@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. For details, see the Contributors' Guide, node Updating translation committishes.. @end ignore @node Introduction @unnumbered Introduction @divClass{column-center-top} @subheading Our Goal @imageFloat{flat-design,png,right} LilyPond came about when two musicians wanted to go beyond the soulless look of computer-printed sheet music. Musicians prefer reading beautiful music, so why couldn't programmers write software to produce elegant printed parts? 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 @divClass{link-headings} @divClass{column-left-top} @subheading What LilyPond does @itemize @item @ref{Features}: What can LilyPond do? @item @ref{Examples}: I want to see some music! @item @ref{Freedom}: LilyPond is Free Software. @item @ref{Background}: Our computational aesthetics. @end itemize @divEnd @divClass{column-right-top} @subheading LilyPond in use @itemize @item @ref{Productions}: Real-life use of LilyPond. @item @ref{Reviews}: What do people say? @end itemize @divEnd @divClass{column-center-bottom} @subheading How LilyPond works @itemize @item @ref{Text input}: You write music as @emph{text}?! @item @ref{Easier editing}: Other ways of working with LilyPond. @end itemize @divEnd @divEnd @c TRANSLATORS, translations are not yet compiled in Info format, so @c it's not worth translating the right column of the following @c menu. -JM @divClass{hide} @menu * Features:: What can LilyPond do? * Examples:: I want to see some music! * Freedom:: Freedom and the GPL. * Background:: Computational aesthetics. * Productions:: Real-life use of LilyPond. * Reviews:: What do people say about it? * Text input:: You write music as text?! * Easier editing:: Other ways of working with LilyPond. @end menu @divEnd @node Features @unnumberedsec Features @divClass{column-center-top} @subheading Excellent classical engraving @imageFloat{flat-design,png,right} LilyPond allows musicians to produce elegant sheet music that is easy to read. Its developer community has spent thousands of hours developing powerful music engraving software that results in beautifully engraved music. All of LilyPond's style settings, font designs and algorithms have been inspired by the finest hand-engraved music. LilyPond output has the same strong, balanced and elegant look as the best-engraved classical scores. This is further explained in our @ref{Essay}. @divEnd @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}. @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 @divClass{column-center-top} @subheading Usability @imageFloat{lilypond-book,png,right} @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 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 Text-based input also makes score-writing possible for users with severe physical disabilities. Dexterity-impaired users who are unable to type or control a computer mouse can use 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. 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 @divClass{column-center-top} @subheading Extensible design @subsubheading Easy management of style sheets 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. @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 @divClass{column-center-top} @subheading Environment @imageFloat{frescobaldi-lilypond-editor-small,png,right} @subsubheading Excellent support 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, 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 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. Read more on @ref{Freedom}. @divEnd @divClass{column-center-bottom} @subheading Where now? Still not convinced? Look at some specific @ref{Examples}. If you've already decided to try LilyPond, first read about our @ref{Text input}. @divEnd @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! @divEnd @divClass{column-center-middle-color2} @subheading Classical Music This organ work by J.S. Bach is a fairly typical engraving project in LilyPond. @exampleImage{bach-bwv610} @divEnd @divClass{column-center-middle-color2} @subheading Complex Notation This example from @emph{Goyescas} by Enrique Granados shows some of the more advanced features of typesetting, including kneed beams, cross-staff stems, and voice-follow lines. @exampleImage{granados} @divEnd @divClass{column-center-middle-color2} @subheading Early Music LilyPond also supports various types of ancient notation, such as this passage of Gregorian chant. @exampleImage{ancient-headword} @divEnd @divClass{column-center-middle-color2} @subheading Modern Music Contemporary composers find LilyPond well-suited to displaying unusual notation. Here is an excerpt from Trevor Bača's @emph{Čáry}, for unaccompanied bass flute. @exampleImage{cary} @divEnd @divClass{column-center-middle-color2} @subheading Efficient, flexible creation of performance materials Various performance materials can be created from the same source code. This is an excerpt of @uref{http://nicolas.sceaux.free.fr/, Nicolas Sceaux's} engraving of Handel's @emph{Giulio Cesare}, in full score, piano-vocal reduction, and a violin part. @exampleImage{sesto-full} @exampleImage{sesto-piano} @exampleImage{sesto-violin} @divEnd @divClass{column-center-middle-color2} @subheading Tablature LilyPond supports tablature notation, which can be customized to suit any instrument that reads from tablature. The tablature staff is generated automatically from notes entered for the 5-line staff. @exampleImage{tab-example} @divEnd @divClass{column-center-middle-color2} @subheading Schenker Graphs Standard output can be modified heavily. Here is an impressive Schenkerian analysis, created by Kris Schaffer, for an article in @uref{http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8364 , Linux Journal}. The colors have been added for better visibility. @exampleImage{bach-schenker} @divEnd @divClass{column-center-middle-color2} @subheading Customized Output A short excerpt from Stockhausen's Klavierstück II to demonstrate Lilypond's ability to provide customised output. @exampleImage{Stockhausen_Klavierstueck2} @divEnd @divClass{column-center-middle-color2} @subheading Vocal Music LilyPond is excellent for vocal music of all kinds, from sacred hymns to opera. Here is a medieval motet with slightly unusual requirements. The tenor voice is written in a different meter than the others, but must line up as if it were in the same meter. LilyPond handles this most elegantly. Note also the incipits with Vaticana style clefs, the slashed stems indicating plicated notes, and the ligature braces above certain groups of notes. @exampleImage{aucun-snippet} @divEnd @divClass{column-center-middle-color2} @subheading Educational Applications LilyPond is perfectly suited for educational purposes as well. Here is an example of a simple counterpoint exercise. @exampleImage{theory} @divEnd @divClass{column-center-middle-color2} @subheading Popular Music It is simple to create pop lead sheets with melody, lyrics, chord names, and fretboards. In this example you see some of the predefined fretboard diagrams, but these can be heavily customized to suit nearly any situation. @exampleImage{chart} @divEnd @divClass{column-center-middle-color2} @subheading Large Projects LilyPond is excellent for large projects like operas or works for full symphony orchestra, as well. In addition, the text-based input provides greater accessibility -- this example was contributed by Hu Haipeng, a blind composer. @exampleImage{orchestra} @divEnd @divClass{column-center-bottom} @subheading Where now? Still not convinced? LilyPond is Free software, granting you @ref{Freedom}. If you've already decided to try LilyPond, first read about our @ref{Text input}. @divEnd @node Freedom @unnumberedsec Freedom @divClass{column-center-top} @subheading Free Software @uref{http://www.gnu.org/, GNU} LilyPond is written and maintained by a community of enthusiasts. It is published under the @ref{GPL, GNU General Public License} and the @ref{FDL, GNU Free Documentation License}, giving everybody the freedom to fix, modify, and extend the program. Creating beautiful music should not require hundreds of dollars of software! @divEnd @c @divClass{column-left-top} @divClass{column-center-middle-color2} @divClass{keep-bullets} @subheading What are the benefits to users? @itemize @item No cost: download and try it out! What do you have to lose? @item Sharing: if you like the program, give a copy to your friends, teachers, students, and colleagues! @item Source available: if you are curious about how LilyPond creates some notation, you can see exactly how it is done. @item Extendible: you can add features, fix bugs, and change the functionality. If you are not a programmer, you can hire somebody to do those tasks. This may not seem appealing to casual musicians, but the ability to extend software can be highly valuable to serious composers, companies, and academics. @item Future safety: if a commercial company goes bankrupt, what happens to any electronic music which depends on their products? This is not a concern with LilyPond; even if the entire development team quits (extremely unlikely), the program will still be legally available for copying, modifications, and distribution. @end itemize @divEnd @divEnd @c @divClass{column-right-top} @divClass{column-center-middle-color3} @divClass{keep-bullets} @subheading Why do LilyPond developers @qq{give away} their work for free? Most of us view LilyPond development as a hobby or volunteer work. So this question is really asking @qq{why do people volunteer}? @itemize @item Fun: working towards a goal can be enjoyable, especially when you work as a team! @item Shared goals: we all want beautiful sheet music, but few people have the expertise (and nobody has the time!), to create a program which can handle all situations. By working together -- one person improves the automatic beaming code, another person improves the shape of slurs, and a third person writes documentation explaining how to use these features -- we can achieve our goal with only a fraction of the individual effort. @item @qq{Gift culture}: the Free Software movement has created many great software projects, such as @uref{http://kernel.org/, GNU/Linux}, @uref{http://www.getfirefox.com/, Mozilla Firefox}, and @uref{http://www.wesnoth.org/, Battle for Wesnoth}. Having benefitted from these projects, some developers want to @qq{give back} to the community. @item Work experience: contributing to free software projects is a great way to practice programming, documentation writing, documentation translation, or design. This experience has helped some developers gain job offers or scholarships. @end itemize @divEnd @divEnd @divClass{column-center-bottom} @subheading Where now? Still not convinced? Read our extensive essay about our engraving philosophy in @ref{Background}. If you've already decided to try LilyPond, first read about our @ref{Text input}. @divEnd @node Background @unnumberedsec Background @divClass{column-center-top} @subheading Background essay We have an extensive essay describing computational aesthetics: the art of creating beauty with a computer. 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} @subheading Where now? Still not convinced? Read about some of our users' @ref{Productions} and sheet music. If you've already decided to try LilyPond, first read about our @ref{Text input}. @divEnd @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 LilyPond engravings have been used for performances around the world. Some highlights: @divClass{keep-bullets} @itemize @item @uref{http://www.aurelienbello.com/,Aurélien Bello} has arranged a version of Richard Strauss's @emph{Der Rosenkavalier} for four singers and a chamber orchestra of thirteen players. This has been commissioned by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra whose members will be the performers on @uref{http://www.festspielhaus.de/veranstaltung/der-kleine-rosenkavalier-02-04-2015-1100/,April 2nd and 6th} at the Festspielhaus, Baden-Baden, and on @uref{http://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/konzerte/kalender/details/21070/,April 26th} in the @emph{Philharmonie (großer Saal)}, Berlin. We are pleased to see musicians of such reputation playing from LilyPond scores -- and they are reportedly very happy with them. Aurélien has also 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}. Written for a standard symphony orchestra, but with a reduced cast of singers, it was performed by the @emph{Radio-Sinfonieorchester Berlin} in April 2014 at the Atze Musiktheater, Berlin. The Conductor was 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}. He has also worked on the score and parts for an arrangement of Moussurgsky’s @emph{Boris Godounov} for wind quartet, piano and percussion which was 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 parts: @uref{http://www.academia.edu/1987651/Enea_nel_Lazio_opera_riformata_prima_lazione_poi_le_parole_-_Partitura_1_4_, Part One} @uref{http://www.academia.edu/1994533/Enea_nel_Lazio_opera_riformata_prima_lazione_poi_le_parole_-_Partitura_2_4_, Part Two} @uref{http://www.academia.edu/1994558/Enea_nel_Lazio_opera_riformata_prima_lazione_poi_le_parole_-_Partitura_3_4_, Part Three} @uref{http://www.academia.edu/1996242/Enea_nel_Lazio_opera_riformata_prima_lazione_poi_le_parole_-_Partitura_4_4_, Part Four} Created by @uref{http://unito.academia.edu/LucaRossettoCasel, Luca Rossetto Casel} for his Ph.D. Thesis. @item Mussorgsky's @emph{Pictures at an exhibition}, was re-orchestrated and conducted by @uref{http://www.aurelienbello.com/,Aurélien Bello} with the @uref{http://www.junge-philharmonie-brandenburg.de/, Junge Philharmonie Brandenburg} in October 2011 and April 2012. @item @uref{http://www.kierenmacmillan.info/, Kieren MacMillan}, composer and musical director. His many, recent works include; @emph{Go Thy Way}, performed by the @uref{http://www.saltlakechoralartists.org/, Salt Lake Choral Artists} in March 2012; The @emph{Just Out of Reach Suite} performed by the @uref{http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/marshall/x1883873762/Music-duo-Chrysalis-to-perform-at-Marshall-University-on-Jan-19, Chrysalis Duo} ; @emph{thrafsmata} performed in July 2011 by the @uref{http://www.pnme.org/CurrentSeason/PreviousSeasons.html, Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble}. @item @emph{Anonymous Student Compliment or Complaint}, by @uref{http://www.mikesolomon.org, Mike Solomon}, winner chosen from among 172 entries from 22 countries of the @uref{http://leftcoastensemble.org, 2011 Left Coast Composition Contest}. Other works include, Norman (age 1) for clarinet solo, performed at the @uref{http://emu.music.ufl.edu/fems_concerts.html, University of Florida}'s Electroacoustic Music Festival (FEMF), October 2010. @item A modern edition of the @emph{Serenata Erminia} by Alessandro Scarlatti, edited by Thomas Griffin, Musicologist (Rome, Italy). Performed on 22 October 2010 in the Galleria of the Palazzo Zevallos Stigliano, Naples, Italy. @uref{http://www.ascarlatti2010.net, Alessandro Scarlatti 2010}, in celebration of the composer's 350th birthday. @item @uref{http://www.mercurybaroque.org, Mercury Baroque}'s performance of Lully's @emph{Armide}, May 15-16, 2009, in Houston, Texas (engraving by @uref{http://nicolas.sceaux.free.fr/, Nicolas Sceaux}). @item Instrumental excerpts from Rameau's @emph{Hippolyte et Aricie} at St. James's Church in Manhattan, May 8, 2009, by Frederick Renz and his ensemble @uref{http://www.earlymusicny.org/, Early Music New York} (engraving by @uref{http://nicolas.sceaux.free.fr/, Nicolas Sceaux}). @item @emph{Affaire étrangère}, an opera by @uref{http://valentin.villenave.net/,Valentin Villenave} to a French libretto by @uref{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Trondheim, Lewis Trondheim}, premiered February 1, 2009 at @uref{http://www.orchestre-montpellier.com/, L'Opéra National de Montpellier}, France. @end itemize @divEnd @divEnd @divClass{column-right-top} @subheading Published sheet music @divClass{keep-bullets} @itemize @item @uref{http://www.mutopiaproject.org/index.html, Mutopia Project}, over 1500 pieces of classical sheet music for free download, and the main showcase of LilyPond scores. @c don't make this "Mutopia" a link, since that looks silly. @item @uref{http://etudeapp.com, Etude}, @qq{sheet music on steroids} is an iPhone app which displays piano music engraved with LilyPond, including many pieces from Mutopia. The app includes a virtual piano keyboard showing which keys to press to help beginners learn how to read sheet music. @item @uref{http://www.adoromusicpub.com/, Adoro Music Publishing}, high-quality scores of sacred music, available for immediate download or in traditional paper format. @item @uref{http://www.shadylane.fr, The Shady Lane Publishing}, a @qq{micro musical publishing house} whose goal is to promote a new form of musical economy closer to the musicians and music lovers. @end itemize @divEnd @divEnd @contactUsAbout{concerts or sheet music} @divClass{column-center-bottom} @subheading Where now? Still not convinced? Read some of our users' @ref{Reviews}. If you've already decided to try LilyPond, first read about our @ref{Text input}. @divEnd @c TRANSLATORS, so far it's mostly from @c http://lilypond.org/web/switch/testimonials @node Reviews @unnumberedsec Reviews @divClass{column-center-top} @subheading What do people say about LilyPond? @divEnd @divClass{column-left-top} @subheading Published articles @divClass{keep-bullets} @itemize @item April 2011 @uref{http://www.linux-magazine.com,Linux Magazine} publishes an article titled @uref{http://www.linux-magazine.com/w3/issue/126/088-090_projects.pdf, Projects on the Move}. It is an introductory article on MuseScore, LilyPond and Chordii. Author Carla Schroder states @qq{LilyPond is driven from the command line, but don’t let the lack of a GUI scare you away; LilyPond is user-friendly and easy to learn}, and provides a hands-on example. @item May 2010 Peter Kirn, on the Create Digital Music website, publishes a @uref{http://createdigitalmusic.com/2010/05/14/lilypond-free-beautiful-music-notation-engraving-for-anyone/,LilyPond review}. He takes a balanced view on usage, praises LilyPond's high-quality notation and suggests to try it out. @item September 2009 The German LinuxUser magazine wrote an @uref{http://www.linux-community.de/Internal/Artikel/Print-Artikel/LinuxUser/2009/10/Digitaler-Notenschluessel, article about LilyPond}. @item August 2009 Ann Drinan, on the @uref{http://www.polyphonic.org/article.php?id=188, Polyphonic.org} website, presents comments by two orchestra librarians who talk about using software to maintain their libraries. @item June 2009 In an @uref{http://news.lilynet.net/Free-Music-Now, article} published in the French @emph{National Conservatory Parent Association}'s yearly magazine, French composer and LilyPond contributor Valentin Villenave explains how Free licenses, and specifically LilyPond-engraved scores, are instrumental in making written music accessible to all. @item February 2008 In @uref{http://www.musicbyandrew.ca/finale-lilypond-1.html, articles on his personal site}, Andrew Hawryluk compares Finale and LilyPond in general terms, and evaluates engraving capabilities of both pieces of software in detail. The second article is an instructive analysis of engraving issues in Rachmaninoff's Piano Prelude No. 6, including comparisons with a hand-engraved reference edition. @item June 2006 @uref{http://distrowatch.com,DistroWatch} awards LilyPond and @uref{http://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20060605,writes} @qq{Ladies and Gentleman, we are pleased to announce that, based on readers' requests, the DistroWatch May 2006 donation has been awarded to LilyPond (@euro{}190.00) and Lua (US$250.00).} @item December 2005 @uref{http://linuxjournal.com,Linux Journal} publishes an article titled @uref{http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8364, Make Stunning Schenker Graphs with GNU LilyPond}. It is an in-depth but hands-on feature article with crisp LilyPond graphics. Author Kris Shaffer remarks @qq{GNU LilyPond generates beautiful graphics that make commercial alternatives seem second-rate.} @item August 20, 2005 The Belgian newspaper De Standaard investigates what drives Free Software authors in an article titled @uref{http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelId=G42H5GD6, Delen van KENNIS zonder WINSTBEJAG} (Non-profit sharing of knowlegde) in its @q{DS2 bijlage}. LilyPond is used as an example and the article is interspersed with quotes from an email interview with Jan Nieuwenhuizen. This marks LilyPond's first appearance in mainstream printed press. @item June 2005 A French article on the LilyPond 2.6 release appeared on @uref{http://linuxfr.org/2005/06/27/19210.html, linuxfr.org}. @item October 2004 The editors of Computer!Totaal, a Dutch computer magazine, @uref{http://lilypond.org/website/pdf/computer-totaal.jpeg, describe LilyPond} in the October 2004 issue as: @qq{Wonderful free (open source) software [@dots{}] The sheet music produced by LilyPond is exceptionally pretty [@dots{}] a very powerful system that can do almost anything.} @item July, August 2004 Dave Phillips wrote an introductory article for @uref{http://linuxjournal.com,Linux Journal}: At the sounding edge: LilyPond, parts @uref{http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/7657, one} and @uref{http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/7719, two}. @item March 2004 Chris Cannam @uref{http://www.all-day-breakfast.com/cannam/linux-musician/lilypond.html,interviewed} Han-Wen Nienhuys and Jan Nieuwenhuizen on linuxmusician.com (original site defunct). This interview was also reviewed in a @uref{http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/03/13/2054227&tid=, slashdot story}. @item February 2004 Jazz singer Gail Selkirk writes about @uref{http://www.songbirdofswing.com/editorial_page/lilypond/, Diving into LilyPond}. @qq{@dots{} you can make lead sheets or full orchestral parts, and the results can be stunning.} @uref{http://www.computermusic.co.uk/, Computer Music Special}, issue CMS06. @end itemize @divEnd @divEnd @divClass{column-right-top} @subheading User testimonials @divClass{testimonial-item} @imageFloat{carter-brey,jpg, right} @subsubheading @uref{http://nyphil.org/meet/orchestra/index.cfm?page=profile&personNum=7, Carter Brey}, Principal Cellist, New York Philharmonic @qq{@dots{} I've written a couple of encore pieces for solo cello which I've printed with LilyPond and which I'm going to submit to Schirmer for publication. I'll bet their engraved version wouldn't look half as sharp as mine!} @divEnd @divClass{testimonial-item} @imageFloat{orm-finnendahl,jpg, left} @subsubheading @uref{http://icem-www.folkwang-hochschule.de/~finnendahl/, Orm Finnendahl}, professor of Composition, Musikhochschule Freiburg @qq{Although I don't know [LilyPond] very well yet, I'm @strong{*very} impressed. I used the program to input a motet of Josquin Desprez in mensural notation and there's no doubt that lilypond outscores all other notation programs easily concerning speed, ease of use and look!} @divEnd @divClass{testimonial-item} @imageFloat{darius-blasband,jpg, right} @subsubheading Darius Blasband, composer (Brussels, Belgium) @qq{[..after the first orchestra rehearsal] I got numerous compliments about the quality of the scores. Even more importantly, while LilyPond provides numerous hacks to improve the way its scores look, what the orchestra got from me is basically the raw, untouched output.} @divEnd @divClass{testimonial-item} @subsubheading Kieren MacMillan, composer (Toronto, Canada) @qq{thanks and kudos to the development team for their incredible work. I've never seen anything approaching the output that I get from LilyPond -- I'm totally confident that my music publishing needs will be fulfilled beyond my expectations using this great application. [@dots{}] basically untweaked LilyPond output [@dots{}] looks better than most recent @q{professional} publications I've compared it to (q.v., just about any Warner Bros. score, and even many of the most recent by @q{the old houses}). [@dots{}]} @qq{Beat that, Finale/Sibelius/Igor/whatever!!!} @divEnd @divClass{testimonial-item} @subsubheading Chris Cannam, lead programmer of the @uref{http://www.rosegardenmusic.com/, RoseGarden} project @qq{LilyPond is obviously the zillion-ton gorilla [of great music typesetting].} @divEnd @divClass{testimonial-item} @subsubheading Chris Snyder, @uref{http://www.adoromusicpub.com/, Adoro Music Publishing} @qq{The way that music is entered for LilyPond causes me to think in a more musical way -- there have been times when I've been stumped as to how to tell Lily to engrave something, only to realize that even if I did get it exactly as the composer wanted, the music would be confusing to read. LilyPond makes it much easier for me to work in my dual editor+engraver role.} @qq{I've been using LilyPond exclusively for my fledgling music publishing business. Virtually without exception, every composer has been blown away by the quality of the engraving when presented with the proofs of their music about to be published. I deserve some of the credit for this -- I spend a lot of time tweaking output, especially ties (mainly in chords) -- but LilyPond gives me an excellent starting point, a very intuitive interface, and the ability to modify absolutely anything if I want to take the time. I'm convinced that no commercial product can come close.} @divEnd @divClass{testimonial-item} @subsubheading David Bobroff, Bass Trombone, Iceland Symphony Orchestra @qq{I think LilyPond is great [@dots{}] The more I learn about LilyPond the more I like it!} @divEnd @divClass{testimonial-item} @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}) @qq{I am super impressed with LilyPond [@dots{}]} @qq{THIS IS THE BEST PROGRAM EVER!!!} @qq{Thank you all SO MUCH for your hard work and dedication!} @divEnd @divClass{testimonial-item} @subsubheading @uref{http://nicolas.sceaux.free.fr/, Nicolas Sceaux}, @uref{http://www.mutopiaproject.org/, Mutopia} contributor @qq{I had a kind of hate-passion relationship with it. Passion because the first score I saw was so amazing! The description of LilyPond lies about its beautifulness, it is too modest! [@dots{}] as LilyPond is getting always better, and as I look closer how things are done in scheme, I have less and less frustrations. Anyway, what I mean is: thank you for providing LilyPond, it is really good.} @divEnd @divClass{testimonial-item} @subsubheading @uref{http://www.troff.org/whoswho.html#werner, Werner Lemberg}, Conductor at the Theatre in Koblenz, Germany and distinguished GNU Hacker @qq{Anyway, LilyPond does an amazingly good job!} @divEnd @divClass{testimonial-item} @subsubheading Paul Davis, developer of @uref{http://jackaudio.org/, JACK} and @uref{http://www.ardour.org/, Ardour} @qq{I think [LilyPond is] an incredible program, and it produces wonderful, wonderful output. when i read an interview about it last year, i was raving to several friends of mine about its potential.} @divEnd @divClass{testimonial-item} @subsubheading @uref{http://webusers.siba.fi/~mkuuskan/, Dr. Mika Kuuskankare}, researcher at the @uref{http://siba.fi, Sibelius Academy Finland}, composer and author of Expressive Notation Package (ENP) @qq{I have the deepest respect towards LilyPond and towards its creators and maintainers as I know from personal experience how difficult this kind of software can be.} @divEnd @divClass{testimonial-item} @subsubheading @uref{http://camerondh.blogspot.com, David Cameron}, Musician, professional typesetter and long time SCORE user @qq{My heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributes to this project. I was a power SCORE user for big typesetting houses way back in the '90s, but I feel LilyPond finally makes it possible for me to get exactly what I want on the page, especially when it isn't "standard" practice.} @divEnd @divEnd @contactUsAbout{news articles or testimonals} @divClass{column-center-bottom} @subheading Where now? Read about our @ref{Text input}. @divEnd @node Text input @unnumberedsec Text input @c TRANSLATORS, so far it's mostly from @c http://lilypond.org/web/switch/howto @divClass{column-center-top} @subheading @qq{Compiling} Music @imageClickable{nereid-shot-small,png, (click to enlarge), nereid-shot,png, right} LilyPond is a @emph{compiled} system: it is run on a text file describing the music. The resulting output is viewed on-screen or printed. In some ways, LilyPond is more similar to a programming language than graphical score editing software. You do not write music by dragging notes from a graphical toolbar and placing them on a dynamically refreshing score; you write music by typing text. This text is interpreted (or @qq{compiled}) by LilyPond, which produces beautifully engraved sheet music. People accustomed to graphical user interfaces might need to learn a new way of working, but the results are definitely worth it! @warning{We present a quick overview of our text input -- it's not as complicated as it sounds! Don't worry about understanding every detail in these examples; our beginner documentation covers everything at a much more gradual pace.} @subsubheading It's as simple as A B C Notes are encoded with letters and numbers. Special commands are entered with backslashes. @imageFloat{text-input-1-annotate,png,center} @imageFloat{text-input-1-output,png,center} Alterations are made with different names: add @w{@code{-is}} for sharp, and @w{@code{-es}} for flat (these are Dutch note names, other languages are available). LilyPond figures out where to put accidentals. @imageFloat{text-input-2-annotate,png,center} @imageFloat{text-input-2-output,png,center} @subsubheading Pop music Put chords and lyrics together to get a lead sheet: @imageFloat{text-input-pop-annotate,png,center} @imageFloat{text-input-pop-output,png,center} @subsubheading Orchestral parts The input file contains the notes of piece of music. Score and parts can be made from a single input file, so that changing a note always affects the score and parts. To be able to include the same music in multiple places, the music is assigned to a @qq{variable} (a name). @imageFloat{text-input-parts-both-annotate,png,center} This variable is then used in a single part (here transposed, with condensed rests spanning several measures): @imageFloat{text-input-parts-single-annotate,png,center} @imageFloat{text-input-parts-single-output,png,center} The same variable is used in the full score (here in concert pitch): @imageFloat{text-input-score-annotate,png,center} @imageFloat{text-input-score-output,png,center} @subsubheading Beginner Documentation We realize that many users find this way of entering music a bit odd. For this reason, we have written extensive documentation to 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! 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}. 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 @imageClickable{lilykde-screenshot-small,png, (click to enlarge),lilykde-screenshot,png,right} LilyPond is primarily concerned with producing top-quality engraved sheet music; creating a Graphical User Interface (GUI) would distract us from this goal. However, there are other projects aimed at making it easier to create LilyPond input files. Some editing environments include syntax highlighting, automatic command completion, and pre-made templates. Other programs actually provide a GUI which allows direct manipulation of a graphical score. For more information, see @ref{Easier editing}. @divEnd @divClass{column-center-bottom} @subheading Where now? You are now ready to @ref{Download, Download LilyPond}. Still not convinced? Read about @ref{Easier editing}. @divEnd @node Easier editing @unnumberedsec Easier editing @ignore GNU policy forbids us from linking to non-Free software, so don't add such links. In particular, don't link to: - the LilyPond bundle for TextMate (a commercial editor for MacOS). @end ignore @divClass{column-center-top} @subheading Front-end Applications @subsubheading Frescobaldi @imageClickable{frescobaldi-lilypond-editor-small,png, (click to enlarge),frescobaldi-lilypond-editor,png,right} @sourceimage{logo-linux,,,} @sourceimage{logo-macosx,,,} @sourceimage{logo-windows,,,} @uref{http://www.frescobaldi.org} Frescobaldi is a lightweight, yet powerful, music and text editor with many features added and enhanced particularly for LilyPond. Major features include point-and-click links between the code and music views, detailed score wizards, built in LilyPond documentation browser, syntax highlighting and automatic completion. Frescobaldi is written in Python, with PyQt4 for its user interface, and will run on all major operating systems (GNU/Linux, Mac OS X and Windows). @subsubheading Denemo @imageClickable{screenshot-denemo-small,png, (click to enlarge),screenshot-denemo,png,right} @sourceimage{logo-linux,,,} @sourceimage{logo-macosx,,,} @sourceimage{logo-windows,,,} @uref{http://denemo.org} Denemo is a graphical editor which generates LilyPond source code, and also allows audio playback. It allows users to view the LilyPond source code in parallel to the graphical view. Extra LilyPond tweaks can be attached to notes, chords etc. and are stored with the Denemo file, so that users can continue to edit graphically. Moving the cursor in the LilyPond text moves the cursor in the graphical view, and any syntax errors in your LilyPond tweaks are highlighted in the text view when printed from there. @divEnd @divClass{column-center-top} @subheading Browser-based editors @subsubheading LilyBin @uref{http://lilybin.com} A web-based LilyPond editor where you can typeset your scores directly online without needing to install LilyPond. @subsubheading Tunefl @uref{http://www.tunefl.com} With tunefl, you can typeset your mini-scores directly online without needing to install LilyPond locally. It allows trying out all the program's features using a convenient web interface. @divEnd @divClass{column-center-top} @subheading IDE Plug-ins @subsubheading Elysium @sourceimage{logo-linux,,,} @sourceimage{logo-freebsd,,,} @sourceimage{logo-macosx,,,} @sourceimage{logo-windows,,,} @uref{http://elysium.thsoft.hu} Elysium is a LilyPond IDE for Eclipse with an integrated, side-by-side view for source and score. It includes rapid visual & auditive feedback without having to switch contexts, and comes with many wizard-driven templates. @divEnd @divClass{column-center-top} @subheading Text editors @sourceimage{logo-linux,,,} @sourceimage{logo-freebsd,,,} @sourceimage{logo-macosx,,,} @sourceimage{logo-windows,,,} @subsubheading Emacs @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/} Emacs is a text editor with language-sensitive capabilities for many different computer languages. Emacs is a highly extensible editor and can be used as an Integrated Development Environment. There is a @q{lilypond mode} which supplies the language definitions for working with LilyPond source files. A developer has written @uref{https://github.com/nsceaux/lyqi,lyqi}, an Emacs major mode. If you are not already familiar with Emacs then you may probably prefer to use a different editor for writing LilyPond input files. More information on setting up Emacs can be found in @rprogram{Text editor support}. @subsubheading Vim @uref{http://www.vim.org} Vim is a minimal text editor and is an extension of the older Unix @command{vi} editor. It is also extensible and configurable. If you are not already familiar with Vi then you may probably prefer to use a different editor for writing LilyPond input files. More information on setting up Vim can be found in @rprogram{Text editor support}. @sourceimage{logo-macosx,,,} @subsubheading TeXShop @uref{http://www.uoregon.edu/~koch/texshop} The TeXShop editor for MacOS@tie{}X can be extended to run LilyPond, @command{lilypond-book} and @command{convert-ly} from within the editor, using the extensions available at: @example @uref{http://users.dimi.uniud.it/~nicola.vitacolonna/home/content/lilypond-scripts} @end example @divEnd @divClass{column-center-top} @subheading Other programs that can export LilyPond code @subsubheading Score, tab and MIDI editors: @itemize @item @uref{http://www.jezra.net/projects/bwwtolily,bwwtolily} attempts to convert a @code{.bww} or @code{.bmw} file to LilyPond. While not all of the embellishments may get converted properly (this is especially true with piobaireachd), the program will list them. @item @uref{http://www.canorus.org,Canorus}, a score editor, can also export to LilyPond, but is still beta-software. Testers are welcome, though. @item @uref{http://enc2ly.sourceforge.net/en/,Enc2ly} is a GNU/Linux program which converts an Encore music score into a LilyPond one. @item @uref{https://github.com/hanwen/go-enc2ly,go-enc2ly} is a Go tool that converts Encore files to LilyPond. It was created using Felipe Castro's research and reverse engineering by tweaking existing .enc files and loading them using the 4.55 demo version. @item @uref{http://www.musescore.org,MuseScore}, a score editor, has incomplete LilyPond export but is being actively developed. @item @uref{http://vsr.informatik.tu-chemnitz.de/staff/jan/nted/nted.xhtml,NtEd}, a score editor based on the @uref{http://www.cairographics.org,Cairo} library, it has experimental support for exporting to LilyPond. @item @uref{http://www.holmessoft.co.uk/homepage/software/NWC2LY/index.htm,NW2LY} is a C# program which converts a NoteWorthy composer song into LilyPond. @item @uref{https://github.com/ciconia/ripple/blob/master/README.markdown,Ripple} is a program that helps create scores and parts, including a mode for mixing different musical works together in a single score or part. @item @uref{http://www.rosegardenmusic.com,Rosegarden}, an audio and MIDI sequencer, which also has a score editor for single-staff editing. @end itemize @subsubheading Algorithmic code generators @itemize @item @uref{http://www.projectabjad.org/,Abjad}, a @uref{http://www.python.org/,Python} API for Formalized Score Control designed to help composers build up complex pieces of LilyPond notation in an iterative and incremental way. @item @uref{http://common-lisp.net/project/fomus/,FOMUS}, (FOrmat MUSic) is a music notation tool for computer music composers. It is written in the Lisp programming language, and has been tested in a variety of interpreters. A C++ port is also available. @item @uref{http://strasheela.sourceforge.net/strasheela/doc/index.html,Strasheela}, an environment built on top of the @uref{http://www.mozart-oz.org/, Mozart/Oz} constraint programming language. @end itemize @divEnd @divClass{column-center-top} @subheading Other programs no longer being actively developed @itemize @item @uref{https://sourceforge.net/projects/lily4jedit,LilyPondTool} was created as a plugin for the @uref{http://www.jedit.org,jEdit} text editor. @item @uref{http://lilykde.googlecode.com/,LilyKDE} has been replaced by @uref{http://www.frescobaldi.org/,Frescobaldi}, and exists as LilyKDE3 for KDE 3.5 and lilypond-KDE4 for KDE 4.1 only. @item @uref{http://noteedit.berlios.de,NoteEdit}, which imported @uref{http://www.makemusic.com/musicxml,MusicXML}, has been forked into @uref{http://vsr.informatik.tu-chemnitz.de/staff/jan/nted/nted.xhtml,NtEd} 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 LilyPond notes. @item @uref{https://launchpad.net/rumor/,Rumor}, a realtime monophonic MIDI-to-LilyPond converter. @item @uref{http://sourceforge.net/projects/tuxguitar/,TuxGuitar}, a multitrack tablature editor and player, includes a score viewer and can export to LilyPond. @end itemize @divEnd @divClass{column-center-bottom} @subheading Where now? You are now ready to @ref{Download, Download LilyPond}. Still not convinced? Many composers, musicians, and conductors have learned how to write music in our input format. Experienced users even report that they can enter a full score in LilyPond faster than with a piano keyboard or mouse+GUI! Perhaps you would like to review the @ref{Features}, @ref{Examples}, or the @ref{Freedom} that LilyPond provides, or read about users' @ref{Productions} and @ref{Reviews}. In addition, our approach to the computational aesthetics of classical engraving is explained in our @ref{Background}. @divEnd @divClass{column-center-bottom} @subheading Legalese @divClass{legal} All logos and product images are copyright and trademark acknowledged. @logoLegalLinux @logoLegalFreeBSD @logoLegalMacOSX @logoLegalWindows @divEnd @divEnd