Re: absolute pitch entry: accept an offset octave (issue 235010043 by address@hidden)

[David Kastrup]

Paul Morris <address@hidden> writes:

>> On May 18, 2015, at 5:13 AM, Joram <address@hidden> wrote:
>> 
>> shifting the octave is *not* absolute. So the input
>> \absolute c'' { c' } for c''' is a contradiction in itself.
>> That’s why I strongly recommend not to use \absolute for some kind of
>> non-absolute notation.
>
> +1, and especially with new users in mind.
>
> I agree with David that two commands are better than three here, and
> so I think replacing \absolute with the new \fixed is the best
> solution (scheme “d” in David’s list).
>
> In terms of assessing trade-offs I’d be willing to help document
> \fixed (as the new \absolute) if that is a significant factor.  I
> think it would be worth the effort.  \fixed could well become the
> generally preferred entry mode.  \absolute hasn’t been around that
> long (2.18 was the first stable that had it), and its use case is
> probably not all that common (I think people tend to prefer either
> relative or absolute entry and not use both).  The convert-ly rule
> would be easy.
>
> If we can’t come to a consensus I’m not opposed to taking this to a
> user list discussion and vote.  In the interest of focusing that
> effort, at this point is anyone advocating for “\octave”?

It makes some sense for a split scheme retaining \absolute and with
\octave having a non-optional argument:

    \absolute { c'' g' }
    \octave c'' { c g, }

It becomes unreadable with optional argument left off:

    \octave { c'' g' }
    \octave c'' { c g, }

We've had people complain that they'd like do see \absolute '' or
\absolute x'' rather than \absolute c'' because they don't like to see a
notename involved in the reference.

\octave c'' presumably will stress that just the octave of the reference
pitch is taken.

So I think there is a case for \relative/\absolute/\octave pitted
against \relative/\absolute/\absolute and \relative/\fixed/\fixed.  It
is backwards compatible and more descriptive than the alternatives as
long as its pitch argument is mandatory.

-- 
David Kastrup