Joy to the World Duet

I guess it's about time I got ready for Christmas.  If you want to play a duet for your church, Joy to the World is always a good option. If you do play it, please record it and send me a link!

Download PDF - Joy to the World Duet

LilyPond Source- Joy to the World Duet

The Old Rugged Cross

Download PDF - The Old Rugged Cross

Download LilyPond -The Old Rugged Cross

Learning LilyPond: Seriously, Text Input Will Not Kill You

Dark Age Computing

The first stumbling block that many people encounter with LilyPond is text input, no GUI (graphical user interface). It's too bad that this one fact would drive so many people away. Just because it doesn't have shiny buttons or drag-and-drop shouldn't make you give up on something great! It's time to loose yourself from the shackles of GUIs and embrace the stark beauty that is text.

Your First Step to Freedom

Remember, if you're going to learn something, you just have to dive in and do it! If you're just starting to learn Lilypond, look through the introductory notes in the documentation. It's not like you're taking a test on the material, so don't try to memorize all this. Just try to familiarize yourself with the input and general development flow.

After you see the introduction to LilyPond, download some files and typeset them. There's sample files all through the documentation, or you can just download my files and try them yourself. Once you have some files, try modifying them to transcribe your own files. As you practice, you'll learn what the commands mean and which ones you need.

I Want to Do X in LilyPond, But I Don't Know How

The documentation is not particularly easy to navigate, so you use plan B: google it (which is actually plan A for most of my life). The all-knowing google will tell you whatever you want to know. Just type in "lilypond grace note" or "lilypond pickup" or "lilypond medieval style" or whatever you want to know and you'll be on your way.

So grab a few LilyPond files, start transcribing some music, and enjoy the freedom of text!

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Download PDF: What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Lilypond Source: What a Friend We Have in Jesus

What is LilyPond and why do I care?

What It Is


This is the description from the official website:

LilyPond is a music engraving program, devoted to producing the highest-quality sheet music possible. It brings the aesthetics of traditionally engraved music to computer printouts.

 LilyPond is a free, open-source software package that lets users create awesome looking sheet music. Though it won't cost you any money, be prepared to spend some time learning how to use this program. All input is done through text files, not GUI's like in commercial, high-end software.

Why do I care?

First of all, IT'S FREE. That's got to be a good reason to care. Sure, I'd like to have a copy of Finale, but that costs $120 for the sheet music software, with the full package at $600! I'm a grad student, so that money is all spent on ramen and coffee. So learn something new and save some money.

Though this can be harder to learn, it can be much faster to input once you learn the system (assuming your don't hen peck your keyboard).  Each note can take from one to five characters to enter, in general. With practice, you will be able to get a first draft out in no time.

The last, and arguably the best, reason: the output looks great. The developers put in a ton of effort so that you don't have to. They provided a lengthy discussion about the by-gone days of hand engraving, and the poor replacement that computer generated music has been here.

Go check out LilyPond and start making music!

I Love to Tell the Story

This is one of my all-time favorite songs. Enjoy!

I'd like to get duet music together for this song. If you play it as a duet, please send me a link!

Download PDF: I Love to Tell the Story

Lilypond Source: I Love to Tell the Story

Sweet Hour of Prayer

PDF version: Sweet Hour of Prayer - PDF

Lilypond file: Sweet Hour of Prayer - Lilypond

Introduction

I've started this blog to bring together sheet music for the violin. The music is focused, for now, on hymns. I've found it difficult to find sheet music when playing hymns that are in a key that I feel comfortable with, so I had to start making my own using Lilypond (a software package that "engraves" the music and easily transposes the key). Thinking that others may benefit from this, I've decided to put the music on this blog for others to use.

If you happen to find errors in the music, please let me know so that I can correct it. Also, if you play a variation of a hymn or play a duets, I'd love to see it! If you have music (handwritten or otherwise) that others might like, please email me. If you don't have sheet music, then record a video, post it on YouTube, and send me link.