figPre

figPre is a preprocessor designed for the GNU LilyPond music engraving system. Its primary function is to simplify and enhance the process of writing LilyPond code, particularly for complex musical passages. figPre allows users to define and reuse musical fragments, variables, and stylistic elements, thereby reducing redundancy and improving the overall readability and maintainability of LilyPond scores.

One of the key features of figPre is its macro system. Users can define custom macros that represent recurring musical patterns, such as chord progressions, rhythmic figures, or specific articulation sequences. These macros can then be invoked within the LilyPond code, automatically expanding into their defined musical content. This significantly streamlines the composition process, especially for pieces that involve repeated motifs or variations on a theme.

In addition to macros, figPre supports the use of variables. This allows composers to define elements like tempo markings, key signatures, or instrument names once and then easily change them in a central location, with the changes automatically propagating throughout the score. This feature is particularly useful for larger projects or when exploring different musical ideas.

figPre also offers features for managing different versions or sections of a score. It can conditionally include or exclude certain parts of the LilyPond code based on user-defined flags, which can be helpful for creating different arrangements or for managing rehearsal marks. The preprocessor operates by transforming the figPre input file into standard LilyPond code, which is then processed by LilyPond itself to generate the final musical score. It is typically invoked from the command line before running LilyPond.