1 @c -*- coding: utf-8; mode: texinfo; -*-
3 Translation of GIT committish: FILL-IN-HEAD-COMMITTISH
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11 @unnumbered Introduction
13 @divClass{column-center-top}
16 @imageFloat{flat-design,png,right}
18 LilyPond came about when two musicians wanted to go beyond the
19 soulless look of computer-printed sheet music. Musicians prefer
20 reading beautiful music, so why couldn't programmers write
21 software to produce elegant printed parts?
23 The result is a system which frees musicians from the details of
24 layout, allowing them to focus on making music. LilyPond works
25 with them to create publication-quality parts, crafted in the best
26 traditions of classical music engraving.
30 @divClass{link-headings}
32 @divClass{column-left-top}
33 @subheading What LilyPond does
38 @ref{Features}: What can LilyPond do?
41 @ref{Examples}: I want to see some music!
44 @ref{Freedom}: LilyPond is Free Software.
47 @ref{Background}: Our computational aesthetics.
52 @divClass{column-right-top}
53 @subheading LilyPond in use
57 @ref{Productions}: Real-life use of LilyPond.
60 @ref{Reviews}: What do people say?
65 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
66 @subheading How LilyPond works
70 @ref{Text input}: You write music as @emph{text}?!
73 @ref{Easier editing}: Other ways of working with LilyPond.
80 @c TRANSLATORS, translations are not yet compiled in Info format, so
81 @c it's not worth translating the right column of the following
85 * Features:: What can LilyPond do?
86 * Examples:: I want to see some music!
87 * Freedom:: Freedom and the GPL.
88 * Background:: Computational aesthetics.
89 * Productions:: Real-life use of LilyPond.
90 * Reviews:: What do people say about it?
91 * Text input:: You write music as text?!
92 * Easier editing:: Other ways of working with LilyPond.
99 @unnumberedsec Features
100 @divClass{column-center-top}
104 @subsubheading Excellent classical engraving
106 @imageFloat{flat-design,png,right}
108 LilyPond allows musicians to produce elegant sheet music that is
109 easy to read. Its developer community has spent thousands of hours
110 developing powerful music engraving software that results in beautifully
111 engraved music. All of LilyPond's style settings, font designs and
112 algorithms have been inspired by the finest hand-engraved music.
113 LilyPond output has the same strong, balanced and elegant look as the
114 best-engraved classical scores. This is further explained in our
119 @subsubheading Effective layout choices
121 Spend less time with tweaking the output; LilyPond gets the
122 formatting correct right from the start. It determines spacing by
123 itself, and breaks lines and pages to provide a tight and uniform
124 layout. Clashes between lyrics, notes, and chords are resolved
125 and slurs and beams are sloped, automatically!
131 @subheading Ease of use
133 @imageFloat{lilypond-book,png,right}
135 @subsubheading Text-based input
137 LilyPond takes ASCII input, which you can produce in your favorite
138 text editor, quickly and comfortably. The input contains all the
139 information, so there is no need to remember complex command sequences:
140 simply save a file for later reference.
142 @subsubheading Mix music and text
144 Put fragments of music into texts without cutting and pasting
145 pictures. Integrate music into @LaTeX{} or HTML seamlessly, or add
146 music to OpenOffice.org with OOoLilyPond. Plugins are also available
147 to allow LilyPond code in various blogs and wikis, making online
148 collaboration possible.
151 @subsubheading Accessibility
153 Text-based input also makes score-writing possible for users with
154 severe physical disabilities. Dexterity-impaired users who are
155 unable to type or control a computer mouse can use
156 speech-recognition software to edit LilyPond files. Even users
157 who are totally blind can use screen-reading software to write
158 LilyPond files -- an impossible task in graphical-based
159 score-writing programs.
161 @subsubheading Extensible design
163 All settings can be changed to suit your personal typographical
164 taste. If that still is not enough, there is always the built-in
165 scripting language Scheme, a dialect of the powerful language
166 LISP. Settings, variables and functions are all documented in the
167 comprehensive program reference manual.
173 @subheading Environment
175 @imageFloat{frescobaldi-lilypond-editor-small,png,right}
177 @subsubheading Free software
179 LilyPond can be downloaded free of charge! Yep - It's free. Get
180 it from the download page.
182 It's also free (as in @qq{speech}) software. It comes with source
183 code, and permission to change and copy it. So, are you irritated
184 by a bug, or yearning for a feature? Simply add it yourself, or
185 pay someone else to do it.
188 @subsubheading Excellent support
190 LilyPond runs on all popular platforms: GNU/Linux, MacOS X, and
191 Windows. LilyPond comes with extensive documentation and hundreds
192 of example files. There is an active user community answering
193 questions on the lilypond-user mailing list, while the development
194 team makes sure that problems are solved quickly.
197 @subsubheading Enhanced editors
200 Several developers, themselves active LilyPond users, have also
201 written tools specifically aimed at making the process of editing
202 LilyPond files faster and more effective. For some examples, see
203 @ref{Easier editing}.
206 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
207 @subheading Where now?
209 Still not convinced? Look at some specific @ref{Examples}. If you've
210 already decided to try LilyPond, first read about our
217 @unnumberedsec Examples
219 LilyPond is a powerful and flexible tool for engraving tasks of
220 all kinds. Please browse our gallery of examples and be inspired!
224 @subsubheading Classical Music
226 This organ work by J.S. Bach is a fairly typical engraving project
229 @exampleImage{bach-bwv610}
233 @subsubheading Complex Notation
235 This example from @emph{Goyescas} by Enrique Granados shows some
236 of the more advanced features of typesetting, including kneed
237 beams, cross-staff stems, and voice-follow lines.
239 @exampleImage{granados}
243 @subsubheading Early Music
245 LilyPond also supports various types of ancient notation, such
246 as this passage of Gregorian chant.
248 @exampleImage{ancient-headword}
252 @subsubheading Modern Music
254 Contemporary composers find LilyPond well-suited to displaying
255 unusual notation. Here is an excerpt from Trevor Bača's
256 @emph{Čáry}, for unaccompanied bass flute.
263 @subsubheading Efficient, flexible creation of performance materials
265 Various performance materials can be created from the same source
266 code. This is an excerpt of @uref{http://nicolas.sceaux.free.fr/,
267 Nicolas Sceaux's} engraving of Handel's @emph{Giulio Cesare}, in
268 full score, piano-vocal reduction, and a violin part.
270 @exampleImage{sesto-full}
272 @exampleImage{sesto-piano}
274 @exampleImage{sesto-violin}
279 @subsubheading Tablature
281 LilyPond supports tablature notation, which can be customized to
282 suit any instrument that reads from tablature. The tablature
283 staff is generated automatically from notes entered for the 5-line
286 @exampleImage{tab-example}
290 @subsubheading Schenker Graphs
292 Standard output can be modified heavily. Here is an impressive
293 Schenkerian analysis, created by Kris Schaffer, for an article
294 in @uref{http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8364 , Linux Journal.}.
295 The colors have been added for better visibility.
297 @exampleImage{bach-schenker}
301 @subsubheading Vocal Music
303 LilyPond is excellent for vocal music of all kinds, from sacred
304 hymns to opera. Here is a medieval motet with slightly unusual
305 requirements. The tenor voice is written in a different meter
306 than the others, but must line up as if it were in the same meter.
307 LilyPond handles this most elegantly. Note also the incipits with
308 Vaticana style clefs, the slashed stems indicating plicated notes,
309 and the ligature braces above certain groups of notes.
311 @exampleImage{aucun-snippet}
315 @subsubheading Educational Applications
317 LilyPond is perfectly suited for educational purposes as well.
318 Here is an example of a simple counterpoint exercise.
320 @exampleImage{theory}
324 @subsubheading Popular Music
326 It is simple to create pop lead sheets with melody, lyrics,
327 chord names, and fretboards. In this example you see some of the
328 predefined fretboard diagrams, but these can be heavily customized
329 to suit nearly any situation.
335 @subsubheading Large Projects
337 LilyPond is excellent for large projects like operas or works for
338 full symphony orchestra, as well. In addition, the text-based
339 input provides greater accessibility -- this example was
340 contributed by Hu Haipeng, a blind composer.
342 @exampleImage{orchestra}
346 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
347 @subheading Where now?
349 Still not convinced? LilyPond is Free software, granting you
350 @ref{Freedom}. If you've already decided to try LilyPond, first
351 read about our @ref{Text input}.
356 @unnumberedsec Freedom
358 @divClass{column-center-top}
359 @subheading Free Software
361 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/, GNU} LilyPond is written and maintained
362 by a community of enthusiasts. It is published under the
363 @ref{GPL, GNU General Public License} and the @ref{FDL, GNU Free
364 Documentation License}, giving everybody the freedom to fix,
365 modify, and extend the program. Creating beautiful music should
366 not require hundreds of dollars of software!
370 @c @divClass{column-left-top}
372 @divClass{keep-bullets}
373 @subheading What are the benefits to users?
378 No cost: download and try it out! What do you have to lose?
381 Sharing: if you like the program, give a copy to your friends,
382 teachers, students, and colleagues!
385 Source available: if you are curious about how LilyPond creates
386 some notation, you can see exactly how it is done.
389 Extendible: you can add features, fix bugs, and change the
390 functionality. If you are not a programmer, you can hire somebody
393 This may not seem appealing to casual musicians, but the ability
394 to extend software can be highly valuable to serious composers,
395 companies, and academics.
398 Future safety: if a commercial company goes bankrupt, what happens
399 to any electronic music which depends on their products? This is
400 not a concern with LilyPond; even if the entire development team
401 quits (extremely unlikely), the program will still be legally
402 available for copying, modifications, and distribution.
411 @c @divClass{column-right-top}
413 @divClass{keep-bullets}
414 @subheading Why do LilyPond developers @qq{give away} their work for free?
416 Most of us view LilyPond development as a hobby or volunteer work.
417 So this question is really asking @qq{why do people volunteer}?
422 Fun: working towards a goal can be enjoyable, especially when you
426 Shared goals: we all want beautiful sheet music, but few people
427 have the expertise (and nobody has the time!), to create a program
428 which can handle all situations. By working together -- one
429 person improves the automatic beaming code, another person
430 improves the shape of slurs, and a third person writes
431 documentation explaining how to use these features -- we can
432 achieve our goal with only a fraction of the individual effort.
435 @qq{Gift culture}: the Free Software (or @qq{Open Source})
436 movement has created many great software projects, such as
437 @uref{http://kernel.org/, GNU/Linux},
438 @uref{http://www.getfirefox.com/, Mozilla Firefox}, and
439 @uref{http://www.wesnoth.org/, Battle for Wesnoth}. Having
440 benefitted from these projects, some developers want to @qq{give
441 back} to the community.
444 Work experience: contributing to open-source projects is a great way to
445 practice programming, documentation writing, documentation translation,
446 or design. This experience has helped some developers gain job offers
456 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
457 @subheading Where now?
459 Still not convinced? Read our extensive essay about our engraving
460 philosophy in @ref{Background}. If you've already decided to try
461 LilyPond, first read about our @ref{Text input}.
466 @unnumberedsec Background
468 @divClass{column-center-top}
469 @subheading Background essay
471 We have an extensive essay describing computational aesthetics:
472 the art of creating beauty with a computer.
474 If you just want a quick introduction to LilyPond, the essay might
475 be too much material to read. If you would like to read it now,
476 please progress to @ref{Essay}.
479 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
480 @subheading Where now?
482 Still not convinced? Read about some of our users'
483 @ref{Productions} and sheet music. If you've already decided to
484 try LilyPond, first read about our @ref{Text input}.
489 @unnumberedsec Productions
491 @divClass{column-left-top}
494 LilyPond engravings have been used for performances around the world.
497 @divClass{keep-bullets}
501 @emph{Affaire étrangère}, an opera by
502 @uref{http://valentin.villenave.net/,Valentin Villenave}
503 to a French libretto by
504 @uref{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Trondheim, Lewis
505 Trondheim}, premiered February 1, 2009 at
506 @uref{http://www.orchestre-montpellier.com/, L'Opéra National de
507 Montpellier}, France.
510 @uref{http://www.mercurybaroque.org/02/02109.aspx, Mercury Baroque}'s
511 performance of Lully's @emph{Armide}, May 15-16, 2009, in Houston,
512 Texas (engraving by @uref{http://nicolas.sceaux.free.fr/,
516 Instrumental excerpts from Rameau's @emph{Hippolyte et Aricie} at
517 St. James's Church in Manhattan, May 8, 2009, by Frederick Renz
518 and his ensemble @uref{http://www.earlymusicny.org/, Early Music
519 New York} (engraving by Nicolas Sceaux).
527 @divClass{column-right-top}
528 @subheading Published sheet music
530 @divClass{keep-bullets}
534 @uref{http://www.mutopiaproject.org/index.html, Mutopia Project},
535 over 1500 pieces of classical sheet music for free download, and
536 the main showcase of LilyPond scores.
538 @c don't make this "Mutopia" a link, since that looks silly.
540 @uref{http://etudeapp.com, Etude}, @qq{sheet music on steroids} is
541 an iPhone app which displays piano music engraved with LilyPond,
542 including many pieces from Mutopia. The app includes a virtual
543 piano keyboard showing which keys to press to help beginners learn
544 how to read sheet music.
547 @uref{http://www.adoromusicpub.com/, Adoro Music Publishing},
548 high-quality scores of sacred music, available for immediate
549 download or in traditional paper format.
552 @uref{http://www.shadylane.fr, The Shady Lane Publishing},
553 a @qq{micro musical publishing house} whose goal is to promote a
554 new form of musical economy closer to the musicians and music
564 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
565 @subheading Where now?
567 Still not convinced? Read some of our users' @ref{Reviews}.
568 If you've already decided to try LilyPond, first read about our
572 @c TRANSLATORS, so far it's mostly from
573 @c http://lilypond.org/web/switch/testimonials
576 @unnumberedsec Reviews
578 @divClass{column-left-top}
579 @subheading Published articles
581 @divClass{keep-bullets}
587 Peter Kirn, on the Create Digital Music website, publishes a
588 @uref{http://createdigitalmusic.com/2010/05/14/lilypond-free-beautiful-music-notation-engraving-for-anyone/,LilyPond
589 review}. He takes a balanced view on usage, praises LilyPond's
590 high-quality notation and suggests to try it out.
595 The German LinuxUser magazine wrote an
596 @uref{http://www.linux-community.de/Internal/Artikel/Print-Artikel/LinuxUser/2009/10/Digitaler-Notenschluessel,
597 article about LilyPond}.
603 @uref{http://www.polyphonic.org/article.php?id=188, Polyphonic.org}
604 website, presents comments by two orchestra librarians who
605 talk about using software to maintain their libraries.
610 In @uref{http://www.musicbyandrew.ca/finale-lilypond-1.html,
611 articles on his personal site}, Andrew Hawryluk compares Finale
612 and LilyPond in general terms, and evaluates engraving
613 capabilities of both pieces of software in detail. The second
614 article is an instructive analysis of engraving issues in
615 Rachmaninoff's Piano Prelude No. 6, including comparisons with a
616 hand-engraved reference edition.
621 @uref{http://distrowatch.com,DistroWatch} awards LilyPond and
622 @uref{http://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20060605,writes}
623 @qq{Ladies and Gentleman, we are pleased to announce that, based
624 on readers' requests, the DistroWatch May 2006 donation has been
625 awarded to LilyPond (@euro{}190.00) and Lua (US$250.00).}
630 @uref{http://linuxjournal.com,Linux Journal} publishes an article
631 titled @uref{http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8364, Make
632 Stunning Schenker Graphs with GNU LilyPond}. It is an in-depth
633 but hands-on feature article with crisp LilyPond graphics. Author
634 Kris Shaffer remarks @qq{GNU LilyPond generates beautiful graphics
635 that make commercial alternatives seem second-rate.}
640 The Belgian newspaper De Standaard investigates what drives Free
641 Software authors in an article titled
642 @uref{http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelId=G42H5GD6,
643 Delen van KENNIS zonder WINSTBEJAG} (Non-profit sharing of
644 knowlegde) in its @q{DS2 bijlage}. LilyPond is used as an example
645 and the article is interspersed with quotes from an email
646 interview with Jan Nieuwenhuizen. This marks LilyPond's first
647 appearance in mainstream printed press.
652 A French article on the LilyPond 2.6 release appeared on
653 @uref{http://linuxfr.org/2005/06/27/19210.html, linuxfr.org}.
658 The editors of Computer!Totaal, a Dutch computer magazine,
659 @uref{http://lilypond.org/web/images/computer-totaal.jpeg,
660 describe LilyPond} in the October 2004 issue as: @qq{Wonderful
661 free (open source) software [..] The sheet music produced by
662 LilyPond is exceptionally pretty [..] a very powerful system that
663 can do almost anything.}
668 Dave Phillips wrote an introductory article for
669 @uref{http://linuxjournal.com,Linux Journal}: At
670 the sounding edge: LilyPond, parts
671 @uref{http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/7657, one} and
672 @uref{http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/7719, two}.
678 @uref{http://www.all-day-breakfast.com/cannam/linux-musician/lilypond.html,interviewed}
679 Han-Wen Nienhuys and Jan Nieuwenhuizen on linuxmusician.com
680 (original site defunct). This interview was also reviewed in a
681 @uref{http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/03/13/2054227&tid=,
687 Jazz singer Gail Selkirk writes about
688 @uref{http://www.songbirdofswing.com/editorial_page/lilypond/,
689 Diving into LilyPond}. @qq{... you can make lead sheets or full
690 orchestral parts, and the results can be stunning.}
691 @uref{http://www.computermusic.co.uk/, Computer Music Special},
700 @divClass{column-right-top}
701 @subheading User testimonials
703 @divClass{testimonial-item}
704 @imageFloat{carter-brey,jpg, right}
705 @subsubheading @uref{http://nyphil.org/meet/orchestra/index.cfm?page=profile&personNum=7, Carter Brey}, Principal Cellist, New York Philharmonic
707 @qq{@dots{} I've written a couple of encore pieces for solo cello
708 which I've printed with LilyPond and which I'm going to submit to
709 Schirmer for publication. I'll bet their engraved version wouldn't
710 look half as sharp as mine!}
714 @divClass{testimonial-item}
715 @imageFloat{orm-finnendahl,jpg, left}
716 @subsubheading @uref{http://icem-www.folkwang-hochschule.de/~finnendahl/, Orm Finnendahl}, professor of Composition, Musikhochschule Freiburg
718 @qq{Although I don't know [LilyPond] very well yet, I'm
719 @strong{*very} impressed. I used the program to input a motet of
720 Josquin Desprez in mensural notation and there's no doubt that
721 lilypond outscores all other notation programs easily concerning
722 speed, ease of use and look!}
726 @divClass{testimonial-item}
727 @imageFloat{darius-blasband,jpg, right}
728 @subsubheading Darius Blasband, composer (Brussels, Belgium)
730 @qq{[..after the first orchestra rehearsal] I got numerous
731 compliments about the quality of the scores. Even more
732 importantly, while LilyPond provides numerous hacks to improve the
733 way its scores look, what the orchestra got from me is basically
734 the raw, untouched output.}
738 @divClass{testimonial-item}
739 @subsubheading Kieren MacMillan, composer (Toronto, Canada)
741 @qq{thanks and kudos to the development team for their incredible
742 work. I've never seen anything approaching the output that I get
743 from LilyPond -- I'm totally confident that my music publishing
744 needs will be fulfilled beyond my expectations using this great
745 application. [..] basically untweaked LilyPond output [..] looks
746 better than most recent @q{professional} publications I've compared
747 it to (q.v., just about any Warner Bros. score, and even many of
748 the most recent by @q{the old houses}). [..]}
750 @qq{Beat that, Finale/Sibelius/Igor/whatever!!!}
754 @divClass{testimonial-item}
755 @subsubheading Chris Cannam, lead programmer of the @uref{http://www.rosegardenmusic.com/, RoseGarden} project
757 @qq{LilyPond is obviously the zillion-ton gorilla [of great music
762 @divClass{testimonial-item}
763 @subsubheading Chris Snyder, @uref{http://www.adoromusicpub.com/, Adoro Music Publishing}
765 @qq{The way that music is entered for LilyPond causes me to think in a
766 more musical way -- there have been times when I've been stumped as
767 to how to tell Lily to engrave something, only to realize that
768 even if I did get it exactly as the composer wanted, the music
769 would be confusing to read. LilyPond makes it much easier for me
770 to work in my dual editor+engraver role.}
772 @qq{I've been using LilyPond exclusively for my fledgling music
773 publishing business. Virtually without exception, every composer
774 has been blown away by the quality of the engraving when presented
775 with the proofs of their music about to be published. I deserve
776 some of the credit for this -- I spend a lot of time tweaking
777 output, especially ties (mainly in chords) -- but LilyPond gives
778 me an excellent starting point, a very intuitive interface, and
779 the ability to modify absolutely anything if I want to take the
780 time. I'm convinced that no commercial product can come close.}
784 @divClass{testimonial-item}
785 @subsubheading David Bobroff, Bass Trombone, Iceland Symphony Orchestra
787 @qq{I think LilyPond is great [..] The more I learn about LilyPond
792 @divClass{testimonial-item}
793 @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})
795 @qq{I am super impressed with LilyPond [..]}
797 @qq{THIS IS THE BEST PROGRAM EVER!!!}
799 @qq{Thank you all SO MUCH for your hard work and dedication!}
803 @divClass{testimonial-item}
804 @subsubheading @uref{http://nicolas.sceaux.free.fr/, Nicolas Sceaux}, @uref{http://www.mutopiaproject.org/, Mutopia} contributor
806 @qq{I had a kind of hate-passion relationship with it. Passion
807 because the first score I saw was so amazing! The description of
808 LilyPond lies about its beautifulness, it is too modest! [..] as
809 LilyPond is getting always better, and as I look closer how things
810 are done in scheme, I have less and less frustrations. Anyway,
811 what I mean is: thank you for providing LilyPond, it is really
816 @divClass{testimonial-item}
817 @subsubheading @uref{http://www.troff.org/whoswho.html#werner, Werner Lemberg}, Conductor at the Theatre in Koblenz, Germany and distinguished GNU Hacker
819 @qq{Anyway, LilyPond does an amazingly good job!}
823 @divClass{testimonial-item}
824 @subsubheading Paul Davis, developer of @uref{http://jackaudio.org/, JACK} and @uref{http://www.ardour.org/, Ardour}
826 @qq{I think [LilyPond is] an incredible program, and it produces
827 wonderful, wonderful output. when i read an interview about it
828 last year, i was raving to several friends of mine about its
834 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
835 @subheading Where now?
837 Read about our @ref{Text input}.
843 @unnumberedsec Text input
845 @c TRANSLATORS, so far it's mostly from
846 @c http://lilypond.org/web/switch/howto
848 @subheading @qq{Compiling} Music
850 @imageClickable{nereid-shot-small,png, (click to enlarge), nereid-shot,png, right}
852 LilyPond is a @emph{compiled} system: it is run on a text file
853 describing the music. The resulting output is viewed on-screen or
854 printed. In some ways, LilyPond is more similar to a programming
855 language than graphical score editing software.
857 You do not write music by dragging notes from a graphical toolbar
858 and placing them on a dynamically refreshing score; you write
859 music by typing text. This text is interpreted (or @qq{compiled})
860 by LilyPond, which produces beautifully engraved sheet music.
862 People accustomed to graphical user interfaces might need to learn
863 a new way of working, but the results are definitely worth it!
865 @warning{We present a quick overview of our text input -- it's not
866 as complicated as it sounds! Don't worry about understanding
867 every detail in these examples; our beginner documentation covers
868 everything at a much more gradual pace.}
871 @subsubheading It's as simple as A B C
873 Notes are encoded with letters and numbers. Special commands are
874 entered with backslashes.
876 @imageFloat{text-input-1-annotate,png,center}
877 @imageFloat{text-input-1-output,png,center}
879 Alterations are made with different names: add @code{-is} for
880 sharp, and @code{-es} for flat (these are Dutch note names, other
881 languages are available). LilyPond figures out where to put
884 @imageFloat{text-input-2-annotate,png,center}
885 @imageFloat{text-input-2-output,png,center}
888 @subsubheading Pop music
890 Put chords and lyrics together to get a lead sheet:
892 @imageFloat{text-input-pop-annotate,png,center}
893 @imageFloat{text-input-pop-output,png,center}
897 @subsubheading Orchestral parts
899 The input file contains the notes of piece of music. Score and
900 parts can be made from a single input file, so that changing a
901 note always affects the score and parts. To be able to include
902 the same music in multiple places, the music is assigned to a
903 @qq{variable} (a name).
905 @imageFloat{text-input-parts-both-annotate,png,center}
908 This variable is then used in a single part (here transposed, with
909 condensed rests spanning several measures):
911 @imageFloat{text-input-parts-single-annotate,png,center}
912 @imageFloat{text-input-parts-single-output,png,center}
915 The same variable is used in the full score (here in concert
918 @imageFloat{text-input-score-annotate,png,center}
919 @imageFloat{text-input-score-output,png,center}
922 @subsubheading Beginner Documentation
924 We realize that many users find this way of entering music a bit
925 odd. For this reason, we have written extensive documentation to
926 help new users, beginning with @ref{Learning}. The Learning
927 Manual is the best place to start, as many questions are answered
930 Please read the Learning Manual before complaining about bugs!
931 New users occasionally believe that LilyPond is not working
932 correctly, when in fact it is working precisely as designed.
934 More in-depth information is available in @ref{Manuals}.
937 @subsubheading Easier editing environments
939 @imageClickable{lilykde-screenshot-small,png,
940 (click to enlarge),lilykde-screenshot,png,right}
942 LilyPond is primarily concerned with producing top-quality
943 engraved sheet music; creating a Graphical User Interface (GUI)
944 would distract us from this goal. However, there are other
945 projects aimed at making it easier to create LilyPond input files.
947 Some editing environments include syntax highlighting, automatic
948 command completion, and pre-made templates. Other programs
949 actually provide a GUI which allows direct manipulation of a
950 graphical score. For more information, see @ref{Easier editing}.
954 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
955 @subheading Where now?
957 You are now ready to @ref{Download, Download LilyPond}. Still not
958 convinced? Read about @ref{Easier editing}.
964 @unnumberedsec Easier editing
967 @divClass{column-center-top}
968 @subheading LilyPondTool
970 @imageClickable{lilypondtool-2.12-screenshot-400wide,png,
971 (click to enlarge),lilypondtool-2.12-screenshot,png,right}
973 @sourceimage{logo-linux,,,}
974 @sourceimage{logo-freebsd,,,}
975 @sourceimage{logo-macosx,,,}
976 @sourceimage{logo-windows,,,}
978 @uref{http://lilypondtool.organum.hu}
980 Created as a plugin for the
981 @uref{http://www.jedit.org,jEdit} text editor,
982 LilyPondTool is one of the most feature-rich text-based tools for
983 editing LilyPond scores. Its features include a Document Wizard
984 with lyrics support to set up documents easier, and embedded PDF
985 viewer with advanced point-and-click support.
989 @divClass{column-center-top}
990 @subheading Frescobaldi
992 @imageClickable{frescobaldi-lilypond-editor-small,png,
993 (click to enlarge),frescobaldi-lilypond-editor,png,right}
995 @sourceimage{logo-linux,,,}
996 @sourceimage{logo-freebsd,,,}
998 @uref{http://www.frescobaldi.org}
1000 Frescobaldi is a dedicated LilyPond music and text editor with a
1001 built-in PDF previewer, a powerful score wizard and many editing
1002 features. It is built on top of the KDE4 libraries and runs
1003 currently on all flavours of Linux and other UNIX-like operating
1008 @divClass{column-center-top}
1011 @imageClickable{screenshot-denemo-small,png,
1012 (click to enlarge),screenshot-denemo,png,right}
1014 @sourceimage{logo-linux,,,}
1015 @sourceimage{logo-windows,,,}
1017 @uref{http://denemo.org}
1019 Denemo is a graphical editor which generates LilyPond source code,
1020 and also allows audio playback. It allows users to view the
1021 LilyPond source code in parallel to the graphical view. Extra
1022 LilyPond tweaks can be attached to notes, chords etc. and are stored
1023 with the Denemo file, so that users can continue to edit graphically.
1025 Moving the cursor in the LilyPond text moves the cursor in the graphical
1026 view, and any syntax errors in your LilyPond tweaks are highlighted in
1027 the text view when printed from there.
1029 @warning{Denemo officially supports an outdated Lilypond version 2.8.7,
1030 which lacks many of the features added since then. The Denemo developers
1031 are actively working to bring it up to our present stable version, 2.12.}
1034 @divClass{column-center-top}
1035 @subheading Text editors
1037 @sourceimage{logo-linux,,,}
1038 @sourceimage{logo-freebsd,,,}
1039 @sourceimage{logo-macosx,,,}
1040 @sourceimage{logo-windows,,,}
1042 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/}
1044 Emacs is a text editor with language-sensitive capabilities for
1045 many different computer languages. Emacs is a highly extensible
1046 editor and can be used as an Integrated Development Environment.
1047 There is a @q{lilypond mode} which supplies the language
1048 definitions for working with LilyPond source files. As well, one of
1049 our developers has written
1050 @uref{http://nicolas.sceaux.free.fr/lilypond/lyqi.html,lyqi}, an
1053 @uref{http://www.vim.org}
1055 Vim is a minimal text editor and is an extension of the older Unix
1056 @command{vi} editor. It is also extensible and configurable.
1058 As a general rule, if you are not already familiar with Emacs or
1059 Vim, then you would probably prefer to use a different editor for
1060 writing LilyPond input files.
1062 More information on setting up Emacs and Vim can be found in
1063 @rprogram{Text editor support}.
1065 @sourceimage{logo-macosx,,,}
1066 @uref{http://www.uoregon.edu/~koch/texshop}
1068 The TexShop editor for MacOS@tie{}X can be extended to run LilyPond,
1069 @command{lilypond-book} and @command{convert-ly} from within the editor,
1070 using the extensions available at:
1073 @uref{http://users.dimi.uniud.it/~nicola.vitacolonna/home/content/lilypond-scripts}
1076 @sourceimage{logo-macosx,,,}
1077 There is a LilyPond bundle for TextMate, a commercial editor for MacOS.
1078 It may be installed by running:
1081 mkdir -p /Library/Application\ Support/TextMate/Bundles
1082 cd /Library/Application\ Support/TextMate/Bundles
1083 git clone http://github.com/textmate/lilypond.tmbundle.git
1089 @divClass{column-center-top}
1090 @subheading Other programs can export LilyPond code
1093 @subsubheading Score, tab and MIDI editors:
1097 @uref{http://www.rosegardenmusic.com,Rosegarden}, an audio and
1098 MIDI sequencer, which also has a score editor for single-staff
1102 @uref{http://vsr.informatik.tu-chemnitz.de/staff/jan/nted/nted.xhtml,NtEd},
1103 is based on the @uref{http://cairographics.org, Cairo} library and
1104 has experimental export for LilyPond.
1107 @uref{http://www.tuxguitar.com.ar/,TuxGuitar}, a multitrack
1108 tablature editor and player, provides a score view as well as tab,
1109 and can export to LilyPond.
1112 @uref{http://musescore.org,MuseScore} has incomplete LilyPond
1113 export but is being actively developed.
1116 @uref{http://canorus.org,Canorus} can also export to LilyPond, but
1117 is still beta-software. Testers are welcome, though.
1120 @uref{http://www.volny.cz/smilauer/rumor/rumor.html,Rumor}, a realtime
1121 monophonic MIDI to LilyPond converter.
1125 @subsubheading Algorithmic code generators
1130 @uref{http://strasheela.sourceforge.net, Strasheela} is @qq{a
1131 highly expressive constraint-based music composition system}.
1134 @uref{http://common-lisp.net/project/fomus/,FOMUS}, a LISP library
1135 to generate music notation from computer music software environments.
1140 @divClass{column-center-top}
1142 @subheading Other programs not being actively developed
1147 @uref{http://lilykde.googlecode.com/,LilyKDE} has been replaced by
1148 @uref{http://www.frescobaldi.org/,Frescobaldi}, and exists as
1149 LilyKDE3 for KDE 3.5 and lilypond-KDE4 for KDE 4.1 only.
1152 @uref{http://noteedit.berlios.de,NoteEdit}, which imported
1153 @uref{http://www.musicxml.com/xml.html,MusicXML}, has been forked
1155 @uref{http://vsr.informatik.tu-chemnitz.de/staff/jan/nted/nted.xhtml,NtEd}
1156 and @uref{http://canorus.org,Canorus}.
1160 @uref{http://lilycomp.sourceforge.net, LilyComp} is a graphical
1161 note entry program, acting much like a number-pad which produces
1169 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
1170 @subheading Where now?
1172 You are now ready to @ref{Download, Download LilyPond}.
1174 Still not convinced? Many composers, musicians, and conductors
1175 have learned how to write music in our input format. Experienced
1176 users even report that they can enter a full score in LilyPond
1177 faster than with a piano keyboard or mouse+GUI! Perhaps you would
1178 like to review the @ref{Features}, @ref{Examples}, or the
1179 @ref{Freedom} that LilyPond provides, or read about users'
1180 @ref{Productions} and @ref{Reviews}. In addition, our
1181 approach to the computational aesthetics of classical engraving is
1182 explained in our @ref{Background}.
1185 @subheading Legalese
1188 All logos and product images are copyright and trademark