version that you are working on. See TRANSLATION for details.
@end ignore
-@c \version "2.11.51"
+@c \version "2.12.0"
-@node Input syntax
-@chapter Input syntax
+@node General input and output
+@chapter General input and output
-This section deals with general LilyPond input syntax issues,
+This section deals with general LilyPond input and output issues,
rather than specific notation.
@menu
block, and inside or outside the single music expression within a
@code{\score} block.
-@seealso
+@seealso
Learning Manual:
-
@rlearning{Working on input files},
@rlearning{Music expressions explained},
@rlearning{Score is a (single) compound musical expression}.
@}
@end example
+@funindex \bookpart
+
+Pieces of music may be grouped into book parts using @code{\bookpart}
+blocks. Book parts are separated by a page break, and can start with a
+title, like the book itself, by specifying a @code{\header} block.
+
+@example
+\bookpart @{
+ \header @{
+ title = "Book title"
+ subtitle = "First part"
+ @}
+ \score @{ @dots{} @}
+ @dots{}
+@}
+\bookpart @{
+ \header @{
+ subtitle = "Second part"
+ @}
+ \score @{ @dots{} @}
+ @dots{}
+@}
+@end example
+
@node File structure
@subsection File structure
@funindex \header
@funindex \score
@funindex \book
+@funindex \bookpart
A @code{.ly} file may contain any number of toplevel expressions, where a
toplevel expression is one of the following:
toplevel scores, and combined as a single @code{\book}.
This behavior can be changed by setting the variable
@code{toplevel-score-handler} at toplevel. The default handler is
-defined in the init file @file{scm/@/lily@/.scm}.
+defined in the init file @file{../scm/@/lily@/.scm}.
@item
A @code{\book} block logically combines multiple movements
or @code{\markup} in the same example. This behavior can be
changed by setting the variable @code{toplevel-book-handler} at
toplevel. The default handler is defined in the init file
-@file{scm/@/lily@/.scm}.
+@file{../scm/@/lily@/.scm}.
+
+@item
+A @code{\bookpart} block. A book may be divided into several parts,
+using @code{\bookpart} blocks, in order to ease the page breaking,
+or to use different @code{\paper} settings in different parts.
@item
A compound music expression, such as
This behavior can be changed by setting the variable
@code{toplevel-music-handler} at toplevel. The default handler is
-defined in the init file @file{scm/@/lily@/.scm}.
+defined in the init file @file{../scm/@/lily@/.scm}.
@item
A markup text, a verse for example
@end example
This can be used later on in the file by entering @code{\foo}. The
-name of an variable should have alphabetic characters only; no
+name of a variable should have alphabetic characters only; no
numbers, underscores or dashes.
@end itemize
@end itemize
-@seealso
+@seealso
Learning Manual:
@rlearning{How LilyPond input files work}.
+
@node Titles and headers
@section Titles and headers
@subsection Creating titles
Titles are created for each @code{\score} block, as well as for the full
-input file (or @code{\book} block).
+input file (or @code{\book} block) and book parts (created by
+@code{\bookpart} blocks).
The contents of the titles are taken from the @code{\header} blocks.
The header block for a book supports the following
@funindex poet
@item poet
-Name of the poet, flush-left below the subtitle.
+Name of the poet, flush-left below the subsubtitle.
+
+@funindex instrument
+@item instrument
+Name of the instrument, centered below the subsubtitle. Also
+centered at the top of pages (other than the first page).
@funindex composer
@item composer
-Name of the composer, flush-right below the subtitle.
+Name of the composer, flush-right below the subsubtitle.
@funindex meter
@item meter
Meter string, flush-left below the poet.
-@funindex opus
-@item opus
-Name of the opus, flush-right below the composer.
-
@funindex arranger
@item arranger
-Name of the arranger, flush-right below the opus.
-
-@funindex instrument
-@item instrument
-Name of the instrument, centered below the arranger. Also
-centered at the top of pages (other than the first page).
+Name of the arranger, flush-right below the composer.
@funindex piece
@item piece
-Name of the piece, flush-left below the instrument.
+Name of the piece, flush-left below the meter.
+
+@funindex opus
+@item opus
+Name of the opus, flush-right below the arranger.
@cindex page breaks, forcing
@funindex breakbefore
\book {
\header {
dedication = "dedicated to me"
- title = \markup \center-align { "Title first line" "Title second line,
+ title = \markup \center-column { "Title first line" "Title second line,
longer" }
subtitle = "the subtitle,"
subsubtitle = #(string-append "subsubtitle LilyPond version "
(lilypond-version))
poet = "Poet"
- composer = \markup \center-align { "composer" \small "(1847-1973)" }
+ composer = \markup \center-column { "composer" \small "(1847-1973)" }
texttranslator = "Text Translator"
meter = \markup { \teeny "m" \tiny "e" \normalsize "t" \large "e" \huge
"r" }
}
@end lilypond
-@funindex printallheaders
+@funindex print-all-headers
@noindent
You may change this behavior (and print all the headers when defining
@code{\header} inside @code{\score}) by using
@example
\paper@{
- printallheaders=##t
+ print-all-headers = ##t
@}
@end example
A more advanced option is to change the definitions of the following
variables in the @code{\paper} block. The init file
-@file{ly/titling-init.ly} lists the default layout.
+@file{../ly/titling-init.ly} lists the default layout.
@table @code
@funindex bookTitleMarkup
dimensions. If the book has between 10 and 99 pages, it may be "00",
ie. a two digit number.
-@predefined
+@predefined
@funindex \label
-@code{\label}
+@code{\label},
@funindex \page-ref
-@code{\page-ref}
+@code{\page-ref}.
+@endpredefined
+
@node Table of contents
@subsection Table of contents
}
@end lilypond
+
@seealso
+Init files: @file{../ly/@/toc@/-init@/.ly}.
-Init files: @file{ly/@/toc@/-init@/.ly}.
@predefined
-
@funindex \table-of-contents
-@code{\table-of-contents}
+@code{\table-of-contents},
@funindex \tocItem
-@code{\tocItem}
+@code{\tocItem}.
+@endpredefined
@node Working with input files
@end example
Files which are to be included can also contain @code{\include}
-statements of their own. These second-level
+statements of their own. By default, these second-level
@code{\include} statements are not interpreted until they have
been brought into the main file, so the file names they specify
must all be relative to the directory containing the main file,
-not the directory containing the included file.
+not the directory containing the included file. However,
+this behavior can be changed by passing the option
+@code{-drelative-includes} option at the command line
+(or by adding @code{#(ly:set-option 'relative-includes #t)}
+at the top of the main input file). With @code{relative-includes}
+set, the path for each @code{\include} command will be taken
+relative to the file containing that command. This behavior is
+recommended and it will become the default behavior in a future
+version of lilypond.
Files can also be included from a directory in a search path
specified as an option when invoking LilyPond from the command
Files which are to be included in many scores may be placed in
the LilyPond directory @file{../ly}. (The location of this
-directory is installation-dependent - see @rlearning{Other sources
-of information}). These files can then be included simply by
-naming them on an @code{\include} statement. This is how the
-language-dependent files like @file{english.ly} are included.
+directory is installation-dependent - see
+@rlearning{Other sources of information}). These files can then
+be included simply by naming them on an @code{\include} statement.
+This is how the language-dependent files like @file{english.ly} are
+included.
LilyPond includes a number of files by default when you start
the program. These includes are not apparent to the user, but the
files may be identified by running @code{lilypond --verbose} from
the command line. This will display a list of paths and files that
LilyPond uses, along with much other information. Alternatively,
-the more important of these files are discussed in @rlearning{Other
-sources of information}. These files may be edited, but changes to
-them will be lost on installing a new version of LilyPond.
+the more important of these files are discussed in
+@rlearning{Other sources of information}. These files may be
+edited, but changes to them will be lost on installing a new
+version of LilyPond.
Some simple examples of using @code{\include} are shown in
@rlearning{Scores and parts}.
+
@seealso
Learning Manual:
@rlearning{Other sources of information},
@rlearning{Scores and parts}.
+
@knownissues
If an included file is given a name which is the same as one in
the first filter will remove all tagged sections except the one
named, and the second filter will remove even that tagged section.
-@seealso
+@seealso
Learning Manual:
@rlearning{Organizing pieces with variables}.
@ref{Automatic part combining},
@ref{Including LilyPond files}.
+
@ignore
@c This warning is more general than this placement implies.
@c Rests are not merged whether or not they come from tagged sections.
popular modern editors have UTF-8 support, for example, vim, Emacs,
jEdit, and GEdit do. All MS Windows systems later than NT use
Unicode as their native character encoding, so even Notepad can
-edit and save a file in UTF-8 format. A more functional
+edit and save a file in UTF-8 format. A more functional
alternative for Windows is BabelPad.
If a LilyPond input file containing a non-ASCII character is not
Here is an example showing Cyrillic, Hebrew and Portuguese
text:
-@lilypond[verbatim,quote]
+@lilypond[quote]
+%c No verbatim here as the code does not display correctly in PDF
% Cyrillic
bulgarian = \lyricmode {
Жълтата дюля беше щастлива, че пухът, който цъфна, замръзна като гьон.
@end lilypond
To enter a single character for which the Unicode escape sequence
-is known but which is not available in the editor being used, enter
+is known but which is not available in the editor being used, use
+@code{\char ##xhhhh} within a @code{\markup} block, where
+@code{hhhh} is the hexadecimal code for the character required.
+For example, @code{\char ##x03BE} enters the Unicode U+03BE
+character, which has the Unicode name @qq{Greek Small Letter Xi}.
+Any Unicode hexadecimal code may be substituted, and if all special
+characters are entered in this format it is not necessary to save
+the input file in UTF-8 format. Of course, a font containing all
+such encoded characters must be installed and available to LilyPond.
+
+The following example shows UTF-8 coded characters being used in
+four places -- in a rehearsal mark, as articulation text, in lyrics
+and as stand-alone text below the score:
-@example
-#(ly:export (ly:wide-char->utf-8 #x03BE))
-@end example
-
-where in this example @code{x03BE} is the hexadecimal code for the
-Unicode U+03BE character, which has the Unicode name @qq{Greek Small
-Letter Xi}. Any Unicode hexadecimal code may be substituted, and
-if all special characters are entered in this format it is not
-necessary to save the input file in UTF-8 format.
+@lilypond[quote,verbatim]
+\score {
+ \relative c'' {
+ c1 \mark \markup { \char ##x03EE }
+ c1_\markup { \tiny { \char ##x03B1 " to " \char ##x03C9 } }
+ }
+ \addlyrics { O \markup { \concat{ Ph \char ##x0153 be! } } }
+}
+\markup { "Copyright 2008" \char ##x00A9 }
+@end lilypond
-@knownissues
+To enter the copyright sign in the copyright notice use:
-The @code{ly:export} format may be used in text within @code{\mark} or
-@code{\markup} commands but not in lyrics.
+@example
+\header @{
+ copyright = \markup @{ \char ##x00A9 "2008" @}
+@}
+@end example
@node Displaying LilyPond notation
@subsection Displaying LilyPond notation
@funindex skipTypesetting
+@funindex showFirstLength
@funindex showLastLength
When entering or copying music, usually only the music near the end (where
in your source file. This will render only the last 5 measures
(assuming 4/4 time signature) of every @code{\score} in the input
file. For longer pieces, rendering only a small part is often an order
-of magnitude quicker than rendering it completely
+of magnitude quicker than rendering it completely. When working on the
+beginning of a score you have already typeset (e.g. to add a new part),
+the @code{showFirstLength} property may be useful as well.
Skipping parts of a score can be controlled in a more fine-grained
fashion with the property @code{Score.skipTypesetting}. When it is
@menu
* Creating MIDI files::
* MIDI block::
-* MIDI instrument names::
+* What goes into the MIDI output?::
* Repeats in MIDI::
-* What else goes into the MIDI output?::
+* Controlling MIDI dynamics::
+* Percussion in MIDI::
@end menu
@node Creating MIDI files
@subsection Creating MIDI files
-To create a MIDI output file from a LilyPond input file, add a @code{\midi} block
-to a score, for example,
+To create a MIDI output file from a LilyPond input file, add a
+@code{\midi} block to a score, for example,
@example
\score @{
of specifying the inital or overall MIDI tempo is described below,
see @ref{MIDI block}.
-@ignore
-@c TODO Investigate dynamicAbsoluteVolumeFunction and the two
-@c midi..Volume properties, then document properly.
+@unnumberedsubsubsec Instrument names
-The fractions can be adjusted by setting
-@code{dynamicAbsoluteVolumeFunction} in @rinternals{Voice} context.
-For each type of MIDI instrument, a volume range can be defined. This
-gives a basic equalizer control, which can enhance the quality of
-the MIDI output remarkably. The equalizer can be controlled by
-setting @code{instrumentEqualizer}, or by setting
+@cindex instrument names
+@funindex Staff.midiInstrument
+
+The MIDI instrument to be used is specified by setting the
+@code{Staff.midiInstrument} property to the instrument name.
+The name should be chosen from the list in @ref{MIDI instruments}.
@example
-\set Staff.midiMinimumVolume = #0.2
-\set Staff.midiMaximumVolume = #0.8
+\new Staff @{
+ \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"glockenspiel"
+ @var{...notes...}
+@}
@end example
-@end ignore
+@example
+\new Staff \with @{midiInstrument = #"cello"@} @{
+ @var{...notes...}
+@}
+@end example
+
+If the selected instrument does not exactly match an instrument from
+the list of MIDI instruments, the Grand Piano (@code{"acoustic grand"})
+instrument is used.
+
+
+@snippets
+
+@lilypondfile[verbatim,lilyquote,ragged-right,texidoc,doctitle]
+{changing-midi-output-to-one-channel-per-voice.ly}
@knownissues
output. Players that are known to work include MS Windows Media
Player and @uref{http://@/timidity@/.sourceforge@/.net/,timidity}.
-
@node MIDI block
@subsection MIDI block
@cindex MIDI block
@example
\score @{
@var{...music...}
- \midi @{
- \context @{
- \Score
- tempoWholesPerMinute = #(ly:make-moment 72 4)
- @}
- @}
+ \midi @{
+ \context @{
+ \Score
+ tempoWholesPerMinute = #(ly:make-moment 72 4)
+ @}
+ @}
@}
@end example
Context definitions follow precisely the same syntax as those
within a @code{\layout} block. Translation modules for sound are
called performers. The contexts for MIDI output are defined in
-@file{ly/@/performer@/-init@/.ly} (see @rlearning{Other sources
-of information}. For example, to remove the effect of dynamics
+@file{../ly/@/performer@/-init@/.ly},
+see @rlearning{Other sources of information}.
+For example, to remove the effect of dynamics
from the MIDI output, insert the following lines in the
@code{\midi@{ @}} block.
@}
@end example
-@snippets
+@node What goes into the MIDI output?
+@subsection What goes into the MIDI output?
-@c TODO Check header and text appear in this example
-@lilypondfile[verbatim,lilyquote,ragged-right,texidoc,doctitle]
-{changing-midi-output-to-one-channel-per-voice.ly}
+@c TODO Check grace notes - timing is suspect?
-@node MIDI instrument names
-@subsection MIDI instrument names
+@unnumberedsubsubsec Supported in MIDI
-@cindex instrument names
-@funindex Staff.midiInstrument
+@cindex Pitches in MIDI
+@cindex MIDI, Pitches
+@cindex Quarter tones in MIDI
+@cindex MIDI, quarter tones
+@cindex Microtones in MIDI
+@cindex MIDI, microtones
+@cindex Chord names in MIDI
+@cindex MIDI, chord names
+@cindex Rhythms in MIDI
+@cindex MIDI, Rhythms
+@c TODO etc
-The MIDI instrument name is set by the @code{Staff.midiInstrument}
-property. The instrument name should be chosen from the list in
-@ref{MIDI instruments}.
+The following items of notation are reflected in the MIDI output:
-@example
-\set Staff.midiInstrument = "glockenspiel"
-@var{...notes...}
-@end example
+@itemize
+@item Pitches
+@item Quarter tones (See @ref{Accidentals}. Rendering needs a
+player that supports pitch bend.)
+@item Chords entered as chord names
+@item Rhythms entered as note durations, including tuplets
+@item Tremolos entered without @q{@code{:}[@var{number}]}
+@item Ties
+@item Dynamic marks
+@item Crescendi, decrescendi over multiple notes
+@item Tempo changes entered with a tempo marking
+@item Lyrics
+@end itemize
-If the selected instrument does not exactly match an instrument from
-the list of MIDI instruments, the Grand Piano (@code{"acoustic grand"})
-instrument is used.
+@unnumberedsubsubsec Unsupported in MIDI
+
+@c TODO index as above
+
+The following items of notation have no effect on the MIDI output:
+
+@itemize
+@item Rhythms entered as annotations, e.g. swing
+@item Tempo changes entered as annotations with no tempo marking
+@item Staccato and other articulations and ornamentations
+@item Slurs and Phrasing slurs
+@item Crescendi, decrescendi over a single note
+@item Tremolos entered with @q{@code{:}[@var{number}]}
+@item Figured bass
+@end itemize
@node Repeats in MIDI
@}
@end example
+@node Controlling MIDI dynamics
+@subsection Controlling MIDI dynamics
+
+MIDI dynamics are implemented by the Dynamic_performer which lives
+by default in the Voice context. It is possible to control the
+overall MIDI volume, the relative volume of dynamic markings and
+the relative volume of different instruments.
+
+@unnumberedsubsubsec Dynamic marks
+
+Dynamic marks are translated to a fixed fraction of the available
+MIDI volume range. The default fractions range from 0.25 for
+@notation{ppppp} to 0.95 for @notation{fffff}. The set of dynamic
+marks and the associated fractions can be seen in
+@file{../scm/midi.scm}, see @rlearning{Other sources of information}.
+This set of fractions may be changed or extended by providing a
+function which takes a dynamic mark as its argument and returns the
+required fraction, and setting
+@code{Score.dynamicAbsoluteVolumeFunction} to this function.
+
+For example, if a @notation{rinforzando} dynamic marking,
+@code{\rfz}, is required, this will not by default
+have any effect on the MIDI volume, as this dynamic marking is not
+included in the default set. Similarly, if a new dynamic marking
+has been defined with @code{make-dynamic-script} that too will not
+be included in the default set. The following example shows how the
+MIDI volume for such dynamic markings might be added. The Scheme
+function sets the fraction to 0.9 if a dynamic mark of rfz is
+found, or calls the default function otherwise.
-@node What else goes into the MIDI output?
-@subsection What else goes into the MIDI output?
+@lilypond[verbatim,quote]
+#(define (myDynamics dynamic)
+ (if (equal? dynamic "rfz")
+ 0.9
+ (default-dynamic-absolute-volume dynamic)))
-@c TODO Check grace notes - timing is suspect?
+\score {
+ \new Staff {
+ \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"cello"
+ \set Score.dynamicAbsoluteVolumeFunction = #myDynamics
+ \new Voice {
+ \relative c'' {
+ a\pp b c-\rfz
+ }
+ }
+ }
+ \layout {}
+ \midi {}
+}
+@end lilypond
+
+Alternatively, if the whole table of fractions needs to be
+redefined, it would be better to use the
+@notation{default-dynamic-absolute-volume} procedure in
+@file{../scm/midi.scm} and the associated table as a model.
+The final example in this section shows how this might be done.
+
+@unnumberedsubsubsec Overall MIDI volume
+
+The minimum and maximum overall volume of MIDI dynamic markings is
+controlled by setting the properties @code{midiMinimumVolume} and
+@code{midiMaximumVolume} at the @code{Score} level. These
+properties have an effect only on dynamic marks, so if they
+are to apply from the start of the score a dynamic mark must be
+placed there. The fraction corresponding to each dynamic mark is
+modified with this formula
+
+@example
+midiMinimumVolume + (midiMaximumVolume - midiMinimumVolume) * fraction
+@end example
+
+In the following example the dynamic range of the overall MIDI
+volume is limited to the range 0.2 - 0.5.
+
+@lilypond[verbatim,quote]
+\score {
+ <<
+ \new Staff {
+ \key g \major
+ \time 2/2
+ \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"flute"
+ \new Voice \relative c''' {
+ r2 g\mp g fis ~
+ fis4 g8 fis e2 ~
+ e4 d8 cis d2
+ }
+ }
+ \new Staff {
+ \key g \major
+ \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"clarinet"
+ \new Voice \relative c'' {
+ b1\p a2. b8 a
+ g2. fis8 e
+ fis2 r
+ }
+ }
+ >>
+ \layout { }
+ \midi {
+ \context {
+ \Score
+ tempoWholesPerMinute = #(ly:make-moment 72 2)
+ midiMinimumVolume = #0.2
+ midiMaximumVolume = #0.5
+ }
+ }
+}
+@end lilypond
+
+@unnumberedsubsubsec Equalizing different instruments (i)
+
+If the minimum and maximum MIDI volume properties are set in
+the @code{Staff} context the relative volumes of the MIDI
+instruments can be controlled. This gives a basic instrument
+equalizer, which can enhance the quality of the MIDI output
+remarkably.
+
+In this example the volume of the clarinet is reduced relative
+to the volume of the flute. There must be a dynamic
+mark on the first note of each instrument for this to work
+correctly.
+
+@lilypond[verbatim,quote]
+\score {
+ <<
+ \new Staff {
+ \key g \major
+ \time 2/2
+ \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"flute"
+ \set Staff.midiMinimumVolume = #0.7
+ \set Staff.midiMaximumVolume = #0.9
+ \new Voice \relative c''' {
+ r2 g\mp g fis ~
+ fis4 g8 fis e2 ~
+ e4 d8 cis d2
+ }
+ }
+ \new Staff {
+ \key g \major
+ \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"clarinet"
+ \set Staff.midiMinimumVolume = #0.3
+ \set Staff.midiMaximumVolume = #0.6
+ \new Voice \relative c'' {
+ b1\p a2. b8 a
+ g2. fis8 e
+ fis2 r
+ }
+ }
+ >>
+ \layout { }
+ \midi {
+ \context {
+ \Score
+ tempoWholesPerMinute = #(ly:make-moment 72 2)
+ }
+ }
+}
+@end lilypond
+
+@unnumberedsubsubsec Equalizing different instruments (ii)
+
+If the MIDI minimum and maximum volume properties are not set
+LilyPond will, by default, apply a small degree of equalization
+to a few instruments. The instruments and the equalization
+applied are shown in the table @notation{instrument-equalizer-alist}
+in @file{../scm/midi.scm}.
+
+This basic default equalizer can be replaced by setting
+@code{instrumentEqualizer} in the @code{Score} context to a new
+Scheme procedure which accepts a MIDI instrument name as its only
+argument and returns a pair of fractions giving the minimum and
+maximum volumes to be applied to that instrument. This replacement
+is done in the same way as shown for resetting the
+@code{dynamicAbsoluteVolumeFunction} at the start of this section.
+The default equalizer, @notation{default-instrument-equalizer}, in
+@file{../scm/midi.scm} shows how such a procedure might be written.
+
+The following example sets the relative flute and clarinet volumes
+to the same values as the previous example.
+
+@lilypond[verbatim,quote]
+#(define my-instrument-equalizer-alist '())
-@unnumberedsubsubsec Microtones
+#(set! my-instrument-equalizer-alist
+ (append
+ '(
+ ("flute" . (0.7 . 0.9))
+ ("clarinet" . (0.3 . 0.6)))
+ my-instrument-equalizer-alist))
+
+#(define (my-instrument-equalizer s)
+ (let ((entry (assoc s my-instrument-equalizer-alist)))
+ (if entry
+ (cdr entry))))
+
+\score {
+ <<
+ \new Staff {
+ \key g \major
+ \time 2/2
+ \set Score.instrumentEqualizer = #my-instrument-equalizer
+ \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"flute"
+ \new Voice \relative c''' {
+ r2 g\mp g fis ~
+ fis4 g8 fis e2 ~
+ e4 d8 cis d2
+ }
+ }
+ \new Staff {
+ \key g \major
+ \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"clarinet"
+ \new Voice \relative c'' {
+ b1\p a2. b8 a
+ g2. fis8 e
+ fis2 r
+ }
+ }
+ >>
+ \layout { }
+ \midi {
+ \context {
+ \Score
+ tempoWholesPerMinute = #(ly:make-moment 72 2)
+ }
+ }
+}
+@end lilypond
+
+@ignore
+@c Delete when satisfied this is adequately covered elsewhere -td
+
+@n ode Microtones in MIDI
+@s ubsection Microtones in MIDI
@cindex microtones in MIDI
\midi {}
}
@end lilypond
+@end ignore
-@knownissues
-@c TODO List things that have no effect
-@c TODO Check these
+@node Percussion in MIDI
+@subsection Percussion in MIDI
-Many musically interesting effects, such as swing, articulation,
-slurring, etc., are not translated to midi. Also, figured bass,
-chords, and lyrics have no effect on MIDI.
+Percussion instruments are generally notated in a @code{DrumStaff}
+context and when notated in this way they are outputted correctly
+to MIDI channel@tie{}10, but some pitched percussion instruments,
+like the xylophone, marimba, vibraphone, timpani, etc., are
+treated like @qq{normal} instruments and music for these instruments
+should be entered in a normal @code{Staff} context, not a
+@code{DrumStaff} context, to obtain the correct MIDI output.
+
+Some non-pitched percussion sounds included in the general MIDI
+standard, like melodic tom, taiko drum, synth drum, etc., cannot
+be reached via MIDI channel@tie{}10, so the notation for such
+instruments should also be entered in a normal @code{Staff}
+context, using suitable normal pitches.
+
+Many percussion instruments are not included in the general MIDI
+standard, e.g. castanets. The easiest, although unsatisfactory,
+method of producing some MIDI output when writing for such
+instruments is to substitute the nearest sound from the standard
+set.
+
+@c TODO Expand with examples, and any other issues
+
+@knownissues
+Because the general MIDI standard does not contain rim shots, the
+sidestick is used for this purpose instead.
projects / lilypond.git / blobdiff