A.1.1 SATB template (LilyPond Learning Manual)

#### A.1.1 SATB template

The music may be set out with one or two voices per staff by setting `TwoVoicesPerStaff` to `##f` or `##t`, respectively.

Here’s the complete input file for producing a full four-part SATB arrangement with individual lyrics and piano accompaniment:

>     SopranoMusic = \relative { a'4\f a8 a a4 a }
>     SopranoLyrics = \lyricmode { Sop -- ra -- no ly -- rics }
>     AltoMusic = \relative { d'4\f d d d }
>     AltoLyrics = \lyricmode { Al -- to ly -- rics }
>     TenorMusic = \relative { a4\p a a a }
>     TenorLyrics = \lyricmode { Te -- nor ly -- rics }
>     BassMusic = \relative { c2\p c4 c }
>     BassLyrics = \lyricmode { Bass ly -- rics }
>     PianoRHMusic = \relative { c' e g c }
>     PianoDynamics = { s2\mp s4 s4 }
>     PianoLHMusic = \relative { c e g c }
>     \include "satb.ly"

The same input can be used to produce a score with two voices per staff just by setting `TwoVoicesPerStaff` to `##t`. Again, each voice has individual lyrics.

>     SopranoMusic = \relative { a'4\f a8 a a4 a }
>     SopranoLyrics = \lyricmode { Sop -- ra -- no ly -- rics }
>     AltoMusic = \relative { d'4\f d d d }
>     AltoLyrics = \lyricmode { Al -- to ly -- rics }
>     TenorMusic = \relative { a4\p a a a }
>     TenorLyrics = \lyricmode { Te -- nor ly -- rics }
>     BassMusic = \relative { c2\p c4 c }
>     BassLyrics = \lyricmode { Bass ly -- rics }
>     PianoRHMusic = \relative { c' e g c }
>     PianoDynamics = { s2\mp s4 s4 }
>     PianoLHMusic = \relative { c e g c }
>     TwoVoicesPerStaff = ##t
>     \include "satb.ly"

When `TwoVoicesPerStaff` is set to `#f` (false) or allowed to default, any of the music variables may be omitted to produce arrangements with fewer voices. Here, for example, is how the input file for a Soprano-Bass duet might be written:

>     SopranoMusic = \relative { c'' c c c }
>     SopranoLyrics = \lyricmode { High voice ly -- rics }
>     BassMusic = \relative { a a a a }
>     BassLyrics = \lyricmode { Low voice ly -- rics }
>     \include "satb.ly"

A second verse or alternative lyrics may be added to each of the parts:

>     SopranoMusic = \relative { a'4 a a a }
>     SopranoLyricsOne = \lyricmode {
>       \set stanza = "1."
>       Words to verse one
>     }
>     SopranoLyricsTwo = \lyricmode {
>       \set stanza = "2."
>       Words to verse two
>     }
>     \include "satb.ly"

When the lyrics and rhythms are the same for every part, the vocal music is best arranged on two staves with two voices in each. Up to nine verses may be provided. Here’s an unaccompanied example with just three verses.

>     SopranoMusic = \relative { a' a a a }
>     AltoMusic = \relative { f' f f f }
>     VerseOne = \lyricmode {
>       \set stanza = "1."
>       Words to verse one
>     }
>     VerseTwo = \lyricmode {
>       \set stanza = "2."
>       Words to verse two
>     }
>     VerseThree = \lyricmode {
>       \set stanza = "3."
>       Words to verse three
>     }
>     TenorMusic = \relative { a a a a }
>     BassMusic = \relative { f f f f }
>     TwoVoicesPerStaff = ##t
>     \include "satb.ly"

Other variables may be given values. The key signature and the time signature may be changed from the default:

>     Key = \key a \major
>     Time = {
>       \time 5/4
>       \tempo "Allegro" 4 = 144
>     }
>     SopranoMusic = \relative { gis' gis gis gis gis }
>     AltoMusic = \relative { cis' cis cis cis cis }
>     VerseOne = \lyricmode { Words to this du -- et }
>     TwoVoicesPerStaff = ##t
>     \include "satb.ly"

The instrument names and/or the short instrument names may be changed:

>     SopranoMusic = \relative { c'' c c c }
>     SopranoLyrics = \lyricmode { High voice ly -- rics }
>     SopranoInstrumentName = "Soprano 1"
>     SopranoShortInstrumentName = "S1"
>     AltoMusic = \relative { a' a a a }
>     AltoLyrics = \lyricmode { Low voice ly -- rics }
>     AltoInstrumentName = "Soprano 2"
>     AltoShortInstrumentName = "S2"
>     \include "satb.ly"

although rather than doing this it might be easier to use the `ssaattbb.ly` template, see SSAATTBB template.

A descant may be added by defining values for the variable `DescantMusic` and descant lyrics may be provided by defining values for `DescantLyrics`. In a similar way a solo part may be added above the grouped choir staves by defining values for `SoloMusic` and `SoloLyrics`.

`\header` and `\paper` blocks may be added as normal. A `\layout` block may be provided as usual at top level, and the contents will be combined with (but will not override) the default settings provided in the template. Alternatively, all the default settings provided by the template can be discarded by defining a `Layout` variable containing all the required settings:

    Layout = \layout { ... }

The complete set of variables which may be changed can be seen by examining the file `ly/satb.ly`, see Other sources of information.

#### See also

Learning Manual: Organizing pieces with variables, Vocal ensembles templates, Extending the templates, Other sources of information.

#### Known issues and warnings

The setting of the `TwoVoicesPerStaff` variable applies for the entire duration of the score: it cannot be given different values at different times.

More complex arrangements of SATB choral music are not possible with this simple built-in template.

#### LilyPond Learning Manual v2.26.0 (stable-branch).

- 1 Installing
  - 1.1 Graphical setup
  - 1.2 Command line setup
- 2 Tutorial
  - 2.1 Compiling a file
  - 2.2 How to write input files
    - 2.2.1 Input characters
    - 2.2.2 Simple notation
      - Pitches
      - Durations (rhythms)
      - Rests
      - Time signature
      - Tempo marks
      - Clef
      - All together
    - 2.2.3 Working on input files
  - 2.3 Dealing with errors
  - 2.4 How to read the manuals
    - 2.4.1 Omitted material
    - 2.4.2 Clickable examples
    - 2.4.3 Overview of manuals
- 3 Common notation
  - 3.1 Single-staff notation
    - 3.1.1 Bar lines and bar checks
      - Bar lines
      - Bar checks
    - 3.1.2 Pitches and key signatures
      - Pitch alterations
      - Key signatures
      - Warning: key signatures and pitches
    - 3.1.3 Ties and slurs
      - Ties
      - Slurs
      - Phrasing slurs
      - Warnings: slurs vs. ties
    - 3.1.4 Articulations and dynamics
      - Articulations
      - Fingerings
      - Dynamics
    - 3.1.5 Adding text
    - 3.1.6 Automatic and manual beams
    - 3.1.7 Advanced rhythmic commands
      - Partial measure
      - Tuplets
      - Grace notes
  - 3.2 Multiple notes at once
    - 3.2.1 Music expressions explained
      - Analogy: mathematical expressions
      - Simultaneous music expressions: multiple staves
      - Simultaneous music expressions: single-staff
    - 3.2.2 Multiple staves
    - 3.2.3 Staff groups
    - 3.2.4 Combining notes into chords
    - 3.2.5 Single-staff polyphony
  - 3.3 Songs
    - 3.3.1 Setting simple songs
    - 3.3.2 Aligning lyrics to a melody
    - 3.3.3 Lyrics to multiple staves
  - 3.4 Final touches
    - 3.4.1 Organizing pieces with variables
    - 3.4.2 Adding titles
    - 3.4.3 Absolute note names
    - 3.4.4 After the tutorial
- 4 Fundamental concepts
  - 4.1 How LilyPond input files work
    - 4.1.1 Introduction to the LilyPond file structure
    - 4.1.2 A score is a (single) compound musical expression
    - 4.1.3 Nesting music expressions
    - 4.1.4 Structure of a note entry
    - 4.1.5 On the un-nestedness of brackets and ties
  - 4.2 Voices contain music
    - 4.2.1 I’m hearing voices
    - 4.2.2 Explicitly instantiating voices
    - 4.2.3 Voices and vocals
  - 4.3 Contexts and engravers
    - 4.3.1 Contexts explained
    - 4.3.2 Creating contexts
    - 4.3.3 Engravers explained
    - 4.3.4 Modifying context properties
    - 4.3.5 Adding and removing engravers
  - 4.4 Extending the templates
    - 4.4.1 Soprano and cello
    - 4.4.2 Four-part SATB vocal score
    - 4.4.3 Building a score from scratch
    - 4.4.4 Saving typing with variables and functions
    - 4.4.5 Scores and parts
- 5 Tweaking output
  - 5.1 Tweaking basics
    - 5.1.1 Objects and interfaces
    - 5.1.2 Naming conventions of objects and properties
    - 5.1.3 Tweaking methods
      - The `\override` command
      - The `\revert` command
      - The `\once` prefix
      - The `\tweak` and `\offset` commands
      - The `\single` prefix
  - 5.2 The Internals Reference manual
    - 5.2.1 Properties of layout objects
    - 5.2.2 Properties found in interfaces
    - 5.2.3 Types of properties
  - 5.3 Appearance of objects
    - 5.3.1 Visibility and color of objects
      - The `stencil` property
      - The `break-visibility` property
      - The `transparent` property
      - The `color` property
    - 5.3.2 Size of objects
    - 5.3.3 Length and thickness of objects
  - 5.4 Offsets and alignments
  - 5.5 Placement of objects
    - 5.5.1 Automatic behavior
    - 5.5.2 Within-staff objects
      - The `direction` property
      - Fingering
    - 5.5.3 Outside-staff objects
      - The `outside-staff-priority` property
      - The `\textLengthOn` command
      - Dynamics placement
      - Grob sizing
  - 5.6 Vertical spacing
  - 5.7 Collisions of objects
    - 5.7.1 Moving objects
    - 5.7.2 Fixing overlapping notation
      - The `padding` property
      - The `right-padding` property
      - The `staff-padding` property
      - The `self-alignment-X` property
      - The `staff-position` property
      - The `extra-offset` property
      - The `positions` property
      - The `force-hshift` property
    - 5.7.3 Real music example
  - 5.8 Further tweaking
    - 5.8.1 Other uses for tweaks
      - Tying notes across voices
      - Simulating a fermata in MIDI
    - 5.8.2 Using variables for layout adjustments
    - 5.8.3 Style sheets
    - 5.8.4 Other sources of information
    - 5.8.5 Advanced tweaks with Scheme
- Appendix A Templates
  - A.1 Built-in templates
    - A.1.1 SATB template
    - A.1.2 SSAATTBB template
  - A.2 Single staff templates
    - A.2.1 Notes only
    - A.2.2 Notes and lyrics
    - A.2.3 Notes and chords
    - A.2.4 Notes, lyrics, and chords
  - A.3 Piano templates
    - A.3.1 Solo piano
    - A.3.2 Piano and melody with lyrics
    - A.3.3 Piano-centered lyrics
  - A.4 String quartet templates
    - A.4.1 String quartet
    - A.4.2 String quartet parts
  - A.5 Vocal ensembles templates
    - A.5.1 SATB vocal score
    - A.5.2 SATB vocal score and automatic piano reduction
    - A.5.3 SATB with aligned contexts
    - A.5.4 SATB on four staves
    - A.5.5 Solo verse and two-part refrain
    - A.5.6 Hymn tunes
    - A.5.7 Psalms
  - A.6 Orchestral templates
    - A.6.1 Orchestra, choir and piano
  - A.7 Ancient notation templates
    - A.7.1 Transcription of mensural music
    - A.7.2 Gregorian transcription template
  - A.8 Other templates
    - A.8.1 Jazz combo
- Appendix B GNU Free Documentation License
- Appendix C Index