Re: Multiple tempos at the same time and midi playback?

[DJF]

On Dec 13, 2018, at 7:33 AM, Yakir Arbib <address@hidden> wrote:
> 
> I write modern classical music in which each instrument has its' own
> separate tempo.  My question is, do you think it's possible to write
> something like that in LilyPond using separate tempo commands for each
> staff?
> 

To get a separate tempo marking in each staff, you would, in a \layout block, 
remove the Metronome_mark_engraver from the Score level, and add it to the 
Staff level. Because you’re new to LilyPond, I’ve attached a little longer and 
more complete example than usual and also included its contents below.

I would hasten to add that this is a visual fix only—the various tempi will not 
be rendered in MIDI playback. If you add a \midi { } line at the end of the 
\score block, it will use the last metronome mark (in the example below, 4 = 
110) as its tempo for all the parts. Someone more knowledgable than I will have 
to tell you if it's even possible to get separate tempi rendered 
simultaneously. I suspect not.

I hope this is helpful.

Dan

%%%%%

\version "2.19.80"

\layout {
  \context {
    \Staff
    \consists "Metronome_mark_engraver"
  }
  \context {
    \Score
    \remove "Metronome_mark_engraver"
  }
}

violin = \relative c'' {
  \key c \major
  \time 4/4
  \tempo 4 = 90
  a4 a a a
}

viola = \relative c' {
  \tempo 4 = 60
    a4 a a a
}

cello = \relative c {
  \tempo 4 = 120
    a4 a a a
}

contrabass = \relative c {
    \tempo 4 = 110
    a4 a a a 
}

violinPart = \new Staff \with {
  instrumentName = "Violin"
} \violin

violaPart = \new Staff \with {
  instrumentName = "Viola"
} { \clef alto \viola }

celloPart = \new Staff \with {
  instrumentName = "Cello"
 } { \clef bass \cello }

contrabassPart = \new Staff \with {
  instrumentName = "Contrabass"
} { \clef bass \contrabass }

\score {
  <<
    \violinPart
    \violaPart
    \celloPart
    \contrabassPart
  >>
}
%%%%%

tempo test.ly
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