@chapter Reference Manual
This document describes GNU LilyPond and its input format. The last
-revision of this document was made for LilyPond 1.3.145. It supposes a
+revision of this document was made for LilyPond 1.4.1. It supposes a
passing familiarity with how LilyPond input works. New users are
encouraged to study the tutorial first.
+The reference manual is ordered according to different tasks.
+More details on the property setting mechanisms and context handling is
+provided in @ref{Tuning output} and @ref{Interpretation context}. The
+syntactical details are described at the end of the manual.
@menu
* Overview::
@menu
+* Notes::
* Pitches::
-* Defining pitch names::
+* Rests::
+* Skips::
* Durations::
-* Notes::
-* Easy Notation note heads ::
-* Tie::
+* Ties::
* Tuplets::
-* Rests::
-* Skip::
+* Defining pitch names::
+* Easy Notation note heads ::
@end menu
+@c . {Notes}
+@node Notes
+@subsection Notes
+
+A note specification has the form
+
+@example
+ @var{pitch}[!][?][@var{duration}]
+@end example
+
+The alteration refers to what note is heard, not to whether an
+accidental is printed. This is done depending on the key and context.
+A reminder accidental
+@cindex reminder accidental
+@cindex @code{?}
+can be forced by adding an exclamation mark @code{!} after the pitch. A
+cautionary accidental,
+@cindex cautionary accidental
+@cindex parenthesized accidental
+i.e., an accidental within parentheses can be obtained by adding the
+question mark `@code{?}' after the pitch.
+
+@lilypond[fragment,verbatim,center]
+ cis' d' e' cis' c'? d' e' c'!
+@end lilypond
+
+
@c . {Pitches}
@node Pitches
@subsection Pitches
@cindex note names, Dutch
In Dutch, a sharp is formed by adding @code{-is} to the end of a pitch
-name. A flat is formed by adding @code{-es}. Double sharps and double
+name and a flat is formed by adding @code{-es}. Double sharps and double
flats are obtained by adding @code{-isis} or @code{-eses}. @code{aes}
and @code{ees} are contracted to @code{as} and @code{es} in Dutch, but
both forms are accepted.
c' c'' es' g' as' gisis' ais'
@end lilypond
-@c . {Defining pitch names}
-@node Defining pitch names
-@subsection Defining pitch names
+@c . {Rests}
+@node Rests
+@subsection Rests
+@cindex Rests
-@cindex defining pitch names
-@cindex pitch names, defining
+Rests are entered like notes, with note name `@code{r}'. The grob is
+@code{Rest}. Whole bar rests centered in the bar are specified using
+@code{R}, see @ref{Multi measure rests}.
-Note names and chord modifiers can be customized for nationalities. The
-syntax is as follows.
-@cindex @code{\pitchnames}
-@cindex @code{\chordmodifiers}
-@example
- \pitchnames @var{scheme-alist}
- \chordmodifiers @var{scheme-alist}
-@end example
+@c . {Skips}
+@node Skips
+@subsection Skips
+@cindex Skip
-See @file{ly/nederlands.ly} and @file{ly/chord-modifiers.ly} for
-specific examples how to do this.
+@example
+ \skip @var{duration}
+ s@var{duration}
+@end example
+@cindex @code{\skip}
+Skips the amount of time specified by @var{duration}. If no other music
+is played, a gap will be left for the skipped time without any notes
+printed. The shorthand is only available in Note and Chord mode.
@c . {Durations}
@node Durations
To get a longa note head, you have to use mensural note heads. This
is accomplished by setting the @code{style} property of the
-NoteHead grob to @code{mensural}.
+NoteHead grob to @code{mensural}. There is also a note head style
+@code{baroque} which gives mensural note heads for @code{\longa} and
+@code{\breve} but standard note heads for shorter notes.
@lilypond[fragment,singleline,verbatim]
\property Voice.NoteHead \set #'style = #'mensural
appending `@code{*}@var{N/M}' (or `@code{*}@var{N}' if @var{M=1}). This
will not affect the appearance of the notes or rests produced.
-@c . {Notes}
-@node Notes
-@subsection Notes
-
-A note specification has the form
-
-@example
- @var{pitch}[!][?][@var{duration}]
-@end example
-
-The alteration refers to what note is heard, not to whether an
-accidental is printed. This is done depending on the key and context.
-A reminder accidental
-@cindex reminder accidental
-@cindex @code{?}
-can be forced by adding an exclamation mark @code{!} after the pitch. A
-cautionary accidental,
-@cindex cautionary accidental
-@cindex parenthesized accidental
-i.e., an accidental within parentheses can be obtained by adding the
-question mark `@code{?}' after the pitch.
-
-@lilypond[fragment,verbatim,center]
- cis' d' e' cis' c'? d' e' c'!
-@end lilypond
-
-
-@node Easy Notation note heads
-@subsection Easy Notation note heads
-
-@cindex easy notation
-@cindex Hal Leonard
-
-A entirely different type of note head is the "easyplay" note head: a
-note head that includes a note name. It is used in some publications by
-Hal-Leonard Inc. music publishers.
-
-@lilypond[singleline,verbatim]
-\include "paper23.ly"
-\score {
- \notes { c'2 e'4 f' | g'1 }
- \paper { \translator { \EasyNotation } }
-}
-@end lilypond
-
-Note that @code{EasyNotation} overrides a @code{Score} context. You
-probably will want to print it with magnification to make it better
-readable, see @ref{Output scaling}.
-
-
-@cindex Xdvi
-@cindex ghostscript
-If you view the result with Xdvi, then staff lines will show through the
-letters. Printing the postscript file obtained either by using dvips or
-the @code{-f ps} option of lilypond produces the correct result.
-@node Tie
-@subsection Tie
+@node Ties
+@subsection Ties
@cindex Tie
@cindex ties
exactly the same concept.
@c
@lilypond[fragment, singleline]
-c'2 c'4 ~ c'4
+\time 3/4 c'2. c'2 ~ c'4
@end lilypond
The name of the tie grob is @code{Voice.Tie}.
@cindex triplets
@cindex @code{\times}
-Tuplets are made out of a music expression by multiplying their duration
+Tuplets are made out of a music expression by multiplying all duration
with a fraction.
@cindex @code{\times}
The format of the number is determined by the property
@code{tupletNumberFormatFunction}. The default prints only the
denominator, but if you set it to the Scheme function
-@code{fraction-tuplet-formatter} will print @var{num}:@var{den} instead.
+@code{fraction-tuplet-formatter}, Lilypond will print @var{num}:@var{den}
+instead.
+
+The typesetting of brackets and numbers is controlled by the properties
+@code{tuplet-bracket-visibility} and @code{tuplet-number-visibility}.
+
+@lilypond[fragment, relative, singleline, verbatim]
+\property Voice.TupletBracket \set #'tuplet-bracket-visibility = ##t
+\times 2/3{c'8 d e} \times 2/3{d4 e8}
+\property Voice.TupletBracket \set #'tuplet-bracket-visibility = #'if-no-beam
+\times 2/3{c d e} \times 2/3{d4 e8}
+\property Voice.TupletBracket \set #'tuplet-bracket-visibility = ##f
+\times 2/3{c d e} \times 2/3{d4 e8}
+\property Voice.TupletBracket \set #'tuplet-number-visibility = ##f
+\times 2/3{c d e} \times 2/3{d4 e8}
+\property Voice.TupletBracket \set #'tuplet-number-visibility = #'if-no-beam
+\times 2/3{c d e} \times 2/3{d4 e8}
+@end lilypond
@cindex @code{tupletNumberFormatFunction}
@cindex tuplet formatting
Tuplet brackets are printed as @code{TupletBracket} grobs
+@c . {Defining pitch names}
+@node Defining pitch names
+@subsection Defining pitch names
-@c . {Rests}
-@node Rests
-@subsection Rests
-@cindex Rests
+@cindex defining pitch names
+@cindex pitch names, defining
-Rests are entered like notes, with note name `@code{r}'. The grob is
-@code{Rest}. Whole bar rests centered in the bar are specified using
-@code{R}, see @ref{Multi measure rests}.
+Note names and chord modifiers can be customized for nationalities. The
+syntax is as follows.
+@cindex @code{\pitchnames}
+@cindex @code{\chordmodifiers}
+@example
+ \pitchnames @var{scheme-alist}
+ \chordmodifiers @var{scheme-alist}
+@end example
-@c . {Skip}
-@node Skip
-@subsection Skip
-@cindex Skip
+See @file{ly/nederlands.ly} and @file{ly/chord-modifiers.ly} for
+specific examples on how to do this.
-@example
- \skip @var{duration}
- s@var{duration}
-@end example
-@cindex @code{\skip}
+@node Easy Notation note heads
+@subsection Easy Notation note heads
-Skips the amount of time specified by @var{duration}. If no other music
-is played, a gap will be left for the skipped time without any notes
-printed. The shorthand is only available in Note and Chord mode.
+@cindex easy notation
+@cindex Hal Leonard
+
+A entirely different type of note head is the "easyplay" note head: a
+note head that includes a note name. It is used in some publications by
+Hal-Leonard Inc. music publishers.
+
+@lilypond[singleline,verbatim]
+\include "paper23.ly"
+\score {
+ \notes { c'2 e'4 f' | g'1 }
+ \paper { \translator { \EasyNotation } }
+}
+@end lilypond
+
+Note that @code{EasyNotation} overrides a @code{Score} context. You
+probably will want to print it with magnification to make it more
+readable, see @ref{Output scaling}.
+
+
+@cindex Xdvi
+@cindex ghostscript
+
+If you view the result with Xdvi, then staff lines will show through the
+letters. Printing the postscript file obtained either by using dvips or
+the @code{-f ps} option of lilypond produces the correct result.
Supported clef-names include
+@c Moved standard clefs to the top /MB
@table @code
@item treble, violin, G, G2
G clef on 2nd line
+@item alto, C
+ C clef on 3rd line
+@item tenor
+ C clef on 4th line
+@item bass, F
+ F clef on 4th line
@item french
- G clef on 1st line
+ G clef on 1st line, so-called French violin clef
@item soprano
C clef on 1st line
@item mezzosoprano
C clef on 2nd line
-@item alto
- C clef on 3rd line
-@item tenor
- C clef on 4th line
@item baritone
C clef on 5th line
@item varbaritone
F clef on 3rd line
-@item bass, F
- F clef on 4th line
@item subbass
F clef on 5th line
@item percussion
Changing the value of @code{timeSignatureFraction} also causes a
fraction to be printed. This grob is @code{TimeSignature}.
-The actual symbol that's printed can be customised with the style
+The actual symbol that's printed can be customized with the style
property.
@lilypond[fragment, verbatim, singleline]
\time 3/4 s2
c4 c4 c4
@end lilypond
-The identifiers @code{\cadenzaOn} and @code{\cadenzaOff} can be used to
-achieve the same effect.
+The identifiers @code{\cadenzaOn} and @code{\cadenzaOff} can be used as
+shortcuts.
@example
\property Score.whichBar = @var{bartype}
@end example
+The following bar types are available
+
+@lilypond[fragment, relative, singleline, verbatim]
+c4
+\bar "|" c
+\bar "" c
+\bar "|:" c
+\bar "||" c
+\bar ":|" c
+\bar ".|" c
+\bar ".|." c
+\bar "|."
+@end lilypond
+
You are encouraged to use @code{\repeat} for repetitions. See
@ref{Repeats}.
@code{\bar }. These settings take precedence over the automatic
@code{whichBar} settings.
-@code{Bar_engraver} creates @code{BarLine} grobs.
+@code{BarLine} grobs are created by the @code{Bar_engraver}.
@c . {Polyphony}
@node Polyphony
@node Expressive marks
@section Expressive marks
-@c . {Slur}
+@c . {Slurs}
@menu
-* Slur ::
-* Phrasing slur::
+* Slurs ::
+* Phrasing slurs::
* Breath marks::
* Tempo::
-* Text spanner::
+* Text spanners::
@end menu
-@node Slur
-@subsection Slur
-@cindex slur
+@node Slurs
+@subsection Slurs
+@cindex slurs
A slur indicates that notes are to be played bound or @emph{legato}.
They are entered using parentheses:
@cindex Adjusting slurs
-@node Phrasing slur
-@subsection Phrasing slur
+@node Phrasing slurs
+@subsection Phrasing slurs
-@cindex phrasing slur
-@cindex phrasing mark
+@cindex phrasing slurs
+@cindex phrasing marks
A phrasing slur (or phrasing mark) connects chords and is used to
indicate a musical sentence. It is started using @code{\(} and @code{\)}
respectively.
@lilypond[fragment,verbatim,center,relative]
- \time 6/4 c''\((d)e f(e)\)d
+ \time 6/4 c'' \( ( d ) e f ( e ) \) d
@end lilypond
Typographically, the phrasing slur behaves almost exactly like a normal
-@node Text spanner
-@subsection Text spanner
-@cindex Text spanner
+@node Text spanners
+@subsection Text spanners
+@cindex Text spanners
-Some textual indications, e.g. rallentando, accelerando, often extend
+Some textual indications, e.g. rallentando or accelerando, often extend
over many measures. This is indicated by following the text with a
dotted line. You can create such texts using text spanners. The syntax
is as follows:
@section Ornaments
@cindex Ornaments
@menu
-* Articulation::
+* Articulations::
* Text scripts::
* Grace notes::
* Glissando ::
@end menu
@c . {Articulation}
-@node Articulation
-@subsection Articulation
-@cindex Articulation
+@node Articulations
+@subsection Articulations
+@cindex Articulations
@cindex articulations
@cindex scripts
Make tremolo beams.
@item percent
-Make measure repeats. These look like percent signs.
+Make beat or measure repeats. These look like percent signs.
@end table
* Repeat syntax::
* Manual repeat commands::
* Tremolo repeats::
-* Tremolo subdivision::
+* Tremolo subdivisions::
* Measure repeats::
@end menu
@example
\property Staff.VoltaBracket = \turnOff
@end example
+in all but the top staff.
@node Manual repeat commands
@subsection Manual repeat commands
At present, the spacing between tremolo beams is not regular, since the
spacing engine does not notice that not all notes are printed.
-@node Tremolo subdivision
-@subsection Tremolo subdivision
+@node Tremolo subdivisions
+@subsection Tremolo subdivisions
@cindex tremolo marks
@cindex @code{tremoloFlags}
@lilypond[verbatim,fragment,center]
c'2:8 c':32 | c': c': |
@end lilypond
-Using this mechanism pays off when you enter many tremolos, since the
-default argument saves typing.
@refbugs
In the @code{percent} style, a note pattern can be repeated. It is
printed once, and then the pattern is replaced with a special sign.
-Patterns of a one and two measures are replaced by percent signs,
+Patterns of a one and two measures are replaced by percent-like signs,
patterns that divide the measure length are replaced by slashes.
@lilypond[verbatim,singleline]
* Manual staff switches::
* Pedals::
* Arpeggio::
-* Voice follower line::
+* Voice follower lines::
@end menu
-@node Voice follower line
-@subsection Voice follower line
+@node Voice follower lines
+@subsection Voice follower lines
@cindex follow voice
@cindex staff switching
@code{He_could4 not4}. All unquoted underscores are converted to
spaces.
-The precise definition of this mode is in @ref{Lyrics mode
+The precise definition of this mode can be found in @ref{Lyrics mode
definition}.
@c . {Printing lyrics}
Lyrics are printed by interpreting them in the @code{Lyrics} context.
+@c Maybe more pedagogical to avoid \addlyrics in this first example? /MB
+
@lilypond[verbatim,singleline]
\addlyrics \notes \relative c' {
\time 7/4
You can make the chord changes stand out by setting
@code{ChordNames.chordChanges} to true. This will only display chord
-names when there's a change in the chords scheme and at the start of the
-line.
+names when there's a change in the chords scheme and at the start of a
+new line.
@lilypond[verbatim]
scheme = \chords {
@node Sound output for transposing instruments
@subsection Sound output transposing instruments
-When you want to play a score containing transposed and untransposed
+When you want to make a MIDI file from a score containing transposed and
+untransposed
instruments, you have to instruct LilyPond the pitch offset (in
semitones) for the transposed instruments. This is done using the
@code{transposing} property. It does not affect printed output.
\property Staff.transposing = #-2
@end example
-
@c . {Multi measure rests}
@node Multi measure rests
@subsection Multi measure rests
@refbugs
-Currently, there is no way to condense multiple rests into a single
-multimeasure rest.
+Currently, there is no way to automatically condense multiple rests into
+a single multimeasure rest.
@cindex condensing rests
@node Hara kiri staffs
@subsection Hara kiri staffs
-In orchestral scores, staffs that only have rests are usually removed.
+In orchestral scores, staff lines that only have rests are usually removed.
This saves some space. LilyPond also supports this through the hara
kiri@footnote{Hara kiri, also called Seppuku, is the ritual suicide of
the Japanese Samourai warriors.} staff. This staff commits suicide when
}
@end lilypond
-Custodes were frequently used in music notation until the 16th century.
+Custodes were frequently used in music notation until the 17th century.
There were different appearances for different notation styles.
Nowadays, they have survived only in special forms of musical notation
such as via the @emph{editio vaticana} dating back to the beginning of
@end lilypond
The @code{\property} assignment effectively empties the definition of
-the Stem object. One of the effects is the recipe of how it should be
+the Stem object. One of the effects is that the recipe of how it should be
printed is erased, with the effect of rendering it invisible. The above
assignment is available as a standard identifier, for the case that you
find this useful:
@subsection What to tune?
This all tells you how to tune grobs, but you don't know what variables
-to set? The question is not answered in this manual (although you may
-encounter some examples.).
+to set? The question is not answered in this part of the manual
+(although you may encounter some examples.).
Grob properties are tied directly to the implementation of LilyPond, and
they are thus a moving target. Documentation of such variables is in the
signs) and @code{typewriter}
@item font-shape
- A symbol indicating the shape of the font, a finer gradation than
- font-family. Choices are @code{italic}, @code{caps} and @code{upright}
+ A symbol indicating the shape of the font, there are typically several
+ font shapes available for each font family. Choices are @code{italic},
+ @code{caps} and @code{upright}
@item font-series
-A symbol indicating the series of the font. @code{font-series} form a
-finer gradation
- than @code{font-shape}. Choices are @code{medium} and @code{bold}.
+A symbol indicating the series of the font. There are typically several
+font series for each font family and shape. Choices are @code{medium}
+and @code{bold}.
@item font-relative-size
A number indicating the size relative the standard size. For example,
head: markup | (markup+)
markup-item: property | abbrev
property: (@var{key} . @var{value})
-abbrev: @code{columns lines roman music bold italic named super sub
-overstrike text}
- @code{finger volta timesig mmrest mark script large Large dynamic}
+abbrev: @code{columns lines roman music bold italic named super sub}
+ @code{overstrike text finger volta timesig mmrest mark script}
+ @code{large Large dynamic}
@end example
The markup is broken down and converted into a list of grob properties,
a b c b \blanknotes c \unblanknotes d
}
}
-@end lilypond
+@end lilypond
+This method makes the grobs invisible but they still take the normal space.
+To remove all traces of the grob, you can redefine the function
+typesetting them:
+@lilypond[verbatim]
+\score {
+ \notes\relative c'' {
+ \key c \minor
+ \time 6/4
+ as bes c bes c d \break
+ \property Staff.KeySignature \override #'molecule-callback = #'()
+ as bes c bes c d
+ }
+ \paper{linewidth=5.0\cm indent=0}
+}
+@end lilypond
-A very rigorous way of removing grobs from the output is to remove the
-engraver that creates them. For example,
+A very rigorous way of removing grobs from the whole score is to remove
+the engraver that creates them. For example,
-@lilypond[verbatim]
+@lilypond[singleline,verbatim]
\score {\notes { c'4 d'8 e'8 g2 }
\paper { \translator {
\VoiceContext
}
@end lilypond
-
@node Dirty tricks
@subsection Dirty tricks
@cindex embedded tex
It is possible to use @TeX{} commands in the strings, but this should be
-avoided because this makes it impossible for LilyPond to compute the
+avoided because it makes it impossible for LilyPond to compute the
exact length of the string, which may lead to collisions. Also, @TeX{}
commands won't work with direct PostScript output (see @ref{PostScript
output}).
@cindex @code{interscoreline}
@item @code{interscoreline}
- Sets the spacing between systems.
-Not set by default.
+ Sets the spacing between systems. The default is 16pt.
+
@cindex @code{interscorelinefill}
@item @code{interscorelinefill}
@cindex page breaks
@cindex breaking pages
-
Page breaks are normally computed by @TeX{}, so they are not under
direct control of LilyPond. However, you can insert a commands into the
-@file{.tex} output to instruct @TeX{} where to break pages. For more
-details, see the example file @file{input/test/between-systems.ly}
+@file{.tex} output to instruct @TeX{} where to break pages, by inserting
+the command @code{\newpage}
+@cindex @code{\newpage}
+@example
+ \newpage
+@end example
+
+@c why do so difficult?
+@c maybe should explain contents of between-system.ly,
+@c but not now, we're talking about page breaks here.
+@c For more
+@c details, see the example file @file{input/test/between-systems.ly}
@c . {Output scaling}
@refbugs
-Titling is not generated.
+Titling is not generated unless you use @file{ly2dvi}.
@node PostScript output
then written to disk in postscript, @TeX{} or ASCII art. Before it is
written, the page description is represented as Scheme expressions. You
can also dump these Scheme expressions to a file, which may be
-convenient for debugging output routines. This done with the Scheme
+convenient for debugging output routines. This is done with the Scheme
output format
@example
It's easy to change the glyphs, though; if you think you can do better,
have a look at @file{mf/*.af}.
-Lots of resizable symbols such as slurs, ties, tuplets are missing.
+Lots of resizable symbols such as slurs, ties and tuplets are missing.
The poor looks of most ASCII Art output and its limited general
-usefulness make that ASCII Art output has a low priority; it may be
+usefulness gives ASCII Art output a low priority; it may be
dropped in future versions.
@c . {Sound}
* Point and click::
@end menu
-One of the applications of LilyPond is to enter music from existing
-written or printed material. When you're doing this kind of copying
-work, you can easily make mistakes. This section deals with tricks and
-features that help you enter music, and find and correct mistakes.
+When entering music with LilyPond, it is easy to introduce errors. This
+section deals with tricks and features that help you enter music, and
+find and correct mistakes.
@c . {Relative}
@node Relative
@end lilypond
If the preceding item is a chord, the first note of the chord is used
-to determine the first note of the next chord. But other notes
+to determine the first note of the next chord. However, other notes
within the second chord are determined by looking at the immediately
preceding note.
will complain about not finding @code{src:X:Y} files. Those complaints
are harmless, and can be ignored.
-When using @code{line-colum-location}, the cursor will be one off; it
+When using @code{line-column-location}, the cursor will be one off; it
will not jump to the exact note that you clicked, but to the next one.
[FIXME]
LilyPond. During the interpretation phase of LilyPond (when it prints
"interpreting music"), the music expression in a @code{\score} block is
interpreted in time order. This is the same order that humans hear and
-play music.
+play the music.
-During this interpretation, the interpretation context is holds the
+During this interpretation, the interpretation context holds the
state for the current point within the music. It contains information
like
Contexts associated with sheet music output are called @emph{notation
contexts}, those for sound output are called @emph{performance
-contexts}.
+contexts}. The default definitions of the standard notation and
+performance contexts can be found in @file{ly/engraver.ly} and
+@file{ly/performer.ly}, respectively.
@node Creating contexts
@node Default contexts
@subsection Default contexts
-Most music expressions don't need @code{\context}: they inherit the
+Most music expressions don't need an explicit @code{\context}
+declaration: they inherit the
notation context from their parent. Each note is a music expression, and
as you can see in the following example, only the sequential music
enclosing the three notes has an explicit context.
There are some quirks that you must keep in mind when dealing with
defaults:
-First, every top-level music is interpreted by the Score context, in other
+First, every top level music is interpreted by the Score context, in other
words, you may think of @code{\score} working like
@example
\score @{
@}
@end example
-Second, sequential music follows the contexts of its
-``children''. Consider the following example.
+Second, contexts are created automatically to be able to interpret the
+music expressions. Consider the following example.
@lilypond[verbatim, singleline]
\score { \context Score \notes { c'4 ( d' )e' } }
To simplify editing translators, all standard contexts have standard
identifiers called @var{name}@code{Context}, e.g. @code{StaffContext},
-@code{VoiceContext}.
+@code{VoiceContext}, see @file{ly/engraver.ly}.
@node Defining new contexts
@subsection Defining new contexts
End-users generally don't need this command.
@item @code{\accepts} @var{contextname}
- Add @var{contextname} to the list of context this context can
- contain. The first listed context is the context to create by
- default.
+ Add @var{contextname} to the list of contexts this context can
+ contain in the context hierarchy. The first listed context is the
+ context to create by default.
@item @code{\denies}. The opposite of @code{\accepts}. Added for
completeness, but is never used in practice.
@item @code{\name} @var{contextname}
- This sets name of the context, e.g. @code{Staff}, @code{Voice}. If
- the name is not specified, the translator won't do anything.
+ This sets the type name of the context, e.g. @code{Staff},
+ @code{Voice}. If the name is not specified, the translator won't do
+ anything.
@end itemize
In the @code{\paper} block, it is also possible to define translator
@subsubsection Default output
Default values for the @code{\paper} and @code{\midi} block are set by
-entering such a block at top-level.
+entering such a block at the top level.
@c . {Header}
@subsubsection Header
can also appear in a @code{\score} block. Tools like @code{ly2dvi} can
use this information for generating titles. Key values that are used by
@code{ly2dvi} are: title, subtitle, composer, opus, poet, instrument,
-metre, arranger, piece and tagline.
+meter, arranger, piece and tagline.
@cindex @code{ly2dvi}
@subsubsection Default output
-A @code{\midi} or @code{\paper} block at top-level sets the default
+A @code{\midi} or @code{\paper} block at top level sets the default
paper block for all scores that lack an explicit paper block.
@c . {Identifiers}
@subsection Identifiers
@cindex Identifiers
-All of the information in a LilyPond input file, is represented as a
-Scheme value. In addition to normal Scheme data types (such as pair,
-number, boolean, etc.), LilyPond has a number of specialized data types,
+@ignore
+ What has this section got to do with identifiers?
+ It seems more appropriate in the introduction to Chapter 4,
+ "Internals".
+
+ /MB
+@end ignore
+
+All of the information in a LilyPond input file, is internally
+represented as a Scheme value. In addition to normal Scheme data types
+(such as pair, number, boolean, etc.), LilyPond has a number of
+specialized data types,
@itemize @bullet
@item Input
@cindex @code{\lyrics}
To simplify entering notes, lyrics, and chords, LilyPond has three
-special input modes on top of the default mode: note, lyrics and chords
-mode. These input modes change the way that normal, unquoted words are
-interpreted: for example, the word @code{cis} may be interpreted as a
-C-sharp, as a lyric syllable `cis' or as a C-sharp major triad
-respectively.
+special input modes in addition to the default mode: note, lyrics and
+chords mode. These input modes change the way that normal, unquoted
+words are interpreted: for example, the word @code{cis} may be
+interpreted as a C-sharp, as a lyric syllable `cis' or as a C-sharp
+major triad respectively.
-A mode switch is entered as a compound music expressions
+A mode switch is entered as a compound music expression
@example
@code{\notes} @var{musicexpr}
@code{\chords} @var{musicexpr}
LilyPond contains a Scheme interpreter (the GUILE library) for
-internal use. In some places Scheme expressions also form valid syntax:
+internal use. In some places, Scheme expressions also form valid syntax:
wherever it is allowed,
@example
#@var{scheme}
expressions. The first one is a symbol (@code{foobar}), the second one
an integer (namely, 3).
-In-line scheme may be used at top level. In this case the result is
+In-line scheme may be used at the top level. In this case the result is
discarded.
Scheme is a full-blown programming language, and a full discussion is
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