Easy Gregorian notation - Revision history

Lemzwerg at 09:35, 3 December 2025

2025-12-03T09:35:38Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:35, 3 December 2025
Line 1:		Line 1:
	This snippet shows a special notation for easy Gregorian music.		This snippet shows a special notation for easy Gregorian music.

	~~Definitions can be saved~~ as <code>~~"~~modernGregorian.ily~~"~~</code> ~~in order to be used~~ as ~~<code>\include "modernGregorian~~.~~ily"</code>~~		Let's assume that the LilyPond code below is stored as <code>modernGregorian.ily</code> as indicated. The syntax is then as follows.

	~~Syntax is:~~		\include "modernGregorian.ily"

			...

			\cadenzaOn
			\omit Stem
			<var>note</var> ...
			\melisma { \lst <var>note</var> \mli <var>note</var> \sli <var>note</var> \tli <var>note</var> }

	~~<code>\include "modernGregorian.ily"</code>~~		where

	~~<code>...</code>~~

	~~<code> \cadenzaOn \omit Stem 'note'... \melisma { \lst 'note' \mli 'note' \sli 'note' \tli 'note' } </code>~~

	where:

	* <code>\lst</code> goes for long stem		* <code>\lst</code> goes for long stem
Line 18:		Line 19:
	* <code>\tli</code> goes for teeny ligature		* <code>\tli</code> goes for teeny ligature

	It also includes a simple ornament: <~~code~~>'note' -\tweak extra-offset #'(X . Y) \orn~~</code>~~		It also includes a simple ornament

			<var>note</var> -\tweak extra-offset #'(X . Y) \orn

	Known issues:		Known issues:

	* <code>~~"~~modernGregorian.ily~~"~~</code> does not support ~~midi~~ output.		* <code>modernGregorian.ily</code> does not support MIDI output.
	* <code>\melisma</code> does not follow key signatures.		* <code>\melisma</code> does not follow key signatures.

	<lilypond version="2.24" ~~full~~>		<lilypond version="2.24">
	%~~% http~~://~~lsr.di~~.~~unimi~~.it/~~LSR/Item?id=973~~		% => https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/lilypond-user/2015-01/msg00709.html
	~~% => http:~~//lilypond~~.1069038.n5.nabble.com~~/~~kind~~-~~of-gregorian-moving-noteheads-tc170995~~.html		% => https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/lilypond-user/2015-01/msg00823.html
	% => ~~http~~://~~lilypond~~.~~1069038~~.~~n5.nabble.com~~/~~Hungarian~~-~~Gregorian~~-~~tc171130~~.html

	%% Works with other sizes:		%% Works with other sizes:
Line 281:		Line 283:
	#})))))		#})))))
	\override Accidental.extra-offset = #'(-.2 . 0)		\override Accidental.extra-offset = #'(-.2 . 0)
	%%% TODO: find a fixed ledger line with no dimension		%%% TODO: find a fixed ledger line with no dimension; see
	%% ~~see: http~~://~~lilypond~~.~~1069038~~.~~n5.nabble.com~~/~~Fixed~~-~~ledger~~-~~line-width-with-no-dimension-tc172180~~.html		%%% https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/lilypond-user/2015-02/msg00681.html
	%\override LedgerLineSpanner.length-fraction = #'() %%% ???		%\override LedgerLineSpanner.length-fraction = #'() %%% ???
	%\override LedgerLineSpanner.minimum-length-fraction = #'() %%% ???		%\override LedgerLineSpanner.minimum-length-fraction = #'() %%% ???
Line 528:		Line 530:
	}		}
	}		}

	~~\markup\vspace #2~~
	</lilypond>		</lilypond>

			[[Category:Ancient notation]]
			[[Category:Scheme]]
			[[Category:Specific notation]]
	[[Category:Staff notation]]		[[Category:Staff notation]]
			[[Category:Tweaks and overrides]]
	[[Category:Vocal music]]		[[Category:Vocal music]]
	~~[[Category:Tweaks and overrides]]~~
	~~[[Category:Ancient notation]]~~
	~~[[Category:Specific notation]]~~
	[[Category:Snippet]]		[[Category:Snippet]]

Lemzwerg: New category

2025-11-21T23:26:43Z

New category

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:26, 21 November 2025
Line 536:		Line 536:
	[[Category:Tweaks and overrides]]		[[Category:Tweaks and overrides]]
	[[Category:Ancient notation]]		[[Category:Ancient notation]]
	[[Category:Specific notation]][[Category:Snippet]]		[[Category:Specific notation]]
			[[Category:Snippet]]

Lemzwerg at 22:52, 21 November 2025

2025-11-21T22:52:21Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:52, 21 November 2025
Line 536:		Line 536:
	[[Category:Tweaks and overrides]]		[[Category:Tweaks and overrides]]
	[[Category:Ancient notation]]		[[Category:Ancient notation]]
	[[Category:Specific notation]]		[[Category:Specific notation]][[Category:Snippet]]

Jean Abou Samra: Replace version="2.24.0" with version="2.24" now that the LilyWiki extension supports auto-selecting the latest release in a stable series

2025-11-16T18:47:20Z

Replace version="2.24.0" with version="2.24" now that the LilyWiki extension supports auto-selecting the latest release in a stable series

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:47, 16 November 2025
Line 25:		Line 25:
	* <code>\melisma</code> does not follow key signatures.		* <code>\melisma</code> does not follow key signatures.

	<lilypond version="2.24.0" full>		<lilypond version="2.24" full>
	%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=973		%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=973
	% => http://lilypond.1069038.n5.nabble.com/kind-of-gregorian-moving-noteheads-tc170995.html		% => http://lilypond.1069038.n5.nabble.com/kind-of-gregorian-moving-noteheads-tc170995.html

Jean Abou Samra: Import snippet from LSR

2025-10-26T22:50:10Z

Import snippet from LSR

New page

This snippet shows a special notation for easy Gregorian music.

Definitions can be saved as <code>"modernGregorian.ily"</code> in order to be used as <code>\include "modernGregorian.ily"</code>

Syntax is:

<code>\include "modernGregorian.ily"</code>

<code>...</code>

<code> \cadenzaOn \omit Stem 'note'... \melisma { \lst 'note' \mli 'note' \sli 'note' \tli 'note' } </code>

where:

* <code>\lst</code> goes for long stem
* <code>\mli</code> goes for medium ligature
* <code>\sli</code> goes for short ligature
* <code>\tli</code> goes for teeny ligature

It also includes a simple ornament: <code>'note' -\tweak extra-offset #'(X . Y) \orn</code>

Known issues:

* <code>"modernGregorian.ily"</code> does not support midi output.
* <code>\melisma</code> does not follow key signatures.

<lilypond version="2.24.0" full>
%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=973
% => http://lilypond.1069038.n5.nabble.com/kind-of-gregorian-moving-noteheads-tc170995.html
% => http://lilypond.1069038.n5.nabble.com/Hungarian-Gregorian-tc171130.html

%% Works with other sizes:
%#(set-global-staff-size 25)
%#(set-global-staff-size 16)

%%%%% Defs to be saved as "modernGregorian.ily" %%%%%%%%%

%%%% Defining new stem/ligatures:
% long stem
lst = #(define-music-function (mus)
(ly:music?)
#{
\stemDown
\undo\omit Stem
\once\override Stem.length = #7
\once\override Stem.X-extent = #'(.1 . 0)
\once\override NoteHead.stem-attachment = #'(-1.5 . -.1)
$mus
\omit Stem
#})

%long curved ligature
#(define (long-curved-ligature grob)
(if (ly:stencil? (ly:stem::print grob))
(let* ((stencil (ly:stem::print grob))
(X-ext (ly:stencil-extent stencil X))
(Y-ext (ly:stencil-extent stencil Y))
(width (interval-length X-ext))
(len (interval-length Y-ext)))
(ly:stencil-translate
(grob-interpret-markup grob
(markup
(#:path width
(list (list (quote moveto) -0.7 -0.65)
(list (quote curveto) -1.2 -0.4 -1.1 -0.2 -0.9 0.5)
(list (quote curveto) -0.9 0.5 -0.4 2 -0.8 2.2)))))
(cons 0 (interval-start Y-ext))))
#f))

lli = #(define-music-function (mus)
(ly:music?)
#{
\stemUp
\undo\omit Stem
\override Stem.stencil = #long-curved-ligature
$mus
\omit Stem
#})

%medium curved ligature
#(define (medium-curved-ligature grob)
(if (ly:stencil? (ly:stem::print grob))
(let* ((stencil (ly:stem::print grob))
(X-ext (ly:stencil-extent stencil X))
(Y-ext (ly:stencil-extent stencil Y))
(width (interval-length X-ext))
(len (interval-length Y-ext)))
(ly:stencil-translate
(grob-interpret-markup grob
(markup
(#:path width
(list (list (quote moveto) -0.7 -0.65)
(list (quote curveto) -1.2 -0.4 -1.1 -0.2 -0.9 0.5)
(list (quote curveto) -0.9 0.5 -0.4 1.9 -1.4 1.8)))))
(cons 0 (interval-start Y-ext))))
#f))

mli = #(define-music-function (mus)
(ly:music?)
#{
\stemUp
\undo\omit Stem
\override Stem.stencil = #medium-curved-ligature
$mus
\omit Stem
#})

%short curved ligature
#(define (short-curved-ligature grob)
(if (ly:stencil? (ly:stem::print grob))
(let* ((stencil (ly:stem::print grob))
(X-ext (ly:stencil-extent stencil X))
(Y-ext (ly:stencil-extent stencil Y))
(width (interval-length X-ext))
(len (interval-length Y-ext)))
(ly:stencil-translate
(grob-interpret-markup grob
(markup
(#:path width
(list (list (quote moveto) -0.7 -0.65)
(list (quote curveto) -1.2 -0.4 -1.1 -0.2 -1 0.4)
(list (quote curveto) -1 0.4 -0.8 1.5 -1.4 1.3)))))
(cons 0 (interval-start Y-ext))))
#f))

sli = #(define-music-function (mus)
(ly:music?)
#{
\stemUp
\undo\omit Stem
\override Stem.stencil = #short-curved-ligature
$mus
\omit Stem
#})

%tiny curved ligature
#(define (tiny-curved-ligature grob)
(if (ly:stencil? (ly:stem::print grob))
(let* ((stencil (ly:stem::print grob))
(X-ext (ly:stencil-extent stencil X))
(Y-ext (ly:stencil-extent stencil Y))
(width (interval-length X-ext))
(len (interval-length Y-ext)))
(ly:stencil-translate
(grob-interpret-markup grob
(markup
(#:path width
(list (list (quote moveto) -0.7 -0.65)
(list (quote curveto) -1.2 -0.4 -1.1 -0.1 -1 0.2)
(list (quote curveto) -1 0.2 -0.8 0.7 -1.4 0.6)))))
(cons 0 (interval-start Y-ext))))
#f))

tli = #(define-music-function (mus)
(ly:music?)
#{
\stemUp
\undo\omit Stem
\override Stem.stencil = #tiny-curved-ligature
$mus
\omit Stem
#})

%% Ornament function
orn =
-\tweak self-alignment-X #LEFT
-\tweak Y-offset #0.5
-\tweak X-offset #1
-\tweak outside-staff-priority ##f
-\markup
\raise #-.3
\scale #'(1 . .85)
\rotate #90
\musicglyph "ties.lyric.short"

%% Left aligning lyric :
lal = \once\override LyricText.self-alignment-X = #LEFT

%% horizontal inside staff spacer
space =
#(define-music-function
(anzahl)
(number?)
#{
\grace { \repeat unfold #anzahl s }
#})

% Given some music that represents lyrics, add a prefix to the first
% lyric event.
% syntax is \versus { some lyrics }
% resp. \responsum { some lyrics }
#(define (add-prefix-to-lyrics prefix music)
(let ((found? #f))
(map-some-music
(lambda (m)
(if found? m
(and (music-is-of-type? m 'lyric-event)
(begin
(set! (ly:music-property m 'text)
(string-append prefix (ly:music-property m 'text)))
(set! found? #t)
m))))
music)))
% Add unicode 2123 (versicle) as prefix to lyrics.
versus =
#(define-music-function (music) (ly:music?)
(add-prefix-to-lyrics "℣. " music))
% Add unicode 211F (response) as prefix to lyrics.
responsum =
#(define-music-function (music) (ly:music?)
(add-prefix-to-lyrics "℟. " music))

%% Defining notelaces (neume, melisma) and dedicated context:
gregorianContext = {
\cadenzaOn
\omit Clef
\omit TimeSignature
\omit StaffSymbol
\omit Rest
\omit Flag
\omit Beam
\override SpacingSpanner.packed-spacing = ##t
\override NoteHead.stencil =
#(lambda (grob)
(let ((pos (ly:grob-property grob 'staff-position)))
(cond ((= pos -6)
(grob-interpret-markup grob
#{
\markup
\concat {
\with-dimensions #'(0 . 0) #'(0 . 0)
\translate-scaled #'(-.45 . 0)
\override #'(thickness . 2)
\draw-line #'(1.78 . 0)
\hspace #-.21
\musicglyph "noteheads.s2"
\hspace #-.25
}
#}))
((= pos -7)
(grob-interpret-markup grob
#{
\markup
\concat {
\with-dimensions #'(0 . 0) #'(0 . 0)
\override #'(thickness . 2)
\translate-scaled #'(-.45 . .5)
\draw-line #'(1.78 . 0)
\hspace #-.21
\musicglyph "noteheads.s2"
\hspace #-.25
}
#}))
((= pos -8)
(grob-interpret-markup grob
#{
\markup
\concat {
\with-dimensions #'(0 . 0) #'(0 . 0)
\override #'(thickness . 2)
\translate-scaled #'(-.45 . 1)
\draw-line #'(1.78 . 0)
\with-dimensions #'(0 . 0) #'(0 . 0)
\override #'(thickness . 2)
\translate-scaled #'(-.45 . 0)
\draw-line #'(1.78 . 0)
\hspace #-.21
\musicglyph "noteheads.s2"
\hspace #-.25
}
#}))
(else
(grob-interpret-markup grob
#{
\markup
\concat {
\hspace #-.21
\musicglyph "noteheads.s2"
\hspace #-.25
}
#})))))
\override Accidental.extra-offset = #'(-.2 . 0)
%%% TODO: find a fixed ledger line with no dimension
%% see: http://lilypond.1069038.n5.nabble.com/Fixed-ledger-line-width-with-no-dimension-tc172180.html
%\override LedgerLineSpanner.length-fraction = #'() %%% ???
%\override LedgerLineSpanner.minimum-length-fraction = #'() %%% ???
}

neume = #(define-music-function (mus)
(ly:music?)
#{
\once\override NoteHead.stencil = #(lambda (grob)
(grob-interpret-markup grob
#{
\markup\concat {
\hspace #-2
\score {
\transpose c c' { \omit Stem $mus }
\layout {
indent = 0
ragged-right = ##t
\context {
\Score
\gregorianContext
}
}
}
}
#}))
#})

melisma = #(define-music-function (mus)
(ly:music?)
#{
{
\once\override Lyrics.LyricText.self-alignment-X = #LEFT
\neume { $mus }
\omit Accidental
\omit Dots
#(make-music
'NoteEvent
'pitch
(ly:make-pitch -1 6 0)
'duration
(ly:make-duration 2 0 1))
}
#})

% Declare default layout
\layout {
\context {
\Score
\omit TimeSignature
}
}

%%%%%%%%%%%% end of "modernGregorian.ily" %%%%%%%%%

%%%%%%%%%%% Example %%%%%%%%%%%%%%

%\include "modernGregorian.ily"

\header { tagline = ##f }

allelujaStandard = \transpose c c' {
\clef G
\key f\major
\stemDown
\omit Stem
\repeat volta 2 {
f f \undo\omit Stem <g a> a
\once\override Staff.BarLine.bar-extent = #'(0 . 2) \bar "|"
\omit Stem a g \undo\omit Stem <a \tweak extra-offset #'(2.3 . 0) g>
\once\override Stem.extra-offset = #'(-1.3 . -.5) <e f>
\omit Stem g \undo\omit Stem
<f \tweak extra-offset #'(2.3 . 0) e> \omit Stem d d
}
}

allelujaModern = \transpose c c' {
\clef G
\key f\major
\omit Stem
\repeat volta 2 {
f f \melisma { g \lst a } a
\once\override Staff.BarLine.bar-extent = #'(0 . 2) \bar "|"
a g \melisma { \lst a \tli g } \melisma { \lst e f }
g \melisma { \lst f \tli e } d d
}
}

allelujaLyrics = \lyricmode {
\override LyricHyphen.minimum-distance = #5
\override LyricSpace.minimum-distance = #5
A -- le -- lu -- ja.
\repeat unfold 2 { a -- le -- lu -- ja. }
}

\markuplist {
\line { \italic "Some simple modern style Gregorian scores can be achieved using the standard" }
\line { \italic "LilyPond notation although it uses a number of tweaks." }
\vspace #1
}
\score {
<<
\cadenzaOn
\new Voice = Alleluja \allelujaStandard
\new Lyrics \lyricsto Alleluja \allelujaLyrics
>>
\layout {
system-count = 1
ragged-right = ##f
\context {
\Lyrics
\override VerticalAxisGroup.staff-affinity = ##f
}
}
\header {
piece = \markup {
\lower #2.4 \fontsize #8 \bold "551"
\column {
\bold "Alleluja"
"(ÉE 432)"
}
}
}
}

\markuplist {
\italic "... but are much easier to code with 'modernGregorian.ily':"
\vspace #1
}
\score {
<<
\cadenzaOn
\new Voice = Alleluja \allelujaModern
\new Lyrics \lyricsto Alleluja \allelujaLyrics
>>
\layout {
system-count = 1
ragged-right = ##f
\context {
\Lyrics
\override VerticalAxisGroup.staff-affinity = ##f
}
}
\header {
piece = \markup {
\lower #2.4 \fontsize #8 \bold "551"
\column {
\bold "Alleluja"
"(ÉE 432)"
}
}
}
}

zslotar = \transpose c c' {
\clef G
\omit Stem
d d d \melisma { f g \lst a } g -\tweak extra-offset #'(1 . -1) \orn g \melisma { g a \lst c' }
a \melisma { \lst a \tli g a \lst c' \mli g \lst a \tli g \tli f }
\bar "'"
a c' \melisma { \lst c' \tli b \tli a }
\bar ""
}

zslotarLyrics = \lyricmode {
\set stanza = \markup\box\pad-markup #.5 \bold "4b"
Meg -- is -- mer -- tet -- ted
vé -- lem, U -- ram az é -- let
}

\markuplist {
\line { \italic "Now comes a heavier score with some complex neumes..." }
\line { \italic "Not a problem at all for 'modernGregorian.ily':" }
\vspace #1
}
\score {
<<
\cadenzaOn
\new Voice = Zslotar \zslotar
\new Lyrics \lyricsto Zslotar \zslotarLyrics
>>
\layout {
ragged-right = ##f
\context {
\Lyrics
\override VerticalAxisGroup.staff-affinity = ##f
}
}
\header {
piece = \markup\fontsize #4 { \bold "4b." \normal-text "XV. zsoltár" }
}
}

sanctus = \transpose c c' {
\clef G
\key a\major
\omit Stem
\melisma { d \lst e } e
\bar "|"
\melisma {
\lst e \sli c \lst d \tli c \tli b, r d \lst f \tli e
}
\melisma { d \lst e } e
\once\override Staff.BarLine.bar-extent = #'(0 . 2) \bar "|"
\melisma { e \lst g r a \lst b } \melisma { \lst a \tli g \tli f \tli e }
\melisma {
f \lst a \mli e \sli c \lst d \tli c \tli
b, -\tweak extra-offset #'(1 . -2.5) \orn
r r \lst f \tli e f \lst g
} \melisma { \lst f \tli e }
\bar "||"
}

sanctusLyrics = \lyricmode {
mi -- ni.
Ho -- sán -- na in ex -- cél -- sis.
}

\markuplist {
\line { \italic "... even with ledger lines and neumes' ornament:" }
\vspace #1
}
\score {
<<
\cadenzaOn
\new Voice = Sanctus \sanctus
\new Lyrics \lyricsto Sanctus \sanctusLyrics
>>
\layout {
ragged-right = ##f
\context {
\Lyrics
\override VerticalAxisGroup.staff-affinity = ##f
}
}
\header {
piece = \markup {
\fontsize #8 \bold "601"
\fontsize #2
\raise #2.1 {
\bold "Sanctus"
\italic "(GrR VI. mise)"
}
}
}
}

\markup\vspace #2
</lilypond>

[[Category:Staff notation]]
[[Category:Vocal music]]
[[Category:Tweaks and overrides]]
[[Category:Ancient notation]]
[[Category:Specific notation]]