Segno repeat appearance

The marks and return instructions that \repeat segno creates are adjustable in some respects.

Return instructions are formatted with the Scheme procedure specified in the dalSegnoTextFormatter property. There is a predefined alternative formatter that creates shorter instructions.

\fixed c' {
  \set Score.dalSegnoTextFormatter = #format-dal-segno-text-brief
  f1
  \repeat segno 2 {
    g1
    \alternative {
      \volta 1 { a1 }
      \volta 2 \volta #'() {
        \section
        \sectionLabel "Coda"
      }
    }
  }
  b1
  \fine
}

The sequence numbers of the marks at the beginning of the repeated section and the beginning of the first alternative may be set explicitly without interfering with automatic return instructions (see section Manual repeat marks).

\fixed c' {
  \repeat segno 2 {
    \volta #'() { \segnoMark 2 }
    g1
    \alternative {
      \volta 1 {
        \volta #'() { \codaMark 2 }
        \repeat unfold 8 { a4 }
      }
      \volta 2 \volta #'() {
        \section
        \sectionLabel "Coda"
      }
    }
  }
  b1
  \fine
}

Without the explicit \segnoMark 2, the above would have been rendered as a da-capo repeat.

As an alternative to printing a segno as a mark above the staff, it is possible to print it as a bar line by setting the segnoStyle property to bar-line. To avoid ambiguity, only the first segno bar remains unmarked.

\fixed c' {
  \set Score.segnoStyle = #'bar-line
  R1
  \repeat unfold 3 {
    \repeat segno 2 {
      R1*2
    }
  }
  \fine
}

Where a segno bar coincides with other special bar lines, a combination bar line is chosen automatically from a predetermined set. For each supported combination, the bar line can be customized by setting a context property (see section Automatic bar lines).

Segno and coda marks are formatted with procedures specified in the segnoMarkFormatter and codaMarkFormatter properties. These are interchangeable with procedures used to format rehearsal marks (see section Rehearsal marks).

\fixed c' {
  \set Score.segnoMarkFormatter = #format-mark-numbers
  \set Score.segnoStyle = #'bar-line
  R1
  \repeat unfold 3 {
    \repeat segno 2 {
      R1*2
    }
  }
  \fine
}

There is a predefined alternative segno formatter that prints a mark even over the first bar line:

\fixed c' {
  \set Score.segnoMarkFormatter = #format-segno-mark
  \set Score.segnoStyle = #'bar-line
  R1
  \repeat unfold 3 {
    \segnoMark \default
    R1*2
  }
}

There is a predefined alternative coda mark formatter that uses \varcoda signs.

\fixed c' {
  \set Score.codaMarkFormatter = #format-varcoda-mark
  R1
  \repeat unfold 3 {
    \codaMark \default
    R1*2
  }
}

Selected Snippets

Shortening volta brackets

By default, the volta brackets will be drawn over all of the alternative music, but it is possible to shorten them by setting voltaSpannerDuration. In the next example, the bracket only lasts one measure, which is a duration of 3/4.

\relative c'' {
  \time 3/4
  c4 c c
  \set Score.voltaSpannerDuration = \musicLength 2.
  \repeat volta 5 {
    d4 d d
    \alternative {
      \volta 1,2,3,4 {
        e4 e e
        f4 f f }
      \volta 5 {
        g4 g g } } }
}

Adding volta brackets to additional staves

The Volta_engraver by default resides in the Score context, and brackets for the repeat are thus normally only printed over the topmost staff. This can be adjusted by adding the Volta_engraver to the Staff context where the brackets should appear; see also the “Volta multi staff” snippet.

<<
  \new Staff { \repeat volta 2 { c'1 } \alternative { c' } }
  \new Staff { \repeat volta 2 { c'1 } \alternative { c' } }
  \new Staff \with { \consists "Volta_engraver" } { c'2 g' e' a' }
  \new Staff { \repeat volta 2 { c'1 } \alternative { c' } }
>>

Alternative bar numbering

Two alternative methods for bar numbering can be set, especially for when using repeated music.

music = \relative c' {
  \repeat volta 3 {
    c4 d e f |
    \alternative {
      \volta 1 { c4 d e f | c2 d \break }
      \volta 2 { f4 g a b | f4 g a b | f2 a | \break }
      \volta 3 { c4 d e f | c2 d } } }
  c1 \bar "|."
}

\markup "default"
{
  \music
}

\markup \typewriter "'numbers"
{
  \set Score.alternativeNumberingStyle = #'numbers
  \music
}

\markup \typewriter "'numbers-with-letters"
{
  \set Score.alternativeNumberingStyle = #'numbers-with-letters
  \music
}

\paper { tagline = ##f }

See also

Music Glossary: repeat, volta.

Notation Reference: Automatic bar lines, Bar lines, Modifying context plug-ins, Modifying ties and slurs, Time administration.

Installed Files: ly/engraver-init.ly.

Snippets: Repeats.

Internals Reference: VoltaBracket, RepeatedMusic, VoltaRepeatedMusic, UnfoldedRepeatedMusic.

Known issues and warnings

For repeats in volta form, spanners (slurs, etc.) that cross into alternatives work for the first alternative only. They likewise cannot wrap around from the end of an alternative back to the beginning of the repeated section.

The visual appearance of a continuing slur or tie in subsequent alternatives can be achieved with \repeatTie if the slur extends into only one note in the alternative block, although this method does not work in TabStaff; see Repeat tie. Other methods which may be tailored to indicate continuing slurs over several notes in alternative blocks, and which also work in TabStaff contexts, are shown in Modifying ties and slurs.

The visual appearance of a continuing glissando in subsequent alternatives can be achieved by coding a glissando starting on a hidden grace note. See Extending glissandi across repeats.

If a repeat that begins with an incomplete measure has an \alternative block that contains modifications to the measureLength property, using \unfoldRepeats will result in wrongly-placed bar lines and bar check warnings.

A nested repeat like

\repeat …
\repeat …
\alternative

is ambiguous, since it is not clear to which \repeat the \alternative belongs. This ambiguity is resolved by always having the \alternative belong to the inner \repeat. For clarity, it is advisable to use braces in such situations.

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LilyPond Notation Reference v2.25.15 (development-branch).