Currently, Lily spaces notes by starting with a basic distance,
arithmetic_multiplier, which it applies to the minimum duration note
of the bar. Then she adds a logarithmic increment, scaled from
arithmetic_basicspace, for longer notes. (Then, columns are aligned
and justified.) Fundamentally, this matches visual spacing to musical
weight and works well.
A lot of the time in music, I see a section basically in melodic
notes that occasionally has a rapid ornamental run (scale). So, there
will be a section in 1/4 notes, then a brief passage in 1/32nds, then
a return to long notes. Currently, Lily gives the same horizontal
space to the 1/32nd notes in their bar (even if set in small size as
is commonly done for cadenzii) as she gives to 1/4 notes in bars
where 1/4 note is the minimum duration. The resulting visual weight
does not match the musical weight over the page.
Looking at the music I am typesetting, I feel that Lily's spacing
could be significantly improved if, with no change in the basic
method used, arithmetic_multiplier could be applied referred to the
same duration throughout a piece. Of course, the current method
should be retained for those who have already set music in it, so I
suggest a property called something like arithmetic_base=16 to fix
1/16 duration as the reference for arithmetic_multiplier; the default
would be a dynamic base is it is now.
Does anyone else feel that this would be a useful improvement for
their music? (Of course, if arithmetic_multiplier became a regular
property, this could be used to achieve a similar result by
tweaking.)
John
