https://github.com/Abjad/abjad

Abjad is a Python API for building LilyPond files. Use Abjad to make PDFs of music notation.
https://github.com/Abjad/abjad

lilypond music-composition music-notation python

Last synced: 1 day ago
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Abjad is a Python API for building LilyPond files. Use Abjad to make PDFs of music notation.

• Host: GitHub
• URL: https://github.com/Abjad/abjad
• Owner: Abjad
• License: gpl-3.0
• Created: 2013-10-29T14:43:16.000Z (about 12 years ago)
• Default Branch: main
• Last Pushed: 2025-10-31T19:31:38.000Z (19 days ago)
• Last Synced: 2025-10-31T21:17:55.651Z (19 days ago)
• Topics: lilypond, music-composition, music-notation, python
• Language: Python
• Homepage: https://abjad.github.io
• Size: 364 MB
• Stars: 258
• Watchers: 12
• Forks: 42
• Open Issues: 14
• Metadata Files:
  • Readme: README.rst
  • License: LICENSE

Awesome Lists containing this project

• awesome-python-audio - Abjad

README

          
Abjad 3.31

==========

Abjad helps composers build up complex pieces of music notation in iterative

and incremental ways. Use Abjad to create a symbolic representation of all the

notes, rests, chords, tuplets, beams and slurs in any score. Because Abjad

extends the Python programming language, you can use Abjad to make systematic

changes to music as you work. Because Abjad wraps the LilyPond music notation

package, you can use Abjad to control the typographic detail of symbols on the

page.

..  image:: https://img.shields.io/badge/python-3.12-blue.svg

    :target: https://www.python.org/downloads/release/python-312/

    :alt: Python 3.12

..  image:: https://img.shields.io/badge/python-3.13-blue.svg

    :target: https://www.python.org/downloads/release/python-313/

    :alt: Python 3.13

..  image:: https://img.shields.io/pypi/v/abjad.svg?style=flat-square

    :target: https://pypi.python.org/pypi/abjad

..  image:: https://img.shields.io/pypi/dm/abjad.svg?style=flat-square

    :target: https://pypi.python.org/pypi/abjad

..  image:: https://img.shields.io/badge/code%20style-black-000000.svg

    :target: https://github.com/ambv/black

----

Abjad's documentation is available here: https://abjad.github.io

Abjad's install instructions are tested on macOS and Linux.

Abjad requires Python 3.12 (or later):

..  code-block::

    ~$ python --version

    Python 3.13.3

Abjad requires LilyPond 2.25.26 (or later).

Make sure LilyPond is installed:

http://lilypond.org/development.html

Make sure LilyPond is callable from the commandline:

..  code-block::

    $ lilypond --version

    GNU LilyPond 2.25.26 (running Guile 3.0)

    Copyright (c) 1996--2023 by

      Han-Wen Nienhuys 

      Jan Nieuwenhuizen 

      and others.

    This program is free software.  It is covered by the GNU General Public

    License and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it

    under certain conditions.  Invoke as `lilypond --warranty' for more

    information.

Create a Python 3 virtual environment for Abjad:

https://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/venv.html

Activate the virtual environment and then use pip to install Abjad:

..  code-block::

    ~$ python -m pip install abjad

Start Python, import Abjad, start making music notation:

..  code-block::

    ~$ python

    >>> import abjad

    >>> note = abjad.Note("c'4")

    >>> abjad.show(note)

..

    ..  image:: hello.png

----

Join the Abjad community: https://abjad.github.io/appendices/community.html