3.4 Vocal ensembles

3.4.1 SATB vocal score

Here is a standard four-part SATB vocal score. With larger ensembles, it's often useful to include a section which is included in all parts. For example, the time signature and key signatures are almost always the same for all parts.

     \version "2.6.0"
     global = {
        \key c \major
        \time 4/4
     }
     
     sopMusic = \relative c'' {
        c4 c c8[( b)] c4
     }
     sopWords = \lyricmode {
        hi hi hi hi
     }
     
     altoMusic = \relative c' {
        e4 f d e
     }
     altoWords =\lyricmode {
        ha ha ha ha
     }
     
     tenorMusic = \relative c' {
        g4 a f g
     }
     tenorWords = \lyricmode {
        hu hu hu hu
     }
     
     bassMusic = \relative c {
        c4 c g c
     }
     bassWords = \lyricmode {
        ho ho ho ho
     }
     
     \score {
        \context ChoirStaff <<
           \context Lyrics = sopranos { s1 }
           \context Staff = women <<
              \context Voice =
                sopranos { \voiceOne << \global \sopMusic >> }
              \context Voice =
                altos { \voiceTwo << \global \altoMusic >> }
           >>
           \context Lyrics = altos { s1 }
           \context Lyrics = tenors { s1 }
           \context Staff = men <<
              \clef bass
              \context Voice =
                tenors { \voiceOne <<\global \tenorMusic >> }
              \context Voice =
                basses { \voiceTwo <<\global \bassMusic >> }
           >>
           \context Lyrics = basses { s1 }
           \context Lyrics = sopranos \lyricsto sopranos \sopWords
           \context Lyrics = altos \lyricsto altos \altoWords
           \context Lyrics = tenors \lyricsto tenors \tenorWords
           \context Lyrics = basses \lyricsto basses \bassWords
        >>
     
        \layout {
           \context {
              % a little smaller so lyrics
              % can be closer to the staff
              \Staff minimumVerticalExtent = #'(-3 . 3)
           }
        }
     }

3.4.2 SATB vocal score and automatic piano reduction

This template adds an automatic piano reduction to the SATB vocal score. This demonstrates one of the strengths of LilyPond – you can use a music definition more than once. If you make any changes to the vocal notes (say, tenorMusic), then the changes will also apply to the piano reduction.

     \version "2.6.0"
     global = {
        \key c \major
        \time 4/4
     }
     
     sopMusic = \relative c'' {
        c4 c c8[( b)] c4
     }
     sopWords = \lyricmode {
        hi hi hi hi
     }
     
     altoMusic = \relative c' {
        e4 f d e
     }
     altoWords =\lyricmode {
        ha ha ha ha
     }
     
     tenorMusic = \relative c' {
        g4 a f g
     }
     tenorWords = \lyricmode {
        hu hu hu hu
     }
     bassMusic = \relative c {
        c4 c g c
     }
     bassWords = \lyricmode {
        ho ho ho ho
     }
     
     \layout {
       \context {
              % a little smaller so lyrics
              % can be closer to the staff
              \Staff
               minimumVerticalExtent = #'(-3 . 3)
       }
     }
     
     <<
       \context ChoirStaff
       <<
         \context Lyrics = sopranos { s1 }
         \context Staff = women <<
           \context Voice =
             sopranos { \voiceOne << \global \sopMusic >> }
           \context Voice =
             altos { \voiceTwo << \global \altoMusic >> }
         >>
         \context Lyrics = altos { s1 }
         \context Lyrics = tenors { s1 }
         \context Staff = men <<
           \clef bass
           \context Voice =
             tenors { \voiceOne <<\global \tenorMusic >> }
           \context Voice =
             basses { \voiceTwo <<\global \bassMusic >> }
         >>
         \context Lyrics = basses { s1 }
         \context Lyrics = sopranos \lyricsto sopranos \sopWords
         \context Lyrics = altos \lyricsto altos \altoWords
         \context Lyrics = tenors \lyricsto tenors \tenorWords
         \context Lyrics = basses \lyricsto basses \bassWords
       >>
       \new PianoStaff
       <<
         \new Staff <<
           \set Staff.printPartCombineTexts = ##f
           \partcombine
           << \global \sopMusic >>
           << \global \altoMusic >>
         >>
         \new Staff <<
           \clef bass
           \set Staff.printPartCombineTexts = ##f
           \partcombine
           << \global \tenorMusic >>
           << \global \bassMusic >>
         >>
       >>
     >>

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