Re: Absolute Beginners

[Manuel]

Am 25/12/2006 um 16:36 schrieb Geoff Horton:

> > If you are using a Mac, be glad and open a new LilyPond window.
>
> I'm not quite sure what you're trying to say here, but "be glad and
> open a new LilyPond window" is not a very idiomatic English
> expression. Perhaps you meant, "please open a new LilyPond window"?

After reading about the grief some Windows users were getting through  
(no offense intended) I added this in the sense of "be glad you are  
on a Mac". It was only a joke, and I have removed it.

> > Then write this inside:
>
> "type" instead of "write"?

Done.


> > The so-called "curly braces"
> <snip>
> > are essential. You must always write your music inside such brackets.
>
> It would be better to call them "brackets" or "braces" consistently,
> rather than switching.

Of course you are right. I have now put "brackets" everywhere.


> > Then, LilyPond has certain pre-set values, called "defaults", which
> > will apply whenever you do not ask for something different.
>
> Stylistically, I would drop the "Then," here.

I will.


> > You can, of course, change these and all other defaults, indeed you
> > can engrave old plainchant, contemporary notation, orchestral scores,
> > do MIDI files, and more.
>
> This is a comma-spliced sentence--it contains two independent clauses
> without a conjunction. Either insert a period/full stop after
> "defaults" and capitalize "Indeed", or change the comma after
> "defaults" to a semicolon: "defaults; indeed"

I will do so.


> > In our example, we have written each note with an octave
> > denomination: one apostrophe:
>
> "Octave denomination" is clear only if one only knows what it means
> already. Can you rewrite this paragraph?

I can try, but I'm not sure here. Could you perhaps suggest a term to  
substitute for "denomination"?

> > You can analyze the exercise and see that a third has been preferred
> > to a sixth, a fourth to a fifth, etc.
>
> This also is confusing. I know what you mean, but it doesn't come out
> clearly. Perhaps pointing out a specific instance in the example where
> the behavior is different with \relative than without it would be
> better.

I think you are right. I will change it.


> > Don't worry just yet about the naturals. We'll come to it in a  
> > moment.
>
> It is not clear from the context what "it" refers to in the second  
> sentence.

I'll try and better that.


> > You change the clef changing the denomination "treble" for
>
> You're using "denomination" here (and elsewhere) in a way that is not
> common in English.

Would you please suggest an appropiate term?


> > You can amuse yourself writing all possible and also impossible
> > examples of simple melodies, and see what happens. Don't worry,
> > whatever you type, you can't break it...
>
> What does "it" refer to?

The program: like saying, "you'll break no bones if you do".


> > Working fine? Then let's go for sharps and flats. Just name the  
> > notes:
>
> In this section: If you're writing for native English speakers, I
> would also teach the use of \include "english.ly" and use the English
> notation for sharps and flats; I would venture to guess that most
> amateur English-speaking musicians do not know what "is" and "es"
> mean.

I have no knowledge whatsoever of the \include command, not of  
english.ly

As a matter of fact, I would try to write for the international  
reader, respecting the language, but trying to keep it short and  
easy. I have now added some clarification.

I'll be posting the changed text as soon I can.

Manuel