Re: The \\ construct for simultaneous voices

[David Kastrup]

"Trevor Daniels" <address@hidden> writes:

> I've finally got around to thinking about the introduction to parallel
> voices in the Learning Manual - currently sections 3.2.1 and 3.2.2.
> You'll remember the many discussions about the two constructs -
> explicit voices and the \\ construct, and the
> final agreement to introduce explicit voices first, reversing the
> present order.  I'm now minded to remove mention of the \\ construct
> from the LM altogether, except for a brief reference to the topic in
> the NR.  This seems the simplest way of avoiding the confusion that
> frequently arises with the current approach.
>
> Before I start merging 3.2.1 and 3.2.2 to do this I'd welcome your
> comments.

\\ is quite more convenient than explicit voices and thus an important
idiom that makes Lilypond friendlier to the user.  I would tend to
introduce its use first, then mention what it does behind the scene and
when you would rather use explicit voices (and then point to the
requisite section where \\ might be briefly explained in the context of
explicit voices as well, like "We already mentioned how to do two-voice
parts with \\, let's take a look at what this actually does, now that we
know how voices are instantiated").

But since it can be used with less brain investment (naming something is
always a chore), it belongs earlier in the introduction to the hopeful
newcomer.

-- 
David Kastrup