\partial now only makes measurePosition negative at the beginning of a score.

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

diff --git a/Documentation/web/introduction.itexi b/Documentation/web/introduction.itexi
index 01172cc00fb985857e7f5e9fc20bb597eead2121..512559a6b4dba7f3119b7ee5542f66fba19ef27c 100644 (file)
--- a/Documentation/web/introduction.itexi
+++ b/Documentation/web/introduction.itexi
@@ -20,10 +20,14 @@ soulless look of computer-printed sheet music.  Musicians prefer
 reading beautiful music, so why couldn't programmers write
 software to produce elegant printed parts?
 
 reading beautiful music, so why couldn't programmers write
 software to produce elegant printed parts?
 

-The result is a system which frees musicians from the details of
-layout, allowing them to focus on making music.  LilyPond works
-with them to create publication-quality parts, crafted in the best
-traditions of classical music engraving.
+The result is a program that creates beautiful sheet music
+following the best traditions of classical music engraving.
+It takes care of the details of layout programmatically,
+allowing composers, transcribers and publishers to focus
+on the @emph{music} instead of improving their software's
+default output.  Performers will get parts that let them
+concentrate on @emph{playing} music instead of @emph{reading} it.
+

 
 @divEnd
 
 
 @divEnd
 


@@ -100,8 +104,7 @@ traditions of classical music engraving.
 @divClass{column-center-top}
 
 
 @divClass{column-center-top}
 
 

-@subheading Elegance
-@subsubheading Excellent classical engraving
+@subheading Excellent classical engraving

 
 @imageFloat{flat-design,png,right}
 
 
 @imageFloat{flat-design,png,right}
 


@@ -115,37 +118,69 @@ best-engraved classical scores.  This is further explained in our
 @ref{Essay}.
 
 
 @ref{Essay}.
 
 

+@divEnd

 
 

-@subsubheading Effective layout choices
+@divClass{column-center-top}
+@subheading Text input
+
+@subsubheading Everything is explicit
+
+LilyPond processes text input, which contains all information
+about the @emph{content} of your score and can easily be read
+by any human or another program. There are no obscure
+settings hidden behind menu items and binary file storage.
+
+Read more about this concept on @ref{Text input}.

 
 

-Spend less time with tweaking the output; LilyPond gets the
-formatting correct right from the start.  It determines spacing by
-itself, and breaks lines and pages to provide a tight and uniform
-layout.  Clashes between lyrics, notes, and chords are resolved
-and slurs and beams are sloped, automatically!

 
 

+@subsubheading Tweaks are robust and traceable
+
+If you have to change anything in the layout this tweak will
+also be explicitly visible in the input file in human-readable
+form, so you will always be able to retrace what you've done.
+If you should accidentally break anything you can easily revert
+or modify any decision without being at the mercy of an
+@emph{Undo} function.
+
+
+@subsubheading Text files are failure- and future-proof
+
+Text files are very robust against file corruption. And as they are
+human-readable, you will always be able to interpret them even if
+you don't have access to the programs that created them.
+
+
+@subsubheading Manage your scores with version control
+
+Text files are applicable to be managed by version control. Go
+for it and experience infinite and selective undo/redo mechanisms
+and the full development history of your scores. Version control
+may also open up new (collaborative) workflows for you.

 
 @divEnd
 
 
 @divEnd
 

-@divClass{color2}
-@subheading Ease of use
+@divClass{column-center-top}
+@subheading Usability

 
 @imageFloat{lilypond-book,png,right}
 
 
 @imageFloat{lilypond-book,png,right}
 

-@subsubheading Text-based input

 
 

-LilyPond takes ASCII input, which you can produce in your favorite
-text editor, quickly and comfortably.  The input contains all the
-information, so there is no need to remember complex command sequences:
-simply save a file for later reference.
+@subsubheading Effective layout choices
+
+Spend less time with tweaking the output; LilyPond gets the
+formatting correct right from the start.  It determines spacing by
+itself, and breaks lines and pages to provide a tight and uniform
+layout.  Clashes between lyrics, notes, and chords are resolved
+and slurs and beams are sloped, automatically!
+

 
 @subsubheading Mix music and text
 
 Put fragments of music into texts without cutting and pasting
 pictures.  Integrate music into @LaTeX{} or HTML seamlessly, or add
 
 @subsubheading Mix music and text
 
 Put fragments of music into texts without cutting and pasting
 pictures.  Integrate music into @LaTeX{} or HTML seamlessly, or add

-music to OpenOffice.org with OOoLilyPond.  Plugins are also available
-to allow LilyPond code in various blogs and wikis, making online
-collaboration possible.
+music to OpenOffice.org/LibreOffice with OOoLilyPond.  Plugins are
+also available to allow LilyPond code in various blogs and wikis, making
+online collaboration possible.

 
 
 @subsubheading Accessibility
 
 
 @subsubheading Accessibility


@@ -157,32 +192,74 @@ speech-recognition software to edit LilyPond files.  Even users
 who are totally blind can use screen-reading software to write
 LilyPond files -- an impossible task in graphical-based
 score-writing programs.
 who are totally blind can use screen-reading software to write
 LilyPond files -- an impossible task in graphical-based
 score-writing programs.

+You can see a spectacular score on @ref{Examples}.
+
+@subsubheading Editor diversity
+
+Several developers, themselves active LilyPond users,
+have written tools specifically aimed at making the process of editing
+LilyPond files faster and more effective; you are not tied to
+a single user interface but can use different tools for different tasks.
+You can even use a full-fledged LilyPond editor at home and use your
+mobile phone's notepad app to edit the files on the go. For some examples,
+see @ref{Easier editing}.
+@c TODO: Change this when the new pages have been written and pushed
+
+
+@divEnd

 
 

-@subsubheading Extensible design
+@divClass{column-center-top}
+
+@subheading Extensible design
+
+@subsubheading Easy management of style sheets

 
 

-All settings can be changed to suit your personal typographical
-taste.  If that still is not enough, there is always the built-in
-scripting language Scheme, a dialect of the powerful language
-LISP.  Settings, variables and functions are all documented in the
+All layout settings can be changed to suit your personal typographical
+taste. So you can easily write style sheets that change every aspect of
+LilyPond scores' default appearance. As these are also written as text
+and can be stored in separate files you can simply switch between two
+stylesheets to produce scores with a completely different appearance or
+layout.
+You want to print a score on A4 paper and project it with a beamer,
+one system per page? LilyPond's layout engine will effortlessly produce
+both from the same input.
+
+@subsubheading Add your own functions
+
+If that still is not enough, there is always the built-in
+scripting language Scheme, which can access LilyPond's layout
+engine at the same level as LilyPond itself does, making it
+a @emph{very} powerful tool.
+Settings, variables and functions are all documented in the

 comprehensive program reference manual.
 
 comprehensive program reference manual.
 

+@subsubheading Process scores programmatically
+
+LilyPond input files can fully be edited or even generated by programs
+and scripts. This can for example be used for algorithmical composition.
+But you can also access the musical content for analysis, or manage
+input fragments in a database. There are no limitations except your
+imagination.
+
+
+@subsubheading Create new tools using LilyPond
+
+As LilyPond isn't a monolithic GUI program but a command line tool it
+can be used from within other applications too. This way it is possible
+to equip tools like e.g. web applications with LilyPond's engraving
+power. There already exist several online tools using LilyPond.
+
+@c (TBD: Add a link to the new @ref{Applications} page.
+
+

 @divEnd
 
 @divEnd
 

-@divClass{color3}
+@divClass{column-center-top}

 
 @subheading Environment
 
 @imageFloat{frescobaldi-lilypond-editor-small,png,right}
 
 
 @subheading Environment
 
 @imageFloat{frescobaldi-lilypond-editor-small,png,right}
 

-@subsubheading Free software
-
-LilyPond can be downloaded free of charge!  Yep - It's free.  Get
-it from the download page.
-
-It's also free (as in @qq{speech}) software.  It comes with source
-code, and permission to change and copy it.  So, are you irritated
-by a bug, or yearning for a feature? Simply add it yourself, or
-pay someone else to do it.

 
 
 @subsubheading Excellent support
 
 
 @subsubheading Excellent support


@@ -190,17 +267,24 @@ pay someone else to do it.
 LilyPond runs on all popular platforms: GNU/Linux, MacOS X, and
 Windows.  LilyPond comes with extensive documentation and hundreds
 of example files.  There is an active user community answering
 LilyPond runs on all popular platforms: GNU/Linux, MacOS X, and
 Windows.  LilyPond comes with extensive documentation and hundreds
 of example files.  There is an active user community answering

-questions on the lilypond-user mailing list, while the development
-team makes sure that problems are solved quickly.
+questions on the lilypond-user mailing list, offering you friendly
+help. The response time is usually very short, and often brillant
+solutions to reported problems are developed. Thanks to the close
+interaction with the development team such solutions are regularly
+included in LilyPond itself.
+Read more in @ref{Community}.

 
 
 
 

-@subsubheading Enhanced editors
+@subsubheading Free software

 
 

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

 
 

-Several developers, themselves active LilyPond users, have also
-written tools specifically aimed at making the process of editing
-LilyPond files faster and more effective.  For some examples, see
-@ref{Easier editing}.
+It's also free (as in @qq{speech}) software.  It comes with source
+code, and permission to change and copy it.  So, are you irritated
+by a bug, or yearning for a feature? Simply add it yourself, or
+pay someone else to do it.
+Read more on @ref{Freedom}.

 
 @divEnd
 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
 
 @divEnd
 @divClass{column-center-bottom}


@@ -216,6 +300,10 @@ already decided to try LilyPond, first read about our
 @node Examples
 @unnumberedsec Examples
 
 @node Examples
 @unnumberedsec Examples
 

+@divClass{column-center-top}
+
+@subheading Beautiful examples
+

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


@@ -297,6 +385,15 @@ The colors have been added for better visibility.
 @exampleImage{bach-schenker}
 @newsEnd
 
 @exampleImage{bach-schenker}
 @newsEnd
 

+@newsItem
+@subsubheading Customized Output
+
+A short excerpt from Stockhausen's Klavierstück II to demonstrate
+Lilypond's ability to provide customised output.
+
+@exampleImage{Stockhausen_Klavierstueck2}
+@newsEnd
+

 @newsItem
 @subsubheading Vocal Music
 
 @newsItem
 @subsubheading Vocal Music
 


@@ -342,6 +439,7 @@ contributed by Hu Haipeng, a blind composer.
 @exampleImage{orchestra}
 @newsEnd
 
 @exampleImage{orchestra}
 @newsEnd
 

+@divEnd

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


@@ -471,9 +569,11 @@ LilyPond, first read about our @ref{Text input}.
 We have an extensive essay describing computational aesthetics:
 the art of creating beauty with a computer.
 
 We have an extensive essay describing computational aesthetics:
 the art of creating beauty with a computer.
 

-If you just want a quick introduction to LilyPond, the essay might
-be too much material to read.  If you would like to read it now,
-please progress to @ref{Essay}.
+This is interesting reading if you are interested in an in-depth
+discussion of our fundamental ideas.  Due to its volume the
+essay is available as a "manual".  If you would like to read
+it now, please progress to @ref{Essay}.  However, if you just
+want a quick introduction to LilyPond, you might skip it for now.

 @divEnd
 
 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
 @divEnd
 
 @divClass{column-center-bottom}


@@ -488,6 +588,16 @@ try LilyPond, first read about our @ref{Text input}.
 @node Productions
 @unnumberedsec Productions
 
 @node Productions
 @unnumberedsec Productions
 

+@divClass{column-center-top}
+
+@subheading Productions using LilyPond
+
+Here you can read about people who actually use LilyPond
+in their productions, be it for performances of their
+music or as published scores.
+
+@divEnd
+

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


@@ -497,6 +607,28 @@ Some highlights:
 @divClass{keep-bullets}
 @itemize
 
 @divClass{keep-bullets}
 @itemize
 

+@item
+@uref{http://www.aurelienbello.com/,Aurélien Bello} has re-orchestrated
+@emph{Der Ring des Nibelungen} by Richard Wagner to a
+@uref{http://www.rsb-online.de/content/konzerte/wagnerzyklus-10-13/wagner-fuer-kinder/index_ger.html,100-minute version for children}.
+It has been written for a standard symphony orchestra but with a reduced
+cast of singers, and will be performed by the
+@emph{Radio-Sinfonieorchester Berlin} on the 5th and 6th April 2014 in
+the Atze Musiktheater, Berlin.  The Conductor is Heiko Matthias Förster.
+
+@item
+Joe Smeets created sheet music for the children's book @emph{Zing Mee}
+(@emph{Sing along}) by Annie M.G. published by Querido -- ISBN
+9789045106205:
+@uref{http://www.queridokinderenjeugdboeken.nl/web/Boek.htm?dbid=18954&typeofpage=134707, www.queridokinderenjeugdboeken.nl}; choir
+rehearsal scores for the Dutch translation of Benjamin Britten's
+@emph{Saint Nicolas} performed by @emph{Muziektheater Hollands Diep} in
+2011.
+@uref{http://www.muziektheaterhollandsdiep.nl/nl/voorstellingen/sint_nicolaas_leeft, www.muziektheaterhollandsdiep.nl}; and is currently
+working on the score and parts for an arrangement of Moussurgsky's
+@emph{Boris Godounov} for wind quartet, piano and percussion.  To be
+performed in 2014, again by @emph{Muziektheater Hollands Diep}.
+

 @item
 A critical edition of Tommaso Traetta's @emph{Enea nel Lazio (1760)},
 opera series with libretto by Vittorio Amedeo Cigna-Santi, in four
 @item
 A critical edition of Tommaso Traetta's @emph{Enea nel Lazio (1760)},
 opera series with libretto by Vittorio Amedeo Cigna-Santi, in four


@@ -623,6 +755,12 @@ If you've already decided to try LilyPond, first read about our
 @node Reviews
 @unnumberedsec Reviews
 
 @node Reviews
 @unnumberedsec Reviews
 

+@divClass{column-center-top}
+@subheading What do people say about LilyPond?
+
+@divEnd
+
+

 @divClass{column-left-top}
 @subheading Published articles
 
 @divClass{column-left-top}
 @subheading Published articles
 


@@ -1017,12 +1155,16 @@ help new users, beginning with @ref{Learning}.  The Learning
 Manual is the best place to start, as many questions are answered
 before they come up!
 
 Manual is the best place to start, as many questions are answered
 before they come up!
 

-Please read the Learning Manual before complaining about bugs!
-New users occasionally believe that LilyPond is not working
-correctly, when in fact it is working precisely as designed.
+Occasionally new users are unnecessarily confused by some aspects
+of LilyPond's behaviour.  Please read this manual before doubting
+whether LilyPond is working correctly.

 
 More in-depth information is available in @ref{Manuals}.
 
 
 More in-depth information is available in @ref{Manuals}.
 

+Ben Lemon, a LilyPond user, has created a range of
+@uref{http://benlemon.me/blog/music/lilypond/operation-lilypond/,video tutorials}
+on his blog and which are aimed at new users.
+

 
 @subsubheading Easier editing environments
 
 
 @subsubheading Easier editing environments
 


@@ -1073,7 +1215,7 @@ In particular, don't link to:
 @uref{http://www.tunefl.com}
 
 With tunefl you can typeset your scores directly online
 @uref{http://www.tunefl.com}
 
 With tunefl you can typeset your scores directly online

-without needing to install lilypond locally. It allows
+without needing to install LilyPond locally. It allows

 trying out all the program's features using a convenient
 web interface.
 
 trying out all the program's features using a convenient
 web interface.
 


@@ -1301,7 +1443,7 @@ and @uref{http://canorus.org,Canorus}.
 @item
 @uref{http://lilycomp.sourceforge.net, LilyComp} is a graphical
 note entry program, acting much like a number-pad which produces
 @item
 @uref{http://lilycomp.sourceforge.net, LilyComp} is a graphical
 note entry program, acting much like a number-pad which produces

-lilypond notes.
+LilyPond notes.

 
 @end itemize
 
 
 @end itemize