Re: why chords with notes of different duration is not supported?

[David Kastrup]

Werner LEMBERG <address@hidden> writes:

> [About chords which contain notes of different durations, sometimes
> seen in string music.]
>
>> If the notes are all attached to the same voice why not allowing:
>>
>>   << g,4 d'4 b'4>> ?
>
> If at all, the syntax would be e.g.
>
>   <g,8 d'4 b'2>
>
> and the chord's duration would be the maximum of the single note's
> durations.
>
> This syntax extension looks quite natural to me.

Not to me.  Chord syntax explicitly creates a combined object with a
common duration, and the duration is specified _after_ the closing angle
bracket.  Accents and similar can be placed afterwards as well.  What
would it mean to have, say, a common staccato on a "chord" with
different notes?  Or add a common duration to a chord with durations
specified inside already?

I think it is perfectly fine to demand parallel music for this
construct.  But it seems overreaching to demand separate voices.  In
particular, you'll get in all sorts of complications if you have ties in
the "chord" when you need separate voices.

> Perhaps it makes sense to add it to the tracker as an enhancement
> request?  I've CCed bug-lilypond.

As far as I can see, there is not much more to do than just omit the
warning for parallel music when the output is sensible.  The extra
angles for being allowed (and required) to put the durations inside seem
like a reasonably cheap price to pay.

-- 
David Kastrup