Hello MusiXTeXers, a new version of musixser (1.1a) has been uploaded to ftp://ftp.gmd.de/music/musixtex/add-ons/, also accessible via the WWW page http://www.gmd.de/Misc/Music/. Having begun as nothing more than an experiment, the functionality of the package has now reached a degree of completeness that - to my eyes - justifies giving it major version number one. Nevertheless, the current state is not the final one with regard to what is possible at all even without a MusiXTeX preprocessor; currently being developed are enhanced pattern expansion and "for each note" loops - more flexible, easier to use, and fitting more tightly in the syntax scheme of \setvoice arguments than the current pattern expansion feature. REMINDER -------- musixser (MusiXTeX SERial input) is a small TeX macro collection - meant as an add-on to MusiXTeX - which changes MusiXTeX's coding style from chord or "column" oriented to voice oriented. Each voice of a score (which nevertheless is allowed to contain chords) is entered as a separate "thread" of musical events, thus imposing a polyphonic flavour on music coding. musixser is no MusiXTeX preprocessor like PMX or M-Tx. It does not make any layout decisions; it merely rearranges the input and passes everything over to MusiXTeX. The underlying idea is the desire to combine the following two properties: 1. Provide an easier, more intuitive, polyphonic way of entering and editing MusiXTeX code. 2. Retain the full expressive power of the MusiXTeX language and its typesetting capabilities in direct user access. musixser is meant as an option for MusiXTeX users who - for whatever reason - can't or don't want to use any available preprocessor. Before you begin using it you should be familiar with "plain" MusiXTeX. Main features are: - no inherent limitations concerning the number of voices total or per staff - easy rearrangement of scores including (to some extent) part extraction - support for arbitrarily long scores Main new features of this version --------------------------------- - "pattern" expansion (similar to TeX macro expansion) for recurring musical structures - automatic beam and slur number management - simplified specification of barline-related items (voltas, meter/signature changes, repeats, ...) - easier tracing of rhythmical mistakes - complete documentation in LaTeX/DVI format All kinds of comments, including suggestions and problem reports, are welcome. Please send them to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Have fun! Regards, Rainer
