LilyPond¶

Mahlif converts to LilyPond format for high-quality PDF output.

Direction	Status	Method
Mahlif → LilyPond	✅ Working	CLI / Python API
LilyPond → Mahlif	❌ Not planned	—

Quick Start¶

# Convert Mahlif XML to LilyPond
mahlif convert score.mahlif.xml score.ly

# Then compile with LilyPond
lilypond score.ly

Python API¶

from mahlif import parse
from mahlif.lilypond import to_lilypond

score = parse("score.mahlif.xml")
lily_source = to_lilypond(score)

with open("score.ly", "w") as f:
    f.write(lily_source)

Feature Support¶

Score Structure¶

Feature	Status	LilyPond Output
Version header	✅	`\version "2.24.0"`
Title/composer	✅	`\header { title = "..." }`
Page size	✅	`\paper { paper-width = ... }`
Staff names	✅	`\new Staff = "Violin"`

Notes and Rests¶

Feature	Status	LilyPond Output
Single notes	✅	`c'4`
Chords	✅	`<c' e' g'>4`
Rests	✅	`r4`
Hidden rests	✅	`s4` (spacer)
Ties	✅	`c'4~`

Durations¶

Ticks	Duration	LilyPond
2048	Breve	`\breve`
1536	Dotted whole	`1.`
1024	Whole	`1`
768	Dotted half	`2.`
512	Half	`2`
384	Dotted quarter	`4.`
256	Quarter	`4`
192	Dotted eighth	`8.`
128	Eighth	`8`
96	Dotted 16th	`16.`
64	16th	`16`
32	32nd	`32`

Clefs and Signatures¶

Feature	Status	LilyPond Output
Initial clef	✅	`\clef treble`
Clef changes	✅	`\clef bass`
Key signature	✅	`\key bes \major`
Key changes	✅	Mid-bar key changes
Time signature	✅	`\time 4/4`

Dynamics and Expression¶

Feature	Status	LilyPond Output
Dynamics	✅	`\p`, `\f`, `\ff`, `\mf`, etc.
Crescendo hairpin	✅	`\<`
Diminuendo hairpin	✅	`\>`

Articulations¶

Articulation	Status	LilyPond
Staccato	✅	`-.`
Staccatissimo	✅	`-!`
Tenuto	✅	`--`
Accent	✅	`->`
Marcato	✅	`-^`
Fermata	✅	`\fermata`
Long fermata	✅	`\longfermata`
Short fermata	✅	`\shortfermata`
Up bow	✅	`\upbow`
Down bow	✅	`\downbow`
Harmonic	✅	`\flageolet`
Trill	✅	`\trill`
Arpeggio	✅	`\arpeggio`

Barlines¶

| Type | Status | LilyPond | | ------------ | ------ | -------- | --- | --- | | Single | ✅ | | | | Double | ✅ | \bar " | | " | | Final | ✅ | \bar " | ." | | Repeat start | ✅ | \bar ". | :" | | Repeat end | ✅ | \bar ": | ." |

Not Yet Implemented¶

High Priority¶

Feature	LilyPond	Notes
Slurs	`( )`	Need start/end tracking
Tuplets	`\tuplet 3/2 { }`	Need grouping logic
Multi-voice	`<< { } \\ { } >>`	Need voice separation
Lyrics	`\lyricmode { }`	Need syllable alignment
Grace notes	`\grace`, `\acciaccatura`

Medium Priority¶

Feature	LilyPond	Notes
Text annotations	`^"text"`
Rehearsal marks	`\mark "A"`
Tempo markings	`\tempo 4 = 120`
System breaks	`\break`
Staff groups	`\new StaffGroup`
Grand staff	`\new PianoStaff`
Transposition	`\transpose c bes`

Layout/Positioning¶

Feature	Notes
dx/dy offsets	Pixel-accurate positioning
Staff spacing	`\override VerticalAxisGroup`
Note spacing	`\override SpacingSpanner`

Known Limitations¶

Empty bars show as | instead of whole-bar rests
Long lines — each staff is one line (no wrapping)
Enharmonic spelling may differ from original
Time signatures only appear when they change

Export Statistics¶

From a test orchestral score:

Metric	Count
Staves	36
Notes	15,466
Chords	4,740
Dynamics	1,230
Slurs	1,248
Hairpins	333
Key changes	261
Clef changes	19