nted/nted.xhtml,NtEd}
1143 and @uref{http://canorus.org,Canorus}.
1147 @uref{http://lilycomp.sourceforge.net, LilyComp} is a graphical
1148 note entry program, acting much like a number-pad which produces
1156 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
1157 @subheading Where now?
1159 You are now ready to @ref{Download, Download LilyPond}.
1161 Still not convinced? Many composers, musicians, and conductors
1162 have learned how to write music in our input format. Experienced
1163 users even report that they can enter a full score in LilyPond
1164 faster than with a piano keyboard or mouse+GUI! Perhaps you would
1165 like to review the @ref{Features}, @ref{Examples}, or the
1166 @ref{Freedom} that LilyPond provides, or read about users'
1167 @ref{Productions} and @ref{Reviews}. In addition, our
1168 approach to the computational aesthetics of classical engraving is
1169 explained in our @ref{Background}.
1172 @subheading Legalese
1175 All logos and product images are copyright and trademark