@c -*- coding: utf-8; mode: texinfo; -*- @ignore Translation of GIT committish: FILL-IN-HEAD-COMMITTISH When revising a translation, copy the HEAD committish of the version that you are working on. See TRANSLATION for details. @end ignore @c \version "2.11.51" @node Simultaneous notes @section Simultaneous notes @lilypondfile[quote]{simultaneous-headword.ly} Polyphony in music refers to having more than one voice occurring in a piece of music. Polyphony in LilyPond refers to having more than one voice on the same staff. @menu * Single voice:: * Multiple voices:: @end menu @node Single voice @subsection Single voice This section discusses simultaneous notes inside the same voice. @menu * Chorded notes:: * Clusters:: @end menu @node Chorded notes @unnumberedsubsubsec Chorded notes @cindex chords @cindex brackets, angle @funindex < @funindex > @funindex <...> A chord is formed by a enclosing a set of pitches between @code{<} and @code{>}. A chord may be followed by a duration and/or a set of articulations, just like simple notes: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,relative=1] 2 4-> -. @end lilypond For more information about chords, see @ref{Chord notation}. @seealso Music Glossary: @rglos{chord}. Learning Manual: @rlearning{Combining notes into chords}. Notation Reference: @ref{Chord notation}. Snippets: @rlsr{Simultaneous notes}. @ignore @knownissues For some reason, music expressions like @code{<< @{ g8 e8 @} a4 >>} that should automatically turn into chords, appear split in two staves. To avoid this, use explicit chords instead as in @code{8 8}. @end ignore @node Clusters @unnumberedsubsubsec Clusters @cindex cluster @funindex \makeClusters A cluster indicates a continuous range of pitches to be played. They can be denoted as the envelope of a set of notes. They are entered by applying the function @code{\makeClusters} to a sequence of chords, e.g., @lilypond[quote,relative=2,verbatim] \makeClusters { 2 } @end lilypond Ordinary notes and clusters can be put together in the same staff, even simultaneously. In such a case no attempt is made to automatically avoid collisions between ordinary notes and clusters. @seealso Music Glossary: @rglos{cluster}. Snippets: @rlsr{Simultaneous notes}. Internals Reference: @rinternals{ClusterSpanner}, @rinternals{ClusterSpannerBeacon}, @rinternals{Cluster_spanner_engraver}. @knownissues Clusters look good only if they span at least two chords; otherwise they appear too narrow. Clusters do not have a stem and cannot indicate durations by themselves. Separate clusters would need a separating rest between them. @node Multiple voices @subsection Multiple voices This section discusses simultaneous notes in multiple voices or multiple staves. @menu * Single-staff polyphony:: * Voice styles:: * Collision resolution:: * Automatic part combining:: * Writing music in parallel:: @end menu @node Single-staff polyphony @unnumberedsubsubsec Single-staff polyphony To typeset parallel pieces of music that have the same rhythm, they can be combined into a single @code{Voice} context, thus forming chords. To achieve this, enclose them in a simultaneous music construction: @lilypond[quote,relative=2,verbatim] \new Voice << { e4 f8 d e16 f g8 d4 } { c4 d8 b c16 d e8 b4 } >> @end lilypond This method leads to strange beamings and warnings if the pieces of music do not have the same rhythm. To typeset multiple, truly independent voices in a single staff, the @code{<<@{...@} \\ @{...@}>>} construction is used, where the two (or more) voices are separated by double backslashes. @lilypond[quote,relative=3,verbatim] << { r8 r16 g e8. f16 g8[ c,] f e16 d } \\ { d16 c d8~ d16 b c8~ c16 b c8~ c16 b8. } >> @end lilypond First and third voices get stems up, second and fourth voices get stems down, third and fourth voice note heads are horizontally shifted, and rests move to avoid collisions. In the following example, the intermediate voice has stems up, therefore we enter it in the third place, so it becomes voice three which has the stems up as desired. @lilypond[quote,relative=3,verbatim] << { r8 g g g g f16 es f8 d } \\ { es,8 r es r d r d r } \\ { d'8 s c s bes s a s } >> @end lilypond Spacing rests are often used to avoid too many rests, as seen in the example above. Each music expression in the @code{<<@{...@} \\ @{...@}>>} construct is placed in a new voice, distinct from the voice for single-voice music; to temporarily add only one additional voice to an existing one, it is necessary to instantiate that voice explicitly. For these purposes, the @code{\voiceOne} ... @code{\voiceFour}, and @code{\oneVoice} commands can be used: @example << @{ \voiceOne ... @} \new Voice @{ \voiceTwo ... @} >> \oneVoice @end example This is a better construct to keep the control of the voices, for example, to ease a consistent assign of lyrics to the proper voice context. @predefined @funindex \voiceOne @code{\voiceOne}, @funindex \voiceTwo @code{\voiceTwo}, @funindex \voiceThree @code{\voiceThree}, @funindex \voiceFour @code{\voiceFour}, @funindex \oneVoice @code{\oneVoice}. @seealso Learning Manual: @rlearning{Voices contain music}, @rlearning{Explicitly instantiating voices}. Notation Reference: @ref{Percussion staves}. Snippets: @rlsr{Simultaneous notes}. @node Voice styles @unnumberedsubsubsec Voice styles @cindex voice styles @cindex styles, voice @cindex coloring voices Voices may be given distinct colors and shapes, allowing them to be easily identified: @lilypond[quote,relative=2,verbatim] << { \voiceOneStyle d4 c2 b4 } \\ { \voiceTwoStyle e,2 e } \\ { \voiceThreeStyle b2. c4 } \\ { \voiceFourStyle g'2 g } >> @end lilypond To revert the standard presentation, the @code{\voiceNeutralstyle} command is used. @predefined @funindex \voiceOneStyle @code{\voiceOneStyle}, @funindex \voiceTwoStyle @code{\voiceTwoStyle}, @funindex \voiceThreeStyle @code{\voiceThreeStyle}, @funindex \voiceFourStyle @code{\voiceFourStyle}, @funindex \voiceNeutralStyle @code{\voiceNeutralStyle}. @seealso Learning Manual: @rlearning{I'm hearing Voices}, @rlearning{Other sources of information}. Snippets: @rlsr{Simultaneous notes}. @node Collision resolution @unnumberedsubsubsec Collision resolution @cindex merging notes @cindex note collisions @cindex collisions @funindex \shiftOn @funindex \shiftOnn @funindex \shiftOnnn @funindex \shiftOff @cindex shift rest, automatic Note heads with equal durations are automatically merged, while note heads with unequal durations are not merged. Rests opposite a stem are shifted vertically. @lilypond[quote,verbatim,relative=2] << { c8 d e d c d c4 g'2 fis } \\ { c2 c8. b16 c4 e,2 r } \\ { \oneVoice s1 e8 a b c d2 } >> @end lilypond Note heads with different note heads may be merged, with the exception of half-note heads and quarter-note heads: @lilypond[quote,verbatim,relative=2] << { \mergeDifferentlyHeadedOn c8 d e d c d c4 g'2 fis } \\ { c2 c8. b16 c4 e,2 r } \\ { \oneVoice s1 e8 a b c d2 } >> @end lilypond Note heads with different dots may be merged: @lilypond[quote,relative=2,verbatim] << { \mergeDifferentlyHeadedOn \mergeDifferentlyDottedOn c8 d e d c d c4 g'2 fis } \\ { c2 c8. b16 c4 e,2 r } \\ { \oneVoice s1 e8 a b c d2 } >> @end lilypond @cindex shift note The collision on the second measure happens because @code{merge-differently-headed} cannot successfully complete the merge when three or more notes line up in the same column -- in fact, you will obtain a warning for this reason. To allow the merge to work properly, apply a @code{\shift} to the note that should not be merged. Here, @code{\shiftOn} is applied to move the top @code{g} out of the column, and @code{merge-differently-headed} works properly. @lilypond[quote,relative=2,verbatim] << { \mergeDifferentlyHeadedOn \mergeDifferentlyDottedOn c8 d e d c d c4 \shiftOn g'2 fis } \\ { c2 c8. b16 c4 e,2 r } \\ { \oneVoice s1 e8 a b c d2 } >> @end lilypond The @code{\shiftOn}, @code{\shiftOnn}, and @code{\shiftOnnn} commands specify the degree to which chords of the current voice should be shifted. The outer voices (normally: voices one and two) have @code{\shiftOff}, while the inner voices (three and four) have @code{\shiftOn}. @code{\shiftOnn} and @code{\shiftOnnn} define further shift levels. Notes are only merged if they have opposing stem directions (i.e., in @code{Voice} 1 and 2). @cindex multiple voices @cindex polyphonic music @cindex shifting voices @predefined @funindex \mergeDifferentlyDottedOn @code{\mergeDifferentlyDottedOn}, @funindex \mergeDifferentlyDottedOff @code{\mergeDifferentlyDottedOff}, @funindex \mergeDifferentlyHeadedOn @code{\mergeDifferentlyHeadedOn}, @funindex \mergeDifferentlyHeadedOff @code{\mergeDifferentlyHeadedOff}. @funindex \shiftOn @code{\shiftOn}, @funindex \shiftOnn @code{\shiftOnn}, @funindex \shiftOnnn @code{\shiftOnnn}, @funindex \shiftOff @code{\shiftOff}. @snippets @lilypondfile[verbatim,lilyquote,texidoc,doctitle] {additional-voices-to-avoid-collisions.ly} @lilypondfile[verbatim,lilyquote,texidoc,doctitle] {forcing-horizontal-shift-of-notes.ly} @seealso Music Glossary: @rglos{polyphony}. Learning Manual: @rlearning{Multiple notes at once}, @rlearning{Voices contain music}, @rlearning{Collisions of objects}. Snippets: @rlsr{Simultaneous notes}. Internals Reference: @rinternals{NoteColumn}, @rinternals{NoteCollision}, @rinternals{RestCollision}. @knownissues When using @code{merge-differently-headed} with an upstem eighth or a shorter note, and a downstem half note, the eighth note stem gets a slightly wrong offset because of the different width of the half note head symbol. @c investigate! Sometimes it works, sometimes not. --FV The requirements for successfully merging different note heads that are at the same time differently dotted are not clear. There is no support for chords where the same note occurs with different accidentals in the same chord. In this case, it is recommended to use enharmonic transcription, or to use special cluster notation (see @ref{Clusters}). @node Automatic part combining @unnumberedsubsubsec Automatic part combining @cindex automatic part combining @cindex part combiner @cindex combining parts @funindex \partcombine Automatic part combining is used to merge two parts of music onto a staff. It is aimed at typesetting orchestral scores. When the two parts are identical for a period of time, only one is shown. In places where the two parts differ, they are typeset as separate voices, and stem directions are set automatically. Also, solo and @notation{a due} parts are identified and marked by default. The syntax for part combining is: @example \partcombine @var{musicexpr1} @var{musicexpr2} @end example The following example demonstrates the basic functionality of the part combiner: putting parts on one staff and setting stem directions and polyphony. The same variables are used for the independent parts and the combined staff. @lilypond[quote,verbatim] instrumentOne = \relative c' { c4 d e f R1 d'4 c b a b4 g2 f4 e1 } instrumentTwo = \relative g' { R1 g4 a b c d c b a g f( e) d e1 } << \new Staff \instrumentOne \new Staff \instrumentTwo \new Staff \partcombine \instrumentOne \instrumentTwo >> @end lilypond The notes in the third measure appear only once, although they were specified in both parts. Stem, slur, and tie directions are set automatically, depending whether there is a solo or unison. When needed in polyphony situations, the first part (with context called @code{one}) always gets up stems, while the second (called @code{two}) always gets down stems. In solo situations, the parts get marked with @q{Solo} and @q{Solo II}, respectively. The unisono (@notation{a due}) parts are marked by default with the text @qq{a2}. Both arguments to @code{\partcombine} will be interpreted as @code{Voice} contexts. If using relative octaves, @code{\relative} should be specified for both music expressions, i.e., @example \partcombine \relative @dots{} @var{musicexpr1} \relative @dots{} @var{musicexpr2} @end example @noindent A @code{\relative} section that is outside of @code{\partcombine} has no effect on the pitches of @var{musicexpr1} and @var{musicexpr2}. @snippets @lilypondfile[verbatim,lilyquote,texidoc,doctitle] {combining-two-parts-on-the-same-staff.ly} @lilypondfile[verbatim,lilyquote,texidoc,doctitle] {changing-partcombine-texts.ly} @seealso Music Glossary: @rglos{a due}, @rglos{part}. Notation Reference: @ref{Writing parts}. Snippets: @rlsr{Simultaneous notes}. Internals Reference: @rinternals{PartCombineMusic}, @rinternals{Voice}. @knownissues When @code{printPartCombineTexts} is set, if the two voices play the same notes on and off, the part combiner may typeset @code{a2} more than once in a measure. @code{\partcombine} cannot be inside @code{\times}. @code{\partcombine} cannot be inside @code{\relative}. Internally, the @code{\partcombine} interprets both arguments as @code{Voice}s named @code{one} and @code{two}, and then decides when the parts can be combined. Consequently, if the arguments switch to differently named @rinternals{Voice} contexts, the events in those will be ignored. @c IIRC in users list someone pointed out more issues. TODO: lookup FV @node Writing music in parallel @unnumberedsubsubsec Writing music in parallel @cindex Writing music in parallel @cindex Interleaved music @funindex parallelMusic Music for multiple parts can be interleaved in input code. The function @code{\parallelMusic} accepts a list with the names of a number of variables to be created, and a musical expression. The content of alternate measures from the expression become the value of the respective variables, so you can use them afterwards to print the music. @warning{Bar checks @code{|} must be used, and the measures must be of the same length.} @lilypond[quote,verbatim] \parallelMusic #'(voiceA voiceB voiceC) { % Bar 1 r8 g'16 c'' e'' g' c'' e'' r8 g'16 c'' e'' g' c'' e'' | r16 e'8.~ e'4 r16 e'8.~ e'4 | c'2 c'2 | % Bar 2 r8 a'16 d'' f'' a' d'' f'' r8 a'16 d'' f'' a' d'' f'' | r16 d'8.~ d'4 r16 d'8.~ d'4 | c'2 c'2 | } \new StaffGroup << \new Staff << \voiceA \\ \voiceB >> \new Staff { \clef bass \voiceC } >> @end lilypond Relative mode may be used. Note that the @code{\relative} command is not used inside @code{\parallelMusic} itself. The notes are relative to the preceding note in the voice, not to the previous note in the input -- in other words, relative notes for @code{voiceA} ignore the notes in @code{voiceB}. @lilypond[quote,verbatim] \parallelMusic #'(voiceA voiceB voiceC) { % Bar 1 r8 g16 c e g, c e r8 g,16 c e g, c e | r16 e8.~ e4 r16 e8.~ e4 | c2 c | % Bar 2 r8 a,16 d f a, d f r8 a,16 d f a, d f | r16 d8.~ d4 r16 d8.~ d4 | c2 c | } \new StaffGroup << \new Staff << \relative c'' \voiceA \\ \relative c' \voiceB >> \new Staff \relative c' { \clef bass \voiceC } >> @end lilypond This works quite well for piano music. This example maps four consecutive measures to four variables: @lilypond[quote,verbatim] global = { \key g \major \time 2/4 } \parallelMusic #'(voiceA voiceB voiceC voiceD) { % Bar 1 a8 b c d | d4 e | c16 d e fis d e fis g | a4 a | % Bar 2 e8 fis g a | fis4 g | e16 fis g a fis g a b | a4 a | % Bar 3 ... } \score { \new PianoStaff << \new Staff { \global << \relative c'' \voiceA \\ \relative c' \voiceB >> } \new Staff { \global \clef bass << \relative c \voiceC \\ \relative c \voiceD >> } >> } @end lilypond @seealso Learning Manual: @rlearning{Organizing pieces with variables}. Snippets: @rlsr{Simultaneous notes}.