Re: Should \partial accept music instead of duration?

[Aaron Hill]

On 2022-03-20 1:13 am, Leo Correia de Verdier wrote:
> Entirely replacing the actual syntax would not be desirable in my
> opinion. Consider the case when it is used in a “global” part/variable
> in an orchestral score that usually contains rehearsal marks, tempo,
> key and time signature changes and such. As I understand it having
> \partial to accept only music as argument would have to move to each
> part, which would introduce unnecessary typing and disrupt the logic
> of the structure. Sure it can be worked around, but I would see it as
> a step backwards. Or have I misunderstood?

All of those things *are* music, as far as LilyPond is concerned.  It is 
just that commands like \tempo have no duration, so the following is 
nonsensical since the music has zero length:

   \partial \tempo 4 = 90

Your "global" variable likely uses spacer rests which are providing the 
length information, so the change to \partial usage ultimately looks 
like this:

   \partial 4 s4   =>   \partial s4

This removes the otherwise redundant specification of the duration.


-- Aaron Hill