A.1 Built-in templates

Some templates, suitable for a range of choral music, are built into LilyPond. These may be used to create simple choral music, with or without piano accompaniment, in two, four or eight staves. Unlike other templates, these templates are ‘built-in’, which means they do not need to be copied and edited: instead they are simply \include’d in the input file.

The required music expressions are entered by defining values for specific variables. These definitions must come before the \include’d file.

A.1.1 SATB template

The music may be set out with one or two voices per staff by setting TwoVoicesPerStaff to ##f or ##t respectively.

Here’s the complete input file for producing a full four-part SATB arrangement with individual lyrics and piano accompaniment:

SopranoMusic = \relative { a'4\f a8 a a4 a } SopranoLyrics = \lyricmode { Sop -- ra -- no ly -- rics } AltoMusic = \relative { d'4\f d d d } AltoLyrics = \lyricmode { Al -- to ly -- rics } TenorMusic = \relative { a4\p a a a } TenorLyrics = \lyricmode { Te -- nor ly -- rics } BassMusic = \relative { c2\p c4 c } BassLyrics = \lyricmode { Bass ly -- rics } PianoRHMusic = \relative { c' e g c } PianoDynamics = { s2\mp s4 s4 } PianoLHMusic = \relative { c e g c } \include "satb.ly"

The same input can be used to produce a score with two voices per staff just by setting TwoVoicesPerStaff to ##t. Again, each voice has individual lyrics.

SopranoMusic = \relative { a'4\f a8 a a4 a } SopranoLyrics = \lyricmode { Sop -- ra -- no ly -- rics } AltoMusic = \relative { d'4\f d d d } AltoLyrics = \lyricmode { Al -- to ly -- rics } TenorMusic = \relative { a4\p a a a } TenorLyrics = \lyricmode { Te -- nor ly -- rics } BassMusic = \relative { c2\p c4 c } BassLyrics = \lyricmode { Bass ly -- rics } PianoRHMusic = \relative { c' e g c } PianoDynamics = { s2\mp s4 s4 } PianoLHMusic = \relative { c e g c } TwoVoicesPerStaff = ##t \include "satb.ly"

When TwoVoicesPerStaff is set to false or allowed to default, any of the music variables may be omitted to produce arrangements with fewer voices. Here, for example, is how the input file for a Soprano/Bass duet might be written:

SopranoMusic = \relative { c'' c c c } SopranoLyrics = \lyricmode { High voice ly -- rics } BassMusic = \relative { a a a a } BassLyrics = \lyricmode { Low voice ly -- rics } \include "satb.ly"

A second verse or alternative lyrics may be added to each of the parts:

SopranoMusic = \relative { a'4 a a a } SopranoLyricsOne = \lyricmode { \set stanza = "1." Words to verse one } SopranoLyricsTwo = \lyricmode { \set stanza = "2." Words to verse two } \include "satb.ly"

When the lyrics and rhythms are the same for every part, the vocal music is best arranged on two staves with two voices in each. Up to nine verses may be provided. Here’s an unaccompanied example with just three verses.

SopranoMusic = \relative { a' a a a } AltoMusic = \relative { f' f f f } VerseOne = \lyricmode { \set stanza = "1." Words to verse one } VerseTwo = \lyricmode { \set stanza = "2." Words to verse two } VerseThree = \lyricmode { \set stanza = "3." Words to verse three } TenorMusic = \relative { a a a a } BassMusic = \relative { f f f f } TwoVoicesPerStaff = ##t \include "satb.ly"

Other variables may be given values. The key signature and the time signature may be changed from the default:

Key = \key a \major Time = { \time 5/4 \tempo "Allegro" 4 = 144 } SopranoMusic = \relative { gis' gis gis gis gis } AltoMusic = \relative { cis' cis cis cis cis } VerseOne = \lyricmode { Words to this du -- et } TwoVoicesPerStaff = ##t \include "satb.ly"

The instrument names and/or the short instrument names may be changed:

SopranoMusic = \relative { c'' c c c } SopranoLyrics = \lyricmode { High voice ly -- rics } SopranoInstrumentName = "Soprano 1" SopranoShortInstrumentName = "S1" AltoMusic = \relative { a' a a a } AltoLyrics = \lyricmode { Low voice ly -- rics } AltoInstrumentName = "Soprano 2" AltoShortInstrumentName = "S2" \include "satb.ly"

although rather than do this it might be easier to use the ssaattbb.ly template, see SSAATTBB template.

A descant may be added by defining values for the variable DescantMusic and descant lyrics may be provided by defining values for DescantLyrics. In a similar way a solo part may be added above the grouped choir staves by defining values for SoloMusic and SoloLyrics.

\header and \paper blocks may be added as normal. A \layout block may be provided as usual at top level, and the contents will be combined with (but will not override) the default settings provided in the template. Alternatively, all the default settings provided by the template can be discarded by defining a Layout variable containing all the required settings:

Layout = \layout { ... }

The complete set of variables which may be changed can be seen by examining the file ‘ly/satb.ly’, see Other sources of information.

See also

Learning Manual: Organizing pieces with variables, Vocal ensembles templates, Extending the templates, Other sources of information.

Known issues and warnings

The setting of the TwoVoicesPerStaff variable applies for the entire duration of the score: it cannot be given different values at different times.

More complex arrangements of SATB choral music are not possible with this simple built-in template.

A.1.2 SSAATTBB template

All the variables defined for the SATB template, with the exception of the VerseXxx variables, are also available for the SSAATTBB template, see SATB template. In addition, music and lyrics for first and second voices in any or all of the four parts may be specified by providing values for SopranoOneMusic, SopranoTwoMusic, etc, with lyrics in SopranoOneLyrics and SopranoTwoLyrics, etc. Up to four additional stanzas may be defined for all the voice parts by using the variables SopranoOneLyricsOne, with the others defined in an analogous way.

Setting TwoVoicesPerStaff to ##t will cause all voice parts to be placed on single staves as divisi voices. If TwoVoicesPerStaff is left to default or set to ##f then individual voice parts may be set on one or two staves according to the setting of SopranoTwoVoicesPerStaff, MenTwoVoicesPerStaff, etc.

As an example, suppose we have a piece for soprano and alto which begins with all voices in unison, progresses to a section with two parts, soprano and alto, and ends with a four-part section. This would be coded like this:

Time = { s1 \break s1 \break } WomenMusic = \relative { a'4 a a a } WomenLyrics = \lyricmode { Wo -- men ly -- rics } SopranoMusic = \relative { s1 | c''4 c c c8 c } SopranoLyrics = \lyricmode{ So -- pra -- no ly -- rics } AltoMusic = \relative { s1 | g'4 g g g } AltoLyrics = \lyricmode { Al -- to ly -- rics } SopranoOneMusic = \relative { s1 | s1 |e''4 e e e } SopranoOneLyrics = \lyricmode { Sop One ly -- rics } SopranoTwoMusic = \relative { s1 | s1 | c''4 c c c } SopranoTwoLyrics = \lyricmode { Sop Two ly -- rics } AltoOneMusic = \relative { s1 | s1 | g'4 g g g8 g } AltoOneLyrics = \lyricmode { Al -- to One ly -- rics } AltoTwoMusic = \relative { s1 | s1 | e'4 e e e8 e } AltoTwoLyrics = \lyricmode { Al -- to Two ly -- rics } \layout { ragged-right = ##t } \include "ssaattbb.ly"

Male voices may be added in an analogous way.

To change the layout so that the divisi soprano voices use a shared staff, we simply set SopranoTwoVoicesPerStaff to ##t, leaving all other variables unchanged, like this:

SopranoTwoVoicesPerStaff = ##t Time = { s1 \break s1 \break } WomenMusic = \relative { a'4 a a a } WomenLyrics = \lyricmode { Wo -- men ly -- rics } SopranoMusic = \relative { s1 | c''4 c c c8 c } SopranoLyrics = \lyricmode{ So -- pra -- no ly -- rics } AltoMusic = \relative { s1 | g'4 g g g } AltoLyrics = \lyricmode { Al -- to ly -- rics } SopranoOneMusic = \relative { s1 | s1 |e''4 e e e } SopranoOneLyrics = \lyricmode { Sop One ly -- rics } SopranoTwoMusic = \relative { s1 | s1 | c''4 c c c } SopranoTwoLyrics = \lyricmode { Sop Two ly -- rics } AltoOneMusic = \relative { s1 | s1 | g'4 g g g8 g } AltoOneLyrics = \lyricmode { Al -- to One ly -- rics } AltoTwoMusic = \relative { s1 | s1 | e'4 e e e8 e } AltoTwoLyrics = \lyricmode { Al -- to Two ly -- rics } \layout { ragged-right = ##t } \include "ssaattbb.ly"

or, to make all paired voices share a single staff, set TwoVoicesPerStaff to ##t:

TwoVoicesPerStaff = ##t Time = { s1 \break s1 \break } WomenMusic = \relative { a'4 a a a } WomenLyrics = \lyricmode { Wo -- men ly -- rics } SopranoMusic = \relative { s1 | c''4 c c c8 c } SopranoLyrics = \lyricmode{ So -- pra -- no ly -- rics } AltoMusic = \relative { s1 | g'4 g g g } AltoLyrics = \lyricmode { Al -- to ly -- rics } SopranoOneMusic = \relative { s1 | s1 |e''4 e e e } SopranoOneLyrics = \lyricmode { Sop One ly -- rics } SopranoTwoMusic = \relative { s1 | s1 | c''4 c c c } SopranoTwoLyrics = \lyricmode { Sop Two ly -- rics } AltoOneMusic = \relative { s1 | s1 | g'4 g g g8 g } AltoOneLyrics = \lyricmode { Al -- to One ly -- rics } AltoTwoMusic = \relative { s1 | s1 | e'4 e e e8 e } AltoTwoLyrics = \lyricmode { Al -- to Two ly -- rics } \layout { ragged-right = ##t } \include "ssaattbb.ly"

The complete set of variables which may be changed can be seen by examining the file ‘ly/ssaattbb.ly’, see Other sources of information.

See also

Learning Manual: Organizing pieces with variables, Vocal ensembles templates, Extending the templates, Other sources of information.

Known issues and warnings

The setting of the various ...TwoVoicesPerStaff variables apply for the entire duration of the score: they cannot be given different values at different times.

More complex arrangements of 8-part choral music are not possible with this simple built-in template.

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