lilypond

music engraving program that compiles text-based notation into sheet music

TLDR

Compile a score to PDF (default)

$ lilypond [score.ly]

Explicitly select PDF output

$ lilypond --pdf [score.ly]

Output PNG images (one per page)

$ lilypond --png [score.ly]

Output PostScript

$ lilypond --ps [score.ly]

Output SVG (uses the SVG backend)

$ lilypond -dbackend=svg [score.ly]

Write output to a directory with custom file prefix

$ lilypond -o [output/name] [score.ly]

Add an include path for shared library files

$ lilypond -I [/path/to/includes] [score.ly]

Disable point-and-click for distributable PDFs

$ lilypond -dno-point-and-click [score.ly]

Typeset a score found inside LaTeX (via lilypond-book)

$ lilypond-book [document.lytex]

LilyPond compiles a plain-text description of music into engraved sheet music of publication quality. It was inspired by TeX's approach to typography: the user writes logical content (notes, rhythms, lyrics, dynamics) and LilyPond handles spacing, beaming, page breaks, and collision avoidance.The same source file can target PDF, PostScript, SVG, or PNG. Backends are chosen via `-dbackend=`. Related tools:- lilypond-book — embed `.ly` snippets inside LaTeX/HTML/DocBook and render them inline.- midi2ly / abc2ly / musicxml2ly — convert other formats into LilyPond source.- convert-ly — upgrade older `.ly` syntax to match the current compiler.

PARAMETERS

FILE

LilyPond source file (`.ly`). Multiple files may be given; each is processed independently.

--pdf

Generate PDF output (default when no backend is specified).

--png

Generate PNG images (one per page).

--ps

Generate PostScript. Implied by `--pdf`.

-f, --format=FORMAT

Alternative syntax for output format (`pdf`, `ps`, `png`, `svg`).

-o, --output=FILE

Output file prefix (or directory). `.pdf`/`.png`/`.ps` is appended.

-I, --include=DIR

Add DIR to the include search path. Can be repeated.

-dSETTING[=VALUE]

Set a `ly:set-option` program option. Examples: `-dbackend=svg`, `-dno-point-and-click`, `-dpreview`, `-ddelete-intermediate-files`, `-dcrop`, `-dembed-source-code`.

-e, --evaluate=EXPR

Evaluate EXPR as Scheme before reading the `.ly` file.

-j, --jail=USER,GROUP,JAIL,DIR

Run in a chroot jail (useful for server deployments).

-s, --silent

Suppress progress messages.

-V, --verbose

Verbose output (prints each file being read).

-w, --warranty

Show warranty / GPL info.

-v, --version

Show version.

-h, --help

Show help.

COMMON -d OPTIONS

-dno-point-and-click

Disable point-and-click links in the PDF. Recommended for anything you publish — point-and-click embeds absolute paths from your machine.

-dpreview

Render only the first system, as a "preview" PNG/PDF.

-dcrop

Produce a cropped PDF/PNG around the music only.

-dbackend=NAME

Select a backend: `ps` (default), `svg`, `scm`, `null`.

-ddelete-intermediate-files

Delete `.ps` / `-systems.*` files after PDF generation.

-dembed-source-code

Embed the `.ly` source inside the output PDF.

INSTALL

sudo apt install lilypond

sudo dnf install lilypond

sudo pacman -S lilypond

sudo apk add lilypond

sudo zypper install lilypond

brew install lilypond

nix profile install nixpkgs#lilypond

CAVEATS

Significant learning curve — the input language is rich and unlike WYSIWYG tools. Builds can be slow on large scores; use `-dpreview` during editing. Always pass `-dno-point-and-click` before sharing PDFs to avoid leaking filesystem paths.

HISTORY

LilyPond was started in 1996 by Han-Wen Nienhuys and Jan Nieuwenhuizen, inspired by TeX's typographic quality and MusiXTeX's music input language. It is now a GNU project distributed under the GPL and written in C++ and Scheme (GNU Guile).