note tweaks for variations in small size

[Han-Wen Nienhuys]

address@hidden writes:
> Hi,
> 
> I want to typeset a couple of transcribed songs[1], and many of them
> contain variations of short sequences of notes or even single notes.
> In the original manuscript, those are set in a smaller type.
> Sometimes the variation is put as another, smaller note-head on the
> same stem as the main note, and sometimes it has its own stem
> (dependent on how far the pitch is apart and if the value is the
> same).
> 
> I have tried to do the same in lilypond, and it turns out to be
> extra-ordinarly hard.

There should probably be a mechanism to do this neatly (entering the
alternate voice separately), but here is a quick hack for starters.


#(define ((set-position-font-size pos size) grob origin current)
  (let*
      (
       (ifs (ly:grob-property grob 'interfaces))
       (sp (ly:grob-property grob 'staff-position))
       )
  (if (and (memq 'note-head-interface ifs)
           (= pos sp))
      (set! (ly:grob-property grob 'font-size) size))))

\score { \relative c' {
    c
    \applyoutput #(set-position-font-size -2 4)
    <c e g>
    }}

-- 

 Han-Wen Nienhuys   |   address@hidden   |   http://www.xs4all.nl/~hanwen