Structure of multipiece and multipart scores

[TIM HUCKER]

I'm engraving a band arrangement (using Lilypond 2.2.2) for up to 7 parts, with 2 separate pieces running one into the other.

The basic layout of my .ly file is below. The third part can be played as one or 2 separate parts, depending on numbers and ability of the players.

Firstly:
Is this the best way of putting the 2 pieces together? The printed output is fine, though I don't get a midi file which would be useful.

Secondly:
The thirds parts generate around 40 instances of "warning: Too many clashing notecolumns.  Ignoring them.:" in the log file. Is this a problem? Is there a better way of achieving the same effect? I've tried using the model in satb.ly but it brings other problems with it.

Thirdly:
Lilypond prints the first line of 6 voices on the first page on its own, then prints subsequent pages with 2 lines on each, which looks clumsy. I've tried using

\paper {\context {\StaffContext minimumVerticalExtent = #'(-3 . 3)}}}

to reduce the spacing of the staves, but to no effect. I wonder if I'm putting it in the wrong place - can anyone advise where best to put it?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Tim Hucker

\header {
 Title = "Title"
 piece = "BBBD"
 }

\score   {

  << 
  \context StaffGroup <<
  \context Staff = I <<
   \set Staff.instrument = #"1"
   \set Staff.instr = #"1"
   \FirstBBBD
  >>
  \context Staff = II <<
   \set Staff.instrument = #"2"
   \set Staff.instr = #"2"
   \SecondBBBD
  >>  
  \context Staff = III <<
   \set Staff.instrument = #"3"
   \set Staff.instr = #"3"
   \ThirdBBBD
   \Third2BBBD

  >>
  \context Staff = IV <<
   \set Staff.instrument = #"4"
   \set Staff.instr = #"4"
   \FourthBBBD
  >>
  \context Staff = V <<
   \set Staff.instrument = #"5"
   \set Staff.instr = #"5"
   \FifthBBBD
  >>
  \context Staff = VI <<
   \set Staff.instrument = #"6"
   \set Staff.instr = #"6"
   \SixthBBBD
  >>
  >>
  >>
   }
\header  {
 piece = "AG"
  }
\score   {

  << 
  \context StaffGroup <<
  \context Staff = I <<
   \set Staff.instrument = #"1"
   \set Staff.instr = #"1"
   \FirstAG
  >>
  \context Staff = II <<
   \set Staff.instrument = #"2"
   \set Staff.instr = #"2"
   \SecondAG
  >>  
  \context Staff = III <<
   \set Staff.instrument = #"3"
   \set Staff.instr = #"3"
   \ThirdAG
   \Third2AG
  >>
  \context Staff = IV <<
   \set Staff.instrument = #"4"
   \set Staff.instr = #"4"
   \FourthAG
  >>
  \context Staff = V <<
   \set Staff.instrument = #"5"
   \set Staff.instr = #"5"
   \FifthAG
  >>
  \context Staff = VI <<
   \set Staff.instrument = #"6"
   \set Staff.instr = #"6"
   \SixthAG
  >>
  >>
  >>
}
\midi { }
\paper { }
   

---

 ALL-NEW 
Yahoo! Messenger 
- all new features - even more fun!