Mats Bengtsson wrote:
>
> I've typeset quite much figured base using Lilypond.
> One possibility, mentioned by Christian is to use a
> lyrics line, however, I've mostly used ordinary text
> scripts attached to the notes. See for example the
> file mutopia/gallina.ly included in the distribution.
> (I chose to put the figures above the base line as
> was normally done in the original manuscripts. If you
> want them below, just replace the '^' with underscores.)
> What's missing at the moment, is font symbols for the
> numbers with a slash to indicate chromatic modifications.
> However, if you implement TeX macros which produce
> the symbols, you could use them directly in Lilypond.
> Also, if there's a demand, it's not difficult to
> add those symbols to the Lilypond fonts.
>
> I'm not sure what more support Christian would want
> in Lilypond. Of course, we could do some version of
> the chord name engraver, but since it's virtually
> impossible to translate from the chord to the
> figures in a unique way, I don't see how to do it.
>
I agree that a figured bass support should not be based on the chord
name engraver. It's not even *virtually* but *principally* impossible to
do that because thorough relies so heavily on conventions and the
continuo player's deep knowledge of chords. Quite a lot of baroque
scores are only very sparcely figured (if at all) by the composers.
If one follows the convention of adding the figures above the bass staff
Mats's method is OK. But most modern editions actually place the figures
below the staff. This is even necessary if one adds a harpsichord
realization of the thorough bass (see for example my typesetting
ftp://ftp.gmd.de/music/scores/roman/triosonata/trsg.ps). What I miss is
an automatic vertical alignement (per staff) of the figures relative to
the current lowest bass note. If you look at the above mentioned score
you'll notice that a basso part will tend to go very low sometimes
making a vertical displacement af the figures necessary. What I would
also like to see is a way of notating the figures simular to chords, for
example <6 #4 2>.
--
Christian Mondrup, Computer Programmer
Scandiatransplant, Skejby Hospital, University Hospital of Aarhus
Brendstrupgaardsvej, DK 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
Phone: +45 89 49 53 01
