Re: Do we really offer the future?

[Kieren MacMillan]

Hi Urs,

> this seems a good idea, but not for my original question.

Fair point.

> If you could find the time to put together a list of arguments (or maybe a 
> nice blog post) why a *composer* should use LilyPond this would also be very 
> helpful.

I would *love* to do that — a blog post sounds like the best approach (for 
maximum visibility/distribution). I might even “simulcast” it on my own 
website! Once I get my current scores out the door, I’ll move this up on the 
priority list.

> For this kind of people it seems most important to get their music into the 
> score as quickly and easily as possible. I'm thinking of composers who *do* 
> need performance material but who do not necessarily need publication 
> quality, just the one necessary for people to play from the material.

That’s a huge audience, of course. That being said, I will always whip out my 
trump card: at 7:30PM on the opening night of “Robin Hood”, I ran into the 
theatre office, pointed their browser at lilybin.com, and cranked out an 
engraved piccolo part for the Overture which the player sight-read at 8PM. That 
was pretty "quick and easy”, all things considered.  ;)

> Sounds reasonable.
> I think I've identified (or was told) the following use cases:
> - producing scores "for the day" - editions without specialized demands and 
> not necessarily intended for extra-long maintainment.
> - producing scores on short notice, e.g. performance material when the 
> composer delivers too late
> - process existing material (either from the archives or from heterogenous 
> contributors' systems)
> - scholarly editions and edition series with a long-term horizon.

I think, as (if?) this discussion moves forward, it will be critical to lay out 
the use cases — a Venn diagram might actually be a useful tool here! — and see 
which are viable targets for attack.

Best,
Kieren.
________________________________

Kieren MacMillan, composer
‣ website: www.kierenmacmillan.info
‣ email: address@hidden